this is.
Lately it seemed that the more she prayed for peace, the more she felt her life spinning out of control. Subbing for Andy. The spying eyes. The jimmied lock. The butterflies that Nate caused. All of it seemed too overwhelming.
Sheâd come to Crescent City to run away from her past, from her fatherâs death. But she hadnât counted on a whole new set of problems.
Nate was nearly to his car, and she had to make a decision.
âWait!â
He turned, one shoulder lifted in a questioning stance. âYou forget something?â
She shook her head and jogged over to him. âThis is going to sound really weird, but on Tuesday, I thought someone was following me home. Iâm afraid they might try again tonight.â His face turned stony. âWould you mind just following me back to the garage to make sure no one else is behind me?â
Sheâd barely closed her mouth before he agreed. âIâll be right behind you.â
The truck practically drove itself back to her home, the headlights of Nateâs car bouncing in her rearview mirror. She tried to search for other cars following them, but could see nothing. It wasnât until she arrived at the garage andNate pulled up beside her that their headlights illuminated her worst fear.
Looking up just to make sure she hadnât been mistaken, she swallowed the bile rising in her throat.
Her front door stood wide open.
FIVE
N ateâs grip on the steering wheel turned his knuckles white, and a low growl eased from deep in his throat. That door standing wide open meant that Danielle was in danger. And it was serious.
His stomach plummeted at just the thought.
He couldnât give her as much help as she neededâcouldnât afford to have divided attention. But he could help her in this moment. Dropping his chin to his chest, he whispered a quick prayer. âLord, please protect Danielle and me tonight. I donât know what Iâm about to walk into, but I trust that You can protect us.â
Feeling the adrenaline rushing through his system, he smacked his open palm against the wheel one more time for good measure, jerked his head back up and shoved his car door open. He stomped around to Danielleâs truck, where he could see her stricken face through the window.
âDanielle, keep your door locked. Iâm going to go in and check it out. Stay here.â He spoke loud enough that she could hear him through the door, but he waited for her to look up and make eye contact before heading in.
âWhat if thereâs someone in there?â
He was well protected, but she didnât need to know that. âIâll be fine.â
She nodded weakly.
Slipping to the door, he pushed it farther open with his toe, sliding just inside before tugging his Glock from its shoulder holster. Holding it straight in front of him as he entered the room, his feet moved silently on the floor as he approached the first open door on the far side of the room.
âHello! Is anyone here?â he called into the darkness. He held his breath, drowning out all distractions as he listened for any sound coming from inside.
No response and no sound.
Reaching into the room, he groped along the wall until his fingers connected with a light switch. He blinked as the light exploded to life. He squinted to adjust to the brightness as he swung around, checking every corner of the small room. Following the wall to the next door, he popped it open, plunging his gun into the small coat closet before he realized what it was. His heart pounded in chest, as though it was trying to break free, anticipation rushing through his veins as he swept to the next closed door.
Methodically he moved from room to room until he was sure the entire house was empty. Very little appeared to be disturbed, except for the stacks of papers on the dining room table. They were strewn across the table and floor, wrinkled and torn.
When he was sure it was
Lately it seemed that the more she prayed for peace, the more she felt her life spinning out of control. Subbing for Andy. The spying eyes. The jimmied lock. The butterflies that Nate caused. All of it seemed too overwhelming.
Sheâd come to Crescent City to run away from her past, from her fatherâs death. But she hadnât counted on a whole new set of problems.
Nate was nearly to his car, and she had to make a decision.
âWait!â
He turned, one shoulder lifted in a questioning stance. âYou forget something?â
She shook her head and jogged over to him. âThis is going to sound really weird, but on Tuesday, I thought someone was following me home. Iâm afraid they might try again tonight.â His face turned stony. âWould you mind just following me back to the garage to make sure no one else is behind me?â
Sheâd barely closed her mouth before he agreed. âIâll be right behind you.â
The truck practically drove itself back to her home, the headlights of Nateâs car bouncing in her rearview mirror. She tried to search for other cars following them, but could see nothing. It wasnât until she arrived at the garage andNate pulled up beside her that their headlights illuminated her worst fear.
Looking up just to make sure she hadnât been mistaken, she swallowed the bile rising in her throat.
Her front door stood wide open.
FIVE
N ateâs grip on the steering wheel turned his knuckles white, and a low growl eased from deep in his throat. That door standing wide open meant that Danielle was in danger. And it was serious.
His stomach plummeted at just the thought.
He couldnât give her as much help as she neededâcouldnât afford to have divided attention. But he could help her in this moment. Dropping his chin to his chest, he whispered a quick prayer. âLord, please protect Danielle and me tonight. I donât know what Iâm about to walk into, but I trust that You can protect us.â
Feeling the adrenaline rushing through his system, he smacked his open palm against the wheel one more time for good measure, jerked his head back up and shoved his car door open. He stomped around to Danielleâs truck, where he could see her stricken face through the window.
âDanielle, keep your door locked. Iâm going to go in and check it out. Stay here.â He spoke loud enough that she could hear him through the door, but he waited for her to look up and make eye contact before heading in.
âWhat if thereâs someone in there?â
He was well protected, but she didnât need to know that. âIâll be fine.â
She nodded weakly.
Slipping to the door, he pushed it farther open with his toe, sliding just inside before tugging his Glock from its shoulder holster. Holding it straight in front of him as he entered the room, his feet moved silently on the floor as he approached the first open door on the far side of the room.
âHello! Is anyone here?â he called into the darkness. He held his breath, drowning out all distractions as he listened for any sound coming from inside.
No response and no sound.
Reaching into the room, he groped along the wall until his fingers connected with a light switch. He blinked as the light exploded to life. He squinted to adjust to the brightness as he swung around, checking every corner of the small room. Following the wall to the next door, he popped it open, plunging his gun into the small coat closet before he realized what it was. His heart pounded in chest, as though it was trying to break free, anticipation rushing through his veins as he swept to the next closed door.
Methodically he moved from room to room until he was sure the entire house was empty. Very little appeared to be disturbed, except for the stacks of papers on the dining room table. They were strewn across the table and floor, wrinkled and torn.
When he was sure it was
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