31. Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter thirty-one
Hummingbird
It was getting dark outside, and even though I had already double checked that the door and windows were locked earlier, I wanted to make one last lap upstairs before it was too dark to see without turning on any lights.
Not that either of those saved me in the past.
I shook my head as memories of the break-in at my last safe house bombarded me. I had gotten lucky that night… and only because of my own worry and hard work.
Making sure I wasn’t too close to the window, I stared outside, peering into the darkening woods, looking for anything out of place.
Rationally, I knew there shouldn’t be anyone in the woods.
And while my sensors had a pretty wide range, I knew it wasn’t a perfect system.
For a moment I thought I saw something move, but after staring at that general area for several tense minutes without anything else happening, I let out a tense breath. It was time to lock myself away.
None of the alarms went off. Chill.
I turned toward the bookshelf and sighed at the sight. Earlier today, it was full of books and little knickknacks, and now it looked empty and sad, even if I had artfully arranged the books I was willing to leave behind.
This freaking sucks.
No longer feeling comfortable or safe in the place I’d called home for several years, I walked toward the currently unhidden staircase, pulled the door attached to the back of the bookcase closed, and locked it.
I then closed the blast door, securing and locking it as well.
After heading to the bottom of the stairs, I walked into the bunker, closing and locking the second blast door behind me.
The heavy, metallic thud sound reverberated within my body and had an ominous feel to it.
I couldn’t shake the feeling something was going to happen.
I still have more contingency plans. It will be okay.
Hummingbird:
Momma A:
Hummingbird:
Momma A:
I let out a tense sigh and walked toward the kitchen, only to hear a ding of another incoming message.
Tech:
Hummingbird:
Tech:
Tech:
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help but smirk.
Hummingbird:
Tech:
Even with the lighthearted banter, I still needed to shake the dread sinking into every cell of my body.
I checked all the camera and sensor feeds again.
When nothing out of the ordinary was showing up, I convinced myself to take a hot shower and at least try to relax.
After I dressed in my comfiest leggings, t-shirt, and knit cardigan, I made a comfort dinner of peanut butter and jelly with chips.
I had just put my plate in the sink when two of my proximity and motion sensors went off. Even as I rushed back to the security area, I was trying to convince myself it could be an animal. I had raised the sensitivity of the sensors earlier, so I had been anticipating this… to an extent.
Letting out a deep breath, I sat down and sought out which zone had been triggered. As I was pulling up the camera feeds covering that area, another proximity alarm went off. Same zone, but closer to me.
Don’t panic yet. It could be wildlife.
I nearly had my heart rate under control when I saw shadows moving in the forest.
Shit.
Seconds later, two people emerged and stood at the edge of the tree line.
Fuck.
Even though I had ways of deterring them and was truly on my own in the physical sense, I grabbed my phone, sending out a message.
Hummingbird:
Seconds later, there was a response.
Tech:
Shield:
I let out a tense breath. They couldn’t do much to stop whatever was about to happen, but if push came to shove, I could have backup on the way very quickly.
Hummingbird:
Tech:
Tech:
Spoilsport. I stuck out my tongue at the screen but then couldn't help but smile. Lynette must have filled him in on one of my favorite intruder deterrents. It had taken a bit to make it happen when Derek and I moved here, but I was able to add in a lot of the same protections I’d installed at the previous safe house, including a few buried explosives, as well as remote controlled valves where toxic gas could be released.
It had saved my ass once before, and I felt better having the option handy.
Shield:
I somehow was able to laugh at his request.
Hummingbird:
Tech:
My attention went back to the screens, showing how the duo circled the small cabin.
You can look all you want, but you’re not going to find anything.
I turned up the speakers, hoping the camera microphones would pick up something, but these two intruders were silent as they walked all the way around my home.
Several tense moments passed before they joined up again in front of my porch, and it felt like an eternity passed before they climbed the two steps that lead to my door.
They tried the doorknob, rattling it, and then tried the window.
I knew better than anyone what was going to happen next.
And even though I was expecting it, the loud crash of glass shattering made me jump.
Flashbacks from the last time someone broke into my house hit me again, but I shoved down the memories and feeling of terror as hard as I could.
This is not the same.
But wasn’t it? Once again, someone was breaking into my home. I forced myself to take a deep breath and take a small amount of comfort as I reminded myself other people were already watching and ready to help if needed.
Heavy footsteps could be heard echoing through the house via the camera microphones, as well as loud thuds from furniture being flipped.
A few gunshots went off, making me jump.
Hummingbird:
Tech:
I glared at the message. Really?
Hummingbird:
Tech:
Hummingbird:
Tech:
The two intruders weren’t leaving, and the longer they stayed, the more nervous I was.
Hummingbird:
Hummingbird:
Tech:
The second they walked toward the bookshelf, I pressed a green button, grinning when both people jumped at the loud sound that came from outside. It was made to sound like a shotgun, and boy did it.
When they didn’t move, I pressed the button again, knowing I only had two more large charges left for that particular trick.
Come on. Get the fuck out of my house. Don’t make me have to kill you.
I didn’t want more murders on my conscience if I could help it.
After the third bang, they finally moved.
“Let’s get out of here.”
Finally.
On their way out, I set off a few more small explosives, hastening their departure. When all my sensors went quiet again, my phone lit up again.
Tech:
I couldn’t help but smile at the compliment. Terrifying as this situation was, it was nice to have my work appreciated.
Hummingbird:
Tech:
Shield:
Tech:
Hummingbird:
Shield:
Hummingbird:
I let out a deep sigh as I sagged against the backrest of my chair.
Holy shit. I can't believe I had to do that… again.
After a moment, my phone lit up.
Shield:
The message put a smile on my face.
Hummingbird:
Shield:
It was touching how concerned he was.
Hummingbird.
Hummingbird:
Hummingbird:
Shield:
That caught my attention. Most mafia people never admitted that out loud. The smart ones might think it, but to say it… to type it? That was vulnerable and impressive.
Hummingbird:
Shield:
A smile appeared on my face. I loved how good it made me feel to have him say he had my back. It also reminded me how much I missed Derek.
Derek.
The love of my life.
My breath hitched, and a tear slid down my cheek as I realized I wasn’t going to get a hug or a kiss or a reassuring word from him.
Shield:
Tears flooded my eyes.
Derek, did you send him to watch over me?
It was a long time before I could walk away from my security area to make a cup of chamomile tea and grab a blanket to wrap around myself, and even longer before I could move to the futon and dare to relax and attempt sleeping.