“What doyouthink?”
She frowns. “The last time I broke protocol, he locked me in the basement for a week.”
“Well, I think we’re safe here.” Before I can knock on wood, she hisses.
“Sky, listen. There’s a guy in a dark sedan outside our gates.”
“Shit, close the curtains and stay down.” I grab my phone, open the security app, and scroll until I get to the camera facing the street.
At first, the stranger seems lost. Then the fucking gate opens. He either got the code from Tommy or he’s a predator about to kill us.
Where’s a hero when you need him?
Chapter 3
Dean
Headlights off, I tail the two young females until a security gate clunks closed near their back bumper. Nerves tingling, I drive around the block and park behind the Ford which followed at a distance.
Eyes on the iron fence, and one foot on the pavement, I call my brother, Drac. “You busy?”
“For you, baby bro? Never.” No time to respond to his slight, I send him images of the sisters and text him the sedan’s license plate.
“Can you run the number and facial-reco the women?” Inhaling well-oiled leather, I slip my weapon from its holster, and click off the safety.
“Hold on a minute. Aren’t you on PTO?” His question sounds more like an accusation but like before, I let it slide.
“Can’t you please do this for me once?”How long until the guy sitting in the car in front notices me, or worse, goes after the girls? Is he the reason the teen hid at the tour?
“Yeah, give me a second. While we wait, tell me how you’re doing.” His keys clack in the background and I sigh.
Since getting shot, he and my three other brothers refuse to believe I am not a basket case. “Mommy, I’m fine. And tell all the other broody hens to back off. The bullet barely grazed me.”
“Dino, you freaked out in the ambulance.” His use of my childhood nickname strikes its mark and my shoulders ease away from my ears.
Eyes still on the car in front, I ditch the sarcasm, and explain what happened that day. “The paramedics pumped me up on opiates after I told them not to.”
“They said your flashback was intense.”
“So you and everyone else have said at least a hundred times, but I’m fucking excellent. What more do I need? An affidavit from Jesus H. Christ?”
“That would help. Notarized with a heavenly stamp, if you wouldn’t mind.” While he jokes around, the curtains inside the house flutter.
The stalker, still in his car, turns his head and makes a call. It doesn’t take a degree in criminal justice to tell his clock is counting down.
Inching my door open further, I exit my vehicle, and crawl to the hedges lining the sidewalk. “Are you helping or not?”
“Relax dude. The car belongs to a rental company. The driver gave them a fake ID and used a shell corporation’s credit card. Wanna tell me what the fuck you’re up to?”
“Not particularly. What about the girls? Anything on them?” Creeping toward the four-door’s right back tire, I lower the volume and place the cellphone closer to my ear.
“The teen has no social media footprint. Odd for someone her age. The older one has all new Facebook, Insta, and TikTok accounts. Oh yeah, despite their uncanny similarities, the two are not related.”
An insult comes to mind, and a grin spreads over my face. “I thought you were some super IT genius. That’s the best you can do, bro?”
“I didn’t say I was done. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I got the impression you were in some kind of hurry.”
Before I can answer, the moon pops out from behind a cloud and reflects on my perp’s pistol barrel. With adrenaline rushing through my veins, I grab my weapon and brace for a run.
