Page 147 of Beneath the Quiet

He stops in front of me and makes a grab for me, but I skip out of his reach, laughing.

“Damn woman,” he mutters. The smile on his face lets me know that there’s no heat behind his words.

I reach for his hand and tug him closer. “Take-out would be great. What’s Katie’s favourite?”

“Same as yours. Fish and chips.”

“Mmm, great.”

I take a step back and move to open my gate.

“Fuck!”

His loud curse makes me snap my head up, and the moment my eyes fall on my front door, I gasp. My homey, blue front door has been vandalised. Red paint coats the wood, dripping down on the front steps, but it’s the words that hit me the most.

You can’t escape me.

I gasp, losing my focus with each shallow breath that falls from my lips, shock taking me over in a way that I haven’t succumbed to in months.

I feel Aidan’s arm around my chest, pulling me close to his front, and his lips grazing the shell of my ear.

“Breathe, sweetheart.”

I drink in a deep lungful of air, not even realising that I’ve held it inside for so long. The dark spots blurring my vision clear with each breath I take, and I grab onto his arm. Once again, he’s my anchor. The one who’ll help me chase away the anxiety.

“I’m okay. I’m okay.”

“Yes, you are. I’ll phone the station, but lean on me, okay? I’ve got you.”

My head bobs up and down, and I blink away the tears of shock.

Shock and anger.

I hear Aidan’s voice behind me as he talks with Franny, yet I can’t focus on the words. All I do is watch the degradation on my front door.

My home.

“Thank you, Franny. I trust you.” He pauses. “Yeah, I’m not leaving her side. We’ll be waiting. Bye.”

He ends the call, pulling me closer, and I turn my face into the crook of his neck. I take the strength he offers and breathe in his scent.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t you dare apologise,” he growls. “Change of plans. You’re staying with Katie and me tonight.”

I open my mouth to protest, but the shake of his head and his mouth resting on my temple stop me.

“This isn’t open to discussion, Mae.”

I sigh, knowing this is a battle I won’t win.

I don’t argue.

I hold on to him, and we wait in silence for the forensic team to arrive.

Bone tired, I fall into the couch in Aidan’s living room. Even though it’s only early evening, it might as well be midnight. My body has shut down for the night, and my mind will follow soon if I let it. Aidan’s in the kitchen, putting in our order at Fred’s.

The patter of small feet reaches my ears, and I rest my head on the back of the sofa, forcing a weak smile at Katie when she comes to sit down next to me.