Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
The shadow moved again, allowing Jerico to see that it was a figure lurking by the edge of the building. Aspen would emerge at any second. The other person was closer than he was to the door. He saw a line of light form and grow thicker, signaling that Aspen had pushed the front entryway open.
“Go back inside, Aspen,” he called urgently as he ran toward her.
“What?” she questioned, freezing in place.
“Get inside,” he yelled.
This time, she followed his directions. With her protected, Jerico turned his attention back to the dark figure, who froze in the shadows. “Leave her alone. This does not end well for you if you don’t.”
“You won’t always be around,” the man hissed.
“Count on it. I protect those who are mine.”
A snort of disbelief reached Jerico’s ears, and he knew this was the pivotal moment. He could take care of any threat, but he wanted to keep violence away from his little girl. Peering through the darkness, he watched closely. The figure receded and disappeared.
“Is everything okay? Should I call the police?” Aspen called.
When he turned, Jerico saw her framed once again in the open doorway. Quickly, he joined her. “Get inside must mean something totally different to you than it does to me, little girl.”
“I don’t have to do everything you say,” she stated and wrinkled her nose at him.
“Sounds like we need to have a little talk.”
“A little talk or a Little talk?” she asked, stressing one word to give it a special meaning.
“Both. Come on. I don’t trust this guy.”
In his truck a short time later. Jerico forced himself to relax as he navigated the deserted roads. He didn’t want to carry his stress into such an important conversation. “I’m glad you’re finished there. Tell me about your new job.”
“I didn’t really finish.”
“What? You didn’t leave a note telling them you have a different job?” Jerico took his gaze off the road to glance at her for a split second.
“I have to give them some notice. I told them I’d finish the week if they needed me to.”
“It isn’t safe for you downtown, Aspen. Besides, you’ll kill yourself working two jobs.”
“Only two of the businesses want me to continue this week. The others decided to switch to a company. I’ll only need to work like three hours after my day job. It will almost be light when I get off. That guy won’t mess with me if there are other people around.”
“Did you tell those two offices that someone had attacked you?”
“No,” she admitted in a small voice.
“Tell me about your new job.” Jerico changed the subject to give her time to think about the risk she was putting herself in.
“It’s got normal day hours—seven to four. I’ve never cleaned a building while people are there.”
“Where?”
“The main training center. They said that’s where the soldiers have classes. I guess it has some big meeting rooms as well,” Aspen shared.
“I’m there often.”
“We’ll get to see each other?”
“We will.”
Silence settled inside the truck as they entered the quiet neighborhood. Jerico heard Aspen yawn and knew she had to be exhausted. He lifted his hand from the steering wheel to wrap around her thigh. She leaned sideways to rest her head against his shoulder.
“I need to tell them I can’t be there, don’t I?” she asked in a small voice.
“You do. It’s not safe.”
“If he hadn’t been there tonight, it might have been okay, but he was waiting for me.”
“I want you far away from him, little girl. Most of the time, people like this don’t just go away. If you’re there, he’s going to find a way. An open side door. A broken window. A trip to the dumpster.”
She shivered in the dark. He didn’t want to scare her, but this was a dangerous situation. Aspen couldn’t return to that building.
“I’ll call them tomorrow morning and mail the keys back.”
“Thank you. Come on. Let’s get you inside,” Jerico said, parking his truck in the driveway.
Once inside, Aspen greeted Rexy with pets and kisses. Rexy wasn’t as fixated on her tonight. He seemed to be adjusting to living here.
“He’s a couch hog,” Jerico shared.
“He likes you and wants to be close.” Aspen looked up at him and forced herself to be brave. “Can I sleep with you?”
“Too scared to sleep on your own?”
“No. I want to be with you.”
“I want to hold you in my arms, too, sleepy little girl. Come on. Did you eat?”
“Yes. I took a sandwich with me.”
“Good girl. Go get ready. I’ll take Rexy out for one last bathroom stop.”
Nodding, she turned to go down the hallway. She grabbed her nightshirt before running to the hall bathroom to brush her teeth and jump in the shower.
When she came out, he stood in the hall in the sleep pants that had shown up in her daydreams a lot. Jerico straightened up away from the wall and held an arm out to her. “Come on, little girl. Let’s go to bed.”