Until You (The Redemption, #1)(36)

Not the second time either.

“It’s probably nothing,” I mumble as I type in the name Kaleo Makani on my phone and hit enter.

It’s never nothing if I’m called.

The screen populates with headline after headline about an attempt on the life of a former associate of Kaleo’s. I scan the first article quickly as my heart races and my mouth grows dry. Phrases like “still in control,” “ordered from his cell,” “out for revenge,” clutter the screen.

I stare at the search page until my eyes burn and my head spins and the need to get home to my own bubble owns my every thought.

Relief washes over me when I pull into my drive. For a few seconds, I rest my forehead on my hand on the steering wheel and draw in a few shaky breaths to calm myself. Uncle Peter would call back if contact was critical.

Stop jumping to conclusions, Ten.

Nothing has changed. Your life isn’t hers anymore.

But when I start to get out of my Jeep, I notice the side door to my garage swung wide open. I freeze, one foot on the ground, one foot still in the car, as I look around.

The pots on my porch have been moved. It should be three to the left and two to the right of the steps.

The security door is open, the mat in front of it is askew. I always have it straight, butted up against the jamb. Always.

The panic I felt earlier from a simple missed call becomes full-fledged terror.

Get out of here, Tess. Go!

I slam the car door, start the engine, and floor it in reverse.

Tenny.

I’m Tenny now.

Someone slams on their horn, but the billowing cloud of dust I just dug up is too thick for me to see through. I’m trapped. Unable to leave my driveway. A bumper less than a foot from my driver’s side door.

Terror streaks through me.

I’m trapped. He has me trapped.

My hands shake so hard that I drop my phone to the floor when I try to dial 911. Desperate and terrified, I climb over the console to the passenger side and fling the door open and nearly fall out.

Arms close around me, catching me, and I fight against them.

“Whoa!”

Crew.

It’s Crew.

A strangled cry is all I can manage as sobs of relief wrack my body just as violently as the trembling does.

“Tennyson? What is it? What’s wrong?”

All I can do is shake my head and try to stand on my own without him holding me up.

“It’s okay. We didn’t hit each other. No harm. No foul.”

Embarrassed, more shaken than I care to admit, I finally have the courage to meet his eyes. “The house. I . . .”

“Dad?”

I jar at the sound of Paige’s voice. “No,” I murmur, shaking my head and immediately turning my back to hide my face from her.

“Is she okay?”

Crew takes a few steps away from me. “Yes. Just shaken. She thought we were going to hit her. Tell you what, why don’t you and Addy head back to the house for me, okay? We’ll go to the library later.”

“No. P-please. You can t-take them. I’m f-fine.” I stutter over the words. “I promise.”

Crew shakes his head. “Paige? Head back. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Paige looks my way, worry on her sweet face.

I muster a smile. “It’s okay. I’m fine.” I clear my throat. “Really. Take the girls, Crew.”

“No.” There is no arguing with him, and frankly I don’t want to.

We watch both girls as they head up the driveway. They look back a few times before turning past the oak tree.

Crew walks past me and reaches across the seat of my Jeep to turn the ignition off and pockets my keys. When he steps back out of the doorway, I can’t escape his questioning gaze. “You want to tell me what’s going on? Why you’re rushing out of here like a bat out of hell?”

My heart is still racing, and it feels like I have a huge lump in my throat. “My doors. Someone was here. I—”

“Shit.” He takes a few steps back and runs a hand through his hair before putting his hands on my shoulders and stooping down so we’re eye level. “That was me. I—”

“You?” It was him?

“Yes. Christ, I’m sorry. The plumber called and needed a part number so he can order it in before his appointment next week. I didn’t think you’d mind if I grabbed it from the garage. But I noticed water trickling out from under the door to the mudroom and couldn’t find a spare key under the pots, so I thought maybe the window was unlocked. When it wasn’t, I turned the mainline off to the house and ran home to get a spare key and some tools. I was just on my way back.”

“It was you,” I repeat, forcing myself to hear myself. To believe the words. “I thought someone was inside. I thought . . .”

“I’m sorry.” He pulls me against his chest, but I just stand there, hands at my sides, trying to calm myself down. “I should have called you. Let you know. I didn’t—”

“It’s fine. I’m fine.” I take a step back, pushing against the comfort of his hug, mortified at my reaction. I can’t imagine what he’s thinking right now. “The house. Let me open it.”

I walk toward the cottage, my thoughts so disjointed from the fear that just owned me that I don’t register the fact that Crew just said my house is flooded. All I can think about is the feeling of being trapped. The sheer terror of thinking Kaleo had sent someone to come after me.