Page 31 of This Christmas

Nick’s patience snapped. “Enough. Put your hands behind your back.” He walked over and yanked at his hands.

Ted resisted, screaming several times, “Do you know who I am?”

Then, when Nick assured him that he did in fact know who he was, Ted changed his tactics to screaming that he was the DA in Portland. When that didn’t work, he began muttering something about lawyers and rights, but Nick didn’t hesitate. He cuffed the man and tugged him toward the front door. Nick gave him a brief nod before leading Ted out to the cruiser.

Joe felt the smallest bit of relief but doubted it would last.

Ally was still standing halfway into the room, trembling while Charlotte clung tightly to her. The little girl’s face was pressed into her mother’s chest, and every now and then she glanced toward the door, her eyes were wide with confusion.

Joe had holstered his weapon, but Ally’s eyes kept flashing to it in the side holster he wore. He zipped his jacket over the weapon. Then he moved closer to the pair, careful not to startle them. “It’s okay,” he said softly. “He’s gone.”

Ally’s lips parted like she wanted to say something, but no words came. When she finally took a shaky breath and stepped forward, he caught her as she swayed.

“You’re safe now,” he murmured, steadying her. He grabbed Charlotte, who appeared just as shaken, and held on to them both. “Both of you are safe.”

Charlotte rested her head on his shoulder, and he kept his hand at Ally’s back. He could sense the adrenaline still racing through both of them. He moved Ally onto the sofa and set Charlotte in her lap, then covered them both with a blanket.

“I’ll start a fire.” He moved over and lit the kindling quickly, then set a few dry logs on top.

When the fire was going strong, he moved over to talk to Aiden, who had just stepped inside the front door. He filled the man in on Ally’s call and what he’d witnessed when he came inside with Nick.

“Tell me that’s a registered piece.” Aiden motioned to his weapon.

“It is.” He pulled out his registration.

Aiden’s eyes narrowed slightly at him. “I did a little digging into you.” He glanced over at Ally and Charlotte for a moment. “I’m thankful you were here quickly to back up Nick.” He nodded in reply. “You know, if you ever change your mind about being a PI and want to wear the badge again, I’ve got a spot for you. Small-town cops are a hell of a lot different than city cops.”

He thought for a moment and shook the man’s hand. “I’ll think about it.”

“How the hell did he get in the door?” Aiden asked, looking at the lock.

He frowned. Hell, he’d been too busy worrying about Ally and Charlotte to even think about that.

“I’ll find out,” Nick said. He disappeared outside.

“The lock isn’t broken,” Aiden said, examining the handle.

“Are there any hidden keys?” he asked Ally, who frowned and shrugged.

“Not that Max told me. Max and Juliette have a set, obviously. I also have a set, along with my mom and Faye and Nate.”

Just then Nick came in, holding up a single key. “It looks like a copy. He’s not saying how he got it.”

“We’ll have all the locks changed,” Joe said easily.

After Aiden and his crew and the tow truck hauling Ted’s car left, the silence inside the house felt deafening.

Charlotte was now lying in her mother’s lap as she watched the fireplace. Neither of them had moved since he’d put them there. He walked into the kitchen and started to fix Charlotte some chocolate milk, since he didn’t think Ally would want her to have too much sugar at this hour. He also made Ally a cup of warm tea with honey in it.

When Charlotte had downed half the milk and Ally had only taken a few sips of the hot tea, he sat down next to them.

“Now that things have quieted down and warmed up in here, what do you say we get you both upstairs?” he suggested.

Ally nodded slightly after looking down at her daughter.

He easily picked Charlotte up, and she willingly went into his arms. Ally followed him out of the room.

“Mommy, is he coming back?” Charlotte asked when he laid her down on the bed and tucked the blankets over her.