Chapter Twenty- Four #2
Wyatt: Just sayin’. If you go back I wouldn’t blame you and I’d totally bail you out.
Me: Thanks for the support.
Two blocks goes a lot faster when you’re pissed off. I’m in my truck and on the highway before I come out of whatever blackout I was in from my anger. My grip on the steering wheel is causing white knuckles and my face is heated.
Fuck Nolan.
Smashing the button on my dash, I tell my car to text Aubrey that I’m on the way back with my estimated time. It’s almost an hour earlier than anticipated and Lily might still be barely awake for me to say goodnight to.
Me: I’m pulling into the driveway, unlock the door for me to sneak in.
Aubrey: Already unlocked. I’m in bed waiting. >
Me: We will address your safety right after I address whatever is on your body hidden by those covers.
Leaving everything in the car I race to the front door and slip in quietly. Tiptoeing down the hall. Silently, I turn the knob on the door to close it.
“Hi. I missed you.” Aubrey croons from the bed.
“Is this the welcome home I’m going to get when I’m gone?” I’m already stripping out of my clothes in a trail to the bed.
Before I can get to her, her phone pings repeatedly with messages.
“I’m sorry. I need to check that. No one ever messages me like that unless it’s an emergency.” She gives me a sad smile and I sit on the edge of the bed next to her.
She leans over to get her phone, and her face drops. All the color drains from her and her mouth falls open like she wants to say something but can’t.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s… I…” Instead of answering, she turns the phone toward me.
Photos of me in Boston, on the phone, driving home, and the most recent one of me getting out of my truck to go into the house.
“Shit.” Reaching down for my pants, I dig out my phone and dial Wyatt immediately.
“Yo.”
“Whoever it is, is here. I’m going out.” I’m already pulling on my pants and slipping my feet into my shoes. “I’m getting my gun out of the car. So whoever comes needs to know.”
“I’ll be there in under a minute. I’m at the inn.” I hear a car door shut and then an engine turning over.
My phone gets dropped somewhere on her floor. “Screenshot and text them to Wyatt. He needs to find out who’s sending them.”
“I know who it is.” She says meekly.
“Lock the door.” Only getting a nod in response, I rush out the front door.
Wyatt pulls in next to me as soon as I close my truck.
“It looks like they were in the woods over here.” Wyatt points to the tree line that has the same angle as the photo.
We both take off, guns drawn together. Wyatt in his uniform, me in just my jeans.
“Want to split up? I didn’t hear a vehicle, so they had to be close.” I ask.
“Not really. You’re half naked and not a cop. But honestly we don’t have much of an option.” He takes the right. “Backup is on the way, you go left.”
I do as I’m told, but I’m not seeing anyone, or hearing anything. Once I reach the road, I turn back.
Fuck. They were so damn close and I still couldn’t protect Aubrey from them. Turning back to the house, defeat seeps into my bones. And I can’t help but feel like I brought this on for her after my confrontation with Nolan.
When I get back, I find Aubrey and Wyatt with another officer on the front porch.
“Hey, what did you find?”
“Not much. Got a partial plate, it’s out of state but it was so dark we only got two numbers and not the state. It was a black SUV, probably an Escalade, or a Yukon.”
The other officer turns to me. “Do you know anyone who would want to scare you? Or threaten you?”
“Yes.” I answer immediately. “My ex-boss. He’s pissed that I started a travel blog after leaving the magazine I worked for and I found out today he might be embezzling money from contracts.” Aubrey’s wide eyes find mine. “And have you spoken to Aubrey yet?”
“Yes, sir. Wyatt is informed of the situation. We’ll both be taking over the case.”
“Thank you.” I clap Wyatt on the back, going next to my girl. “If you guys need anything please call me. I’ll help in any way I can. Wy, I’ll send you the emails from Nolan tomorrow morning.”
“You got it.” Both of them leave to go back to their cars and take off.
That’s when her tears start to fall.
“I’m so sorry. I did this.”
“You absolutely did not. My boss might be the one behind it. We don’t know yet.” I usher her inside with my hand on the small of her back and lock the door behind me.
“How did I not know about that?” She flops onto the couch, sinking into the cushions.
“I didn’t tell you because he’s just been threatening legal action and sending me a cease and desist from his fake lawyer. But it wouldn’t be the first time he’s used intimidation to get what he wants. I didn’t leave on good terms and it took me until you to get over the bullshit.”
“Cooper. What happened?”
“How about we talk about it another day. We have an early day with t-ball tomorrow and I think we both need to sleep,” I suggest as she yawns.
“Promise you’ll tell me everything?” She trudges toward the bedroom.
“I promise. I’m going to check on my princess really quick.”
“I already set up the monitor.” She waves a small screen that I didn’t even notice before.
“Good.”
Pushing open Lily’s door silently, I take in her sweet sleeping self under the princess covers. I need to check the windows and make sure they’re locked. Once I’m satisfied that I’ve done everything I can, I head into Aubrey’s bedroom.
“I think we should get some security cameras, and alarms for the windows.” There is already a set in my cart that Kane recommended.
“Me too. I already had it on my list for tomorrow.”
Slipping into the bed with her, I pull her to me, squeezing her as tight as I can and kissing her forehead. “I’m so glad you’re safe. I promise to make sure you will be from now on. I’ll do everything I can.”
She only gives me a sleepy nod before her breath evens out.
How did I let Nolan do this? How did I let him get this close and who the hell is he working with?