Page 85 of My Never
About thirty minutes later, the guys make their way into the house, looking as if someone had kicked their dog. They go to check windows and the back door, looking for anything that would give Eric an easy way in. Mark’s not with them.
“Where’d Mark go?” I ask.
“He just ran to his place to grab some stuff since he’s staying. We said we’d hang and check things out while he was doing that,” Trystan explains, words rolling off of his tongue as if it’s just an ordinary day while he struts off to jiggle the handle of the back door. He frowns in thought as he re-enters the kitchen.
“What?” Garrett asks, noticing at the same moment. He takes Jane’s full glass of wine and drinks it while she looks at him amused.
“Mark grabbed the spare, but what if the fucker made a copy?”
We all stare at Trystan, and I’m sure, in that moment, horror at the thought is flooding their veins as much as it runs through mine.
“Mark was on the phone with the store as he was getting into his truck to make sure they had everything in stock for what we need to fix tomorrow. Hopefully they’ll have it all,” Colin says, looking at all of us ladies as if to reassure us that things are being handled. He’s so sweet. It’s not helping though.
“Ava, babe, what do you have around here that can be used as a weapon? You need, at the very least, one or two items in each room in different spots.” Trystan looks to me, all business. I see his special operations brain working.
“You think he’s going to try to get in again?” I ask, my mouth dry.
“He had no qualms about it the other times. He’s happy to play with your feelings. I wouldn’t put it past him. I hope not, but I’d rather be prepared than not. The only thing that stopped him from whatever his plans were earlier was Mark coming home.” His solemn look sends shivers down my spine. “Ava, you were alone in the bath. What if Mark hadn’t arrived when he had? Did you have anything near you to protect yourself with? Something that could at least do some damage to him? A shampoo bottle won’t do that much damage to someone with less than honorable intentions.”
I shudder again as Trystan’s words hit me and the realization of how badly this afternoon could’ve gone settles. Jane rubs my arm in comfort, sensing my rising anxiety.
“You sure you don’t want to just go stay at Mark’s place?” Colin asks, looking hopeful.
“I will not let that bastard scare me from my own home. No, I’m not hiding.”
The guys all look at each other with concern, but you can still see the pride in their eyes.
“Okay. No hiding,” Trystan echoes. “Let’s get busy.”
30
Mark
You know how good of friends we have? After loading up a few bags of important items, I arrive back at Ava’s to find pizza on the table thanks to Garrett and Jane and items stashed around the rooms for Ava and me to use in defense in case we need them. Not only did they help calm my girl down, they fed her and helped make her feel safe. If that wasn’t already enough, Colin and Sydney went home to grab Amy and walked back to stay the night so that there wasn’t another vehicle in the drive. That way, we have our own little alarm system until we get things set up tomorrow.
After everyone else went home, the four of us plus a pooch curled up on couches to watch a movie until the girls went to crawl into Ava’s bed. Colin and I decided to crash in the living room with Amy.
At around one in the morning, I wake to the sound of a low growl. I lift my head, alert and trying to track where Amy’s at.
“Colin, you awake?” I whisper into the darkness toward where Colin is laying on the other couch.
“I’m up. Amy’s been restless for the past fifteen or so minutes.”
“She need to piss?”
“Did that growl sound like she needs to piss?”
“Good point,” I mutter. “I can’t see. Where’s she at?”
“Hallway. She keeps pacing from the front door to the back.”
“He’s here.”
“I was hoping it was an animal, but the growl kind of nixed that idea.”
“Shit.”
At that moment, a shadow crosses in front of the front window, and my breath catches. Anger begins to build, and I wonder if he’s able to tell if anyone’s on the couch. Amy prowls up next to Colin’s hand, a low rumble of warning reverberating in her throat. It’s not loud enough for Eric to hear yet.
