We lie there, our breathing returning to normal, the wind whistling outside. Aron strokes my hair gently and I have that deep sense of peace again.
When I’m with him, everything is right.
ChapterSix
ARON
I wake up to a thrumming noise. At first I think it’s the wind, but then my attention is caught by my cell screen flashing.
I pick it up quietly, trying not to disturb Olivia, who is sleeping like an angel next to me. Her hair is spread out over the pillow and I resist the urge to bury my face in it.
Shit.
It’s the security alert system at the gym, sending an automatic alert text. I dress quietly, slipping out of the bedroom and padding along the carpet. Snoop is sleeping in the hallway, taking up a lot of room. His paws twitch as I walk past and then he sleepily lifts his head.
“Be right back, boy. You take care of her.” I close the front door and run to my car. We’ve had a couple of alerts that turned out to be false alarms, and it’s probably the wind blowing a branch against a window, but I want to make sure. I have Kade’s spare keys in case of emergencies, so I can check everything’s okay and then get back to Olivia before she wakes up. I don’t like leaving her alone.
When I arrive at Langstones I check the outside. The shutters are pulled tight but the front door is wide open. It’s early enough that none of the other stores are open and nobody’s around. I text my brothers and carefully walk inside, grabbing a weight from the display by the window in case the intruder is still around. It’s silent inside, but the reception area looks messed up, with the laptop open and some protein bar wrappers on the floor.
I flip on the overhead lights for the main gym. While most of the equipment looks normal, a pile of floor mats is stacked on one side with a bunch of T-shirts rolled together like a pillow. I check the equipment room and then the back door. There’s a broken panel where someone’s smashed the glass, so that’s clearly the entry point.
Damn. My brothers weren’t convinced we needed to pay the extra to cover the back door with an alarm system. I thought this town was sleepy enough that it might be overkill, so we went for the discount option which only covered the front door and windows. I check the security camera. Whoever let themselves in via the back door was smart enough not to turn the lights on. It’s a tall figure wearing a hooded jacket and jeans. He treats the gym like a hotel, taking a nap on the mats and then leaves about fifteen minutes before I arrive. I can’t see his face. I’m guessing it’s a man because of his height and shoulders, but who knows.
My cell beeps. It’s Alfie.
Cuz, got you the info you wanted. Adrian Smoye is bad news. Cops from three states are after this guy, he’s part of a big narcotics ring. He’s not in Newhope, according to my sources. I’d be on high alert, and warn Olivia and her brother. I’ve let Bob in Darlinton know - any news and you call him. Don’t mess with this guy, he’s dangerous.
My blood starts pumping. I don’t want this fucker within a fifty mile radius of Olivia.
My cell beeps again.
He’s here. Thought it was you so I opened door. Snoop bit him. Locked in bathroom to get away from him but help please!
I call the cops and then run straight out the open door. My brothers can deal with the gym, my priority is getting to Olivia. Once I’m in the car, I floor the accelerator, driving as fast I can through the almost empty streets to get back to Kade’s apartment.
I shut the door quietly and run up the steps. I let myself in the hallway and then up the stairs to the apartment. There’s crashing from inside, so I bet I’m not the first one to call 911.
Hoping this fucker is too distracted to hear me, I slowly turn the key in the lock, slipping silently into the apartment, leaving the front door slightly open. A man wearing a hooded jacket is at the end of the hallway with his back to me, pounding on the bathroom door. Snoop is barking fiercely from behind the door.
“I’m going to kill that dog first. And then I’m going to rip you apart. How dare you think you could get away from me? Didn’t you realize I had a tracker on your phone? I had to do a deal near here and thought I’d combine business with pleasure. The pleasure will be making you suffer. Now. Open. The. Door.” He bangs his fists and the door shakes.
I run down the hallway, grabbing him from behind. He’s maybe thirty pounds lighter but not as tall as me. He smells of alcohol and old, sour sweat. He spirals back away from the door as I pull him, both of us crashing to the ground. He scrambles around, trying to get my arms from around his neck, but I wrap them tighter. He’s trying to kick me but it’s not working. He runs out of energy and goes limp, so I loosen my hold. I think he’s passed out.
The bathroom door opens and Olivia peeks out. She’s crying, but it doesn’t look like he’s hurt her. Snoop’s snout pokes cautiously around the door and he eyes Adrian’s prone body on the floor with a low growl.
Olivia walks over. “Are you okay?” Her voice is soft.
“I’m fine. I’m not sure about him.” I flick my eyes down to Adrian. I can hardly bear to look at this asshole who has threatened the woman I adore.
“I’m so sorry about all this. I brought my mess here, and I got you involved.” She puts her hand on my shoulder.
“Olivia, don’t worry. He’s not your problem anymore. My cousin Alfie says the cops have been after him for a while. And anyway, I love you. I don’t care about this kind of trivial baggage.” I jerk my arm and Adrian’s eyelids flutter.
She smiles. “Can you say that again when you’re not holding my ex in a wrestling hold?”
I smile back. “It’s a deal.”
After the cops arrive, Olivia and I clean up the mess caused by Adrian crashing around the apartment. She gives Snoop some dog treats for being such a good protector. While the cops are reading Adrian his rights, Kade arrives.
