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I still didn’t get it. Even if Connor did come back, what were they going to do if they weren’t going to force him to get help? What would push Connor into getting help?
The screen door squeaked open then banged closed behind Vic. He stared out onto the street for a few seconds then gave a brief nod before turning to me. “We need to move inside.”
My breath hitched as my eyes darted to the street. Did he see Connor? Was he out there watching? “Is he here?”
“No.”
“Then why—”
He cut me off. “I don’t have time for this. Move it!” Vic ordered.
I scrambled to my feet and he grabbed my elbow using his body as a shield while he ushered me into the house, down the hall and into the kitchen.
That was when several gunshots sounded off like firecrackers from the street.
I screamed and Vic’s arms wrapped around me as he pushed me to the far back wall. He was stiff and it was more like being surrounded by a piece of steel than a man. “You’re safe. No one is trying to hurt you.”
What? How did he know that?
It lasted about two seconds then silence followed, except the sound of my heart thumping in my head.
He pulled back, but still kept one arm around me while he took his phone out of his back pocket, tapped a few times and then put it to his ear.
“Yeah, all good.” He paused. “See you in two.” He hung up then urged me to sit, poured me a glass of orange juice and set it in front of me, but I couldn’t drink anything.
Why was he so calm? I was shaking and freaked, having no idea what the hell just happened, while Vic opted to pour me a glass of orange juice rather than chasing after whoever had just shot at the house. Vic would chase after them, wouldn’t he?
But he stayed with me and it only took minutes before the commandos arrived, Deck, Tyler, and Ernie. I didn’t know where Josh was.
Tyler walked straight to me and gave me a hug. God, he was sweet. But then he said, “Sorry to do that to you, sugar.”
My eyes widened and everything in me stilled. “Excuse me?”
Tyler’s eyes shot to Vic. “You didn’t tell her yet?”
I shot out of the chair. “Tell me what?”
Vic said nothing because Deck cleared his throat and Vic, Ernie, and Tyler abruptly left the kitchen.
“Deck, what’s going on?”
Sirens blared.
“I’m pushing him.”
Oh, God.
“I’m threatening the one thing he needs to keep safe, Alina. You. I need him to break and this is the only way I can think of to do that. The longer he continues to do what he’s doing, the harder it will be to bring him back.”
“You shot at the house?” Deck confirmed with a nod. “You want him to break.” I didn’t know what else to say. I was shocked. They did this on purpose. That was how Vic knew to get me inside when he did. Why he said ‘no one is trying to hurt you.’ “But that means you think he’s watching me.”
“Don’t think. I know he has been. He never left. But there’s no point us going after him. We need to give him a reason to come to us. To talk about getting help. That’s the first step.”
“What makes you think he’ll change his mind?”
Deck’s brows lifted. “Alina, we have a man obsessed with keeping you safe and your house was just shot up. Do you think he’s going to let that happen? Shrug it off? Not a fuckin’ chance.”
“If he even hears about it.”
“And why I’ve informed a few friends with the police. If he’s not watching the house, he’ll hear.”
I wasn’t so sure this was such a smart idea to push Connor. This might put him over the edge.
The police ‘friends’ of Deck’s arrived. I kept it together, despite wanting to yell and scream and lose it on all of them because I was worried that this plan was going to backfire and Connor would do something reckless.
I moved out to the foyer and sat on the stairs and two officers came in and spoke with Deck.
One officer glanced at me while Deck spoke and then I heard Deck say, “You got what you need, Rick.” It wasn’t a question and Deck was obviously telling him it was time to clear out.
Ernie popped his head in the front door. “Incoming.”
“Do you realize the amount of paperwork I have now, Deck? Jesus, you make my job difficult,” the officer, Rick, muttered.
Deck half smiled. “I owe you.”
“Fuckin’ right you do. And I’ll be collecting.”
“Sir. Sir. You can’t go in there,” I heard someone outside yell.
I didn’t have time to process as the screen door was nearly ripped off its hinges and Connor stormed in. His dark eyes landed immediately on me. Then it was like slowly letting out the air in a balloon as the explosive tension drained from his body in relief.
