24. Willow #2
“Hi, Dad,” I say in a hesitant voice. I know he’s about to freak out. Not sure if it’s because he will see that the creeper was able to get on the property again, or because he is going to see evidence of the make-out session in my garage.
“Willow Anne Russo! What’s wrong?” Damn it! He broke out the full name.
“Well, I got an email today…” I say, trying to figure out if there is a way to sugarcoat this, but I’m coming up blank.
I decide to just push through it until I get to the shit storm.
My dad is waiting for me to continue when I finally blurt out, “It looks like the stalker got my email and sent me more pictures around my house from the last few days… And he sent another bad poem,” I say all in one breath so I can get it all out.
There’s nothing but silence on the other end of the line for a minute, finally followed by a long exhale.
I can imagine him rubbing his hands down his face and pacing around the room like he always does when he’s frustrated or stressed out.
He finally processes what I said and replies with an angry, “Did you send it to me yet?”
I know he isn’t mad at me, just the situation, so I don’t worry about it.
I take a breath and forward him the email, and in a hesitant voice, I say, “Okay, I just sent it over.” I don’t mention what he will see, only because I don’t even know how to word it.
I am a fully grown woman, so I’ll kiss whomever I want, but I don’t want my dad to see it in a picture out of nowhere.
Judging by the choking sound coming from the other end of the line, I can tell he just saw them. He doesn’t comment on them, probably because this is uncomfortable for both of us at the moment.
“Did you get any alerts after the upgrades that Gig did before he left?” he asks when he’s done looking at the email.
“Nope, that’s why I was surprised to see them.
Everything was quiet, and the cameras were never knocked out.
Gig set it up so that if they went down for any reason, I would get an alarm notifying me.
I have no idea how they got on the property,” I reply, thankful that we aren’t mentioning the kiss pictures.
Sometimes, avoidance is key for survival.
“Did you update Grey or the dumbass?” Even with all of the shit going on, I laugh. My poor dad has never had to deal with his only daughter dating, even though I’m in my twenties. I guess he is going to have to experience it now.
It takes me a second to control my laughter, but when I can speak again, I reply, “No, not yet. I called you first.”
“Okay. I’ll call Grey and let him know to head back if he’s free. Are you working from your home office?” he asks.
“Yeah, I was going to drop by the shop, but that was going to be later in the day,” I reply.
“If you’re okay with it, and if they’re willing, I’m going to ask that one of them stay with you during the day, too.
They can switch off so they can still get their work done.
But if he’s still able to get through Gig’s security, there isn’t really anything else we can do to keep him away from you. ”
“Okay, I’ll call Knox, and you can ask Grey. If they’re busy, though, I think I can handle it on my own,” I say, closing my eyes and blowing out an annoyed breath.
“I know you can, Will. This is just for my peace of mind until I get back. Please just do it so I can know that my daughter is safe,” he pleads. Damn it! Why does he know me so well?
“Okay, Dad. I can do it. But only until you get back,” is all I can say at this point. I don’t want to stress him out even more than he already is with all this going on while he is away, but this is becoming a lot.
“Thanks, Will. I’ll call you back after I talk to Grey. Did you want to update Gig on your phone call with him about his system?” he asks hopefully, making me chuckle. He doesn’t want to deal with my tech-genius brother getting sassy because someone got through his system either.
“Do I want to hear the tantrum-rant about how nothing should be able to get past his system? Hell no. I’ll let you take that one,” I reply.
We say our goodbyes, and I decide to let Knox know. I go for texting him, since he doesn’t come off as a phone call kinda guy. I just hope that he doesn’t overreact like all the other men in my life would.
Me
Hey… you busy?
Future-Mr-Fox
I just got to the shop and was about to text you. I’m never too busy for you. What’s up?
Me
I was just opening some emails and a small thing popped up, and I thought you may want to know. If you’re busy, it can wait though.
Future-Mr-Fox
… Popped up? Is this that down playing shit you were trying to do with Smoke the other day when you had a possible bomb threat and got shot?
Me
Technically I got shot first, which wasn’t fatal, I might add. It was a graze! And from the amount of people trying to shoot me and how many times they tried, it was still a win! And the “bomb threat” had just as good of a chance of being the new socks that I ordered!
Future-Mr-Fox
So I will take the “down playing shit” question as a yes.
What the fuck happened?!?!
Me
Okay! Fine!
So I got an email from the wannabe Poe. It looks like he was still able to get in. The email had pictures, but the most problematic is that he had some from the garage last night and of you and Grey coming in and leaving my house…
Future-Mr-Fox
…
He was walking around your house… What the fuck, Willow!? He could still be there! Are you home alone right now? You said you had shit to do today.
Me
I’m working from my home office today, so yes I’m home. But none of the pictures were from the inside, just the outside of the house.
Future-Mr-Fox
I’m on my way. All of those doors better fucking be locked! Do not step a foot out of your house until I get there.
Me
I feel like I would have preferred to have been asked nicely, so I’m going to pretend you asked nicely instead of giving me an order.
Future-Mr-Fox
… I’ll be there in 30. Don’t push me, Willow. We can talk about your smart mouth and not taking shit seriously when I get there.
Me
Cool, good to know you don’t freak out in these situations. I’m pretty sure I can take a bad poet with a camera.
He doesn’t text back, and I’m thankful for it.
I kill people for a living, but everyone is running around like I’m defenseless, and it’s starting to piss me the fuck off!
Hopefully Grey will keep his cool. I know my dad is going to want to assign a babysitter full-time now, but even if Grey and I are civil at the moment, and Knox and I are doing whatever we are doing, I need my space.
Hopefully, the alphaholes will stand the fuck down and understand that I can handle shit on my own.
I place my elbows on my desk and rest my forehead in my palms. This plan of “finding my normal” is going horribly.
After a while of silently reflecting and giving myself a pep talk on how things will mellow out eventually, I realize that it has been at least two hours since my last cup of coffee, so I should get my mid-morning pot going.
Just as I stand up, the gate notification goes off, and I see Grey looking out his window, glaring at the camera like he’s trying to see me through it.
I open the gate and walk over to my coffee maker. I definitely need more caffeine for this.