Anonymous(13)

Jake’s eyes gleam with untapped rage as he pins them on Owen. “Find him fast, brother. And when you do, I want a few words with him.”

Owen’s smirk is just as deadly as Jake’s eyes. “So do I.”



* * *



Once Owen is gone, silence fills the air. Jake is stuck in his own thoughts, and I know he’s contemplating not flying out to Arizona. But I can’t have him jeopardize his job for me. His suitcase lies empty on the bed, so I’m the one who starts putting his clothes inside.

Jake grabs my hand and slams the suitcase shut. “I wish you would’ve told me.”

My chest is so tight I can barely breathe, and my eyes feel like sandpaper from crying so much. Jake pulls me over to him and I lay my head against his chest. “I didn’t want to keep it from you. I thought the texts would stop once I said I was happily married. Obviously, he doesn’t understand that.”

“Or doesn’t care,” he counters. “You’re the one who knows these guys. Are any of them capable of more than just texts? Hell, what am I saying, this guy is already showing up at Halloween parties uninvited!”

“I know, it’s super creepy.” I step back and wipe away my tears. “And it’s been years since I’ve seen or heard from any of them. People are capable of almost anything.”

Jake nods. “That’s what scares me. I’ve heard plenty of horror stories from Owen. I don’t want you being a victim of any of it.”

Placing my hands on his stubbly cheeks, I lean up and kiss him. “I won’t. I have a bad ass husband and a best friend who’s a cop. Nothing’s going to happen to me.”

Pressing his forehead to mine, he breathes me in, a soft growl erupting from his lips. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Ellie. I don’t care if I have to kill the fucker to keep him away from you. No one’s going to take you away from me.”





Six





Ellie





While Jake’s gone, I decide to stay with my parents. I opt not to tell them about the texts because I know they’ll freak out. My mother is a worrier like that. Jake says I get my paranoia from her, and he’s probably right, considering as a child my mother was always looking in her medical diagnosis book every time my sister and I had something wrong with us. Just a simple headache could lead you to the prognosis of a possible brain tumor. Guess you can say she was the original Web MD.

Speaking of that dreaded book, I pull it from my mother’s bookshelf and open it up. I have to say it’s probably worse than googling your symptoms. I look over at the window seat and smile. I used to love this room as a child. The book shelf is built into the wall and my parents put in an antique desk that I used to do my homework on. The smell of the books is what I love most.

“What are you reading?” my mother asks from behind. Her voice catches me off guard and I jerk around. I hold up the book, and she laughs. Everyone says our laughs are the same. “Uh-oh, are you not feeling well? Did we shop too much yesterday?”

“I’m fine, Mom.” I make sure to smile as I say it. I slide the book back on the shelf with the encyclopedias I used to use for research as a kid. Back then, we didn’t have the internet. I take a seat by the window and sigh. “Shopping yesterday was fun. It’s good to get out.”

She leans against the antique desk. “Did you shut down the bakery for the whole weekend?”

I nod. “I’m not about to make Vikki come in when I know she has family in town. Besides, I got everything done that I needed. We don’t have any new orders until next week.”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “Well, I’m glad you’re here. It feels like old times.”

A smile lights up my face. “Yes, it does. I’m not used to waking up to breakfast already on the table.” I hold up a hand. “Wait, I take that back. Jake will make his spicy eggs every now and again.”

That makes my mother cringe. When it comes to food, my parents are simple. They like salt and pepper, and occasionally, they’ll move out of their comfort zone and try some garlic and herbs. When I cook, they get a mouthful of flavors.

“Is he coming back tomorrow?” she asks.

I shake my head. “Monday afternoon. If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay here tomorrow night as well.”

“Of course. We can make spaghetti tomorrow. Your father wants to grill steaks tonight.”

My stomach growls. “Perfect. Just like old times.” I didn’t start eating steak until I was in high school. When I was in fifth grade, I choked and was so afraid to eat after that. That’s why I stayed away from heavy meats and ate things that were easy to swallow.

My mother sighs. “That’s how it was, wasn’t it? Fish on Fridays and steak on Saturdays. Except you used to have your father grill you a hamburger so you could put barbecue sauce on it. When you started eating steak, our food bill went up.” She snickers and starts for the door. “Come downstairs and we’ll watch a movie.”

“Be there in a sec.”

“All right, sweetheart.” She walks out the door and down the stairs. Turning back to the window, I peer out at the river down the hill. My parents had wanted me and Jake to buy their house, so they could move into a smaller one, but we hadn’t needed all the space. However, now that we want to start a family, it might not be a bad idea.