He winces. “Just Melody’s. Her house is the only one at the end of this section.”
My heart rate picks up as I glance at the truck to make sure my girl’s still sitting where I left her. I don’t really want her to overhear this. I’m not going to keep it from her, but she’s going to hear it from me when we’re alone. Not from four guys on the side of the road.
Robert continues, “Could have just been some kids being stupid, but I’m not really buying that. Whoever did this knew exactly how to cut the power to her house for a good chunk of time. It’s going to take us several more hours to get it reestablished.”
“Jesus…” I take several deep breaths. My gut tells me to take this seriously. “Thanks. No need to rush. There’s no way she’ll be staying there tonight.”
Robert nods. “Thanks. Appreciate it. You might want to call the sheriff and have him meet you at the house if you’re headed there.”
He’s right. I pull my phone out and dial Dallas first. He picks up on the first ring. “Married yet?”
“Not yet, but we have a problem.”
“On my way. Where are you?”
“Melody’s house. I suspect someone is fucking with her. I don’t like it. I’m going to have Sheriff Johnston meet us there as well. But I could use a second set of hands packing up some of her things.”
“I’ll grab Tiago and leave Ryder here with the women.”
“Thanks, man.” I hang up and dial the sheriff next.
“Sheriff’s office. This is Tonya.”
“Tonya, it’s Brody.”
“Hey, Brody. Did they get the electricity back up?”
“No. They’re working on it. Listen, it looks like it was deliberately cut. Can you send someone out?”
“Dammit. That sucks. Yes, I’ll tell Sheriff Johnston now. I’m sure he’ll want to come out himself.”
“Thanks.” I end the call and make my way back to the truck. After climbing back into the cab, I shut the door and face Melody.
Her eyes are wide, and she’s taking deep breaths. “What’s wrong?”
I take her hand. “Someone cut the lines to your house on purpose.”
She slowly closes her eyes, her jaw tight.
“I’m sorry, baby. The sheriff is on his way. So are Dallas and Tiago.”
My girl looks out the window, still not speaking.
“I’d rather wait for them to arrive before we go there.”
She nods.
“I’m so sorry. This really sucks. Maybe it’s nothing. Could be coincidence that the cut lines happen to be yours, but we’re not taking any chances. I don’t want to get to your house without backup.”
Melody takes deep breaths. Still, not a word.
I lift her hand to my lips and kiss her fingers. “No matter what, it’s going to be okay,” I tell her.
She nods again. Melody’s strong. I’m not sure that’s a good thing. I don’t like her holding in her emotions. Certainly not for my sake. There aren’t even tears in her eyes. It’s as if she suspected something like this would eventually happen to her, and now it has.
She told me about her paranoia. It’s not unfounded. Maybe the fact that she sometimes hears cars driving by is not her overreacting like she hopes. I get it. Sometimes, people who are well-known end up in the path of crazed assholes.
The sheriff pulls up alongside me, slows to a crawl, and waves before nodding toward the house. I follow him.
