Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 49239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
“Cam went on a few dates with this guy and said she wasn’t interested and he’s been phone stalking her. He was in our house tonight. Hannah’s there and...” I put my hand over my mouth, trying not to lose it. “I’ll kill him. I’ll shoot him in the head for coming into my home. If he messed with my daughter--”
Dom takes my hand. “Christ, why didn’t you tell me? Is Hannah okay?”
He presses the gas to make it through a yellow light.
“Cam said they’re all okay.” I take a deep breath. “I’m shaking. The things he could have done to Hannah...I think I might be sick.”
“Just breathe. They’re okay. We’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they’re safe, I promise.”
We. We’re only on our first date, and Dom isn’t angry at all about the sudden turn of events. He’s just concerned for my family, like me.
“Thank you. I’m sorry about our date.”
“This matters more. We’ll have lots of time for more dates.”
When we have to stop at a red light, it’s all I can do not to get out of the car and run home. I’m rapidly texting Cam, who assures me everyone is fine, but I won’t be able to relax until I can see them all for myself.
Dom makes it to my house in record time and he’s right behind me when I run to the back door, pounding on it.
Cam peeks through the curtained window and opens it for me. She grabs me in a hug as soon as I’m inside. I look over her shoulder, seeing Hannah on the couch, Tate and Sam on either side of her. She has an arm around each boy, all of them looking terrified. Sam is crying.
Dom puts a hand on my shoulder as he brushes past us, going over to the boys.
“Hey, it’s okay,” he says, scooping Sam into his arms. “No one can hurt you now.”
Sam clings to him, squeezing his eyes shut.
When I let go of Cam, I go to Hannah and Tate, putting my arms around both of them in a hug.
“Mom, I was in my room when someone was here,” Hannah says frantically.
“Where’s Zee?”
“He’s on his way home,” Cam says. “He was with his friends, but I called and told him to come home.”
“Why don’t you guys take my car to my place?” Dom tries to pass me his car keys. “I’ll search the house from top to bottom and make sure everything’s good.”
“The police already did,” Cam says. “It’s secure.”
“Hannah, can you put on a movie for the boys?” I ask.
While the kids are focused on the movie, I pull Dom and Cam aside for a hushed conversation.
“How did he get in?” I ask. “Neither of the doors looks broken into.”
Cam’s eyes fill with tears. “With a key. The police said he must have made a copy of my house key without me knowing. The only way I knew he was here was because he used lipstick to write cocktease on our bathroom mirror. Hannah’s the one who found it.”
Ice forms in my veins. Fuck this asshole. “I’m going to get my gun.”
Dom put a hand on my arm. “Slow down. You guys aren’t staying in a house he has a key to.”
“Why not? I’ve got great aim.”
“You have to sleep at some point. My house has a security system and a guard at the gate.”
Cam nods. “I think that would make all of the kids feel better.”
“I have plenty of room. Five bedrooms and an office with a couch that makes out into a bed. Have everyone pack a bag and let’s head over there when Zee gets back.”
I take his hand and squeeze it, grateful he’s here. This wasn’t the way either of us saw our first date ending, but here we are.
This asshole is going to find out he’s messing with the wrong family.
Chapter Seventeen
Dom
* * *
“How’s it going?” Colby asks, sitting down beside me on the bus that will take us from the Seattle airport to our hotel.
“Okay, I think.”
Colby’s the one who connected me with the private detective who’s staying overnight at my house while I’m on the road for the next week. He’s a former cop and I know Tess and Cam will sleep better knowing he’s on duty.
He can’t go with all six of them when they leave the house, though. Every time I talk to Tess, I can tell how worried she is. And I’m every bit as concerned, but I’m also worried for her.
“Benton’s really good. And didn’t you say he’s working on tracking the stalker down, too?”
“Yeah, but it’s hard. Cam doesn’t even know his last name and he switches phones every time he texts her.”
“They’re safe at your house.”
I hope so. But I won’t rest easy until that crazy son of a bitch is in jail. It’s the worst time possible for me to have to leave for a week. Somehow, I have to find a way to focus on hockey when I just want to be at home looking out for Tess and her family.