“Good.” I check all the windows and doors as I pass them until I reach the staircase. “I’m on my way up.”
“Okay.” The terror in her voice is real.
I blow out a breath and hold the bat up, ready to swing if someone comes at me. The fourth stair up creaks, so I step over it. When I get to the upstairs hallway, I hold my breath.
No sounds come from anywhere up here. If someone is here and wants to get out, they’ll have to go through me.
The first door is her parents’ bedroom, which is untouched. As is Caitlyn’s bedroom next door. But Sara’s looks like someone tore through it. Tom’s isn’t much better. Fuck. I pick my way through the wreckage to check the bathrooms and the closets. But there isn’t anyone in any of the rooms.
Setting the baseball bat to the side, I make it to the hallway bath and knock “Shave and a Haircut.” The door flings open and Sara bursts out. Her arms wrap around me so fucking tight. Her whole body trembles as I fold my arms around her.
“What if Peabody had been here?” Her voice is muffled in my shirt.
“He wasn’t.” I draw my phone out and disconnect our call. I have to make sure we’re all safe. I dial Finn.
“Why would someone do that? And the alarms were active when I came home. Nothing suspicious at all. They could’ve still been here and I would’ve walked right in.” Tears fill her voice and my chest aches for her. I know I’m not letting her out of my sight again.
No more outs. She’s coming back to our place.
“Shh, pip. Let me talk to Finn.”
“Hey.” Finn’s voice comes through the phone.
“Are you home?” I keep one hand between Sara’s shoulder blades, holding her close as she clutches me. Her fingers are wrapped in the back of my t-shirt. The tremors are fading and hopefully the tears too.
“Yeah, where are you?”
I’m not answering that right now. “Check Tom’s room.”
“What?”
“Just go to Tom’s room and tell me if anything is out of place.”
Sara sighs against me and rubs her face in my damp shirt. Fuck, I must stink. I’d been working out and then the run here. Sweat rolls down my back. My cock is definitely getting the wrong idea with her soft body against mine.
“Strange, but okay.” Finn opens a door. “The only thing missing is Tom. Now, what’s this about?”
“Thanks. I’ll tell you later.” I disconnect and tuck my phone back in my pocket.
“The house is clear.” I rub my hands down her back. “But you can’t stay here.”
“I’m not moving in with Wyatt.” Her tone is firm.
Fucking Wyatt. Of course he had to blow up everything. But I can’t stay here with her all the time. The house isn’t secure. Whoever is after Tom or Sara has proven that. I can’t believe I’m about to say this. “What about Drew?”
“He’s busy this weekend.” Sighing, she rests her cheek against my chest. “It’s too soon anyway. We haven’t even slept together.”
A little wave of relief flows through me. I shouldn’t care if she’s slept with him or not.
There’s no other solution. She’s coming with me if I have to drag her kicking and screaming. I won’t be at ease until she’s in our apartment, under lock and key. Our building has a doorman that every guest has to go through before even accessing our floor.
I’m not sure how they got around the alarm system, but I’m definitely setting up more cameras in here.
“Then you have to come to our apartment, pip. I can’t leave you here alone.”
She releases a sigh of defeat. “Not tonight.”
She lifts her red-rimmed, pale green eyes and I’m lost. Something shifts inside me, just a little. I’ve always cared for Sara, but she’s never been mine. In this moment, she’s mine and all I want to do is protect her.
