Despite the beds we’d laid out for Griffin’s dogs, they preferred the stairs.I marveled at their instinct to keep guard, even in sleep.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d been asleep when the dogs started barking and the alarm began blaring.
Disoriented, I sat up as Hudson vaulted from the bed, moving with incredible speed.“Call 911.I’m going to check it out.”
“Check it out?No, honey, stay here.”My voice rose over the chaos of the alarm and the dogs absolutely losing their minds downstairs.
I scrambled for my phone, already dialing as he left the room, dressed only in his gray sweats.
“Be careful!”My voice shook as the phone rang in my ear.
“9-1-1, what’s the location of your emergency?”
“It’s Lucy Kincaid.Our alarm triggered, and Hudson went to check it out.”My heart hammered in my ears, keeping tempo with the blaring alarm.The dogs were outside now—Hudson had likely released them to search the property.
“Hi, Lucy.Deb here.”Recognition softened her tone.“We’ve got the report of the alarm, and deputies are on their way.Griffin’s off shift, but I called him in.They should be to you within ten minutes.”
Ten minutes felt like an eternity as I paced, feeling helpless while Hudson waded into God knows what.
“I have to go see if he’s okay.”I tugged a hoodie on over my sleep shirt.
“Hudson would want you to stay put.”Her reply was firm “Help will be there shortly.”
“Thank you, Deb.”I winced as I hung up on her.She wouldn’t like that very much.At some point, I’d have to drop some cupcakes by to apologize.
I cautiously crept down the dark staircase, hearing the dogs barking and snarling outside.A chill went down my spine as Hudson’s bellow echoed in the distance.
I pulled my hoodie tighter around me as I neared the front door—only for it to be kicked open.An unfamiliar man, who I could only assume to be Spencer Jones, came barreling inside.
He slammed it behind him, the lock snicking into place a far louder boom than the still-blaring alarm.
“I only want a fucking picture!”His hysterical scream sent me racing for the kitchen, intent on escaping through the side door.
My leg was grabbed from behind, and I crashed to the floor.I screamed as I was dragged backward by the ankle.
“I will get my fucking story, even if it’s about me.”He panted as I thrashed, unable to gain purchase on the smooth floor.
“It’ll be about you rotting in jail, you psychopath!”I flipped onto my back and kicked out with my free foot, trying to make contact.
“You are fucking dead.”Hudson’s snarl cut through the chaos as his imposing form appeared behind Spencer.His arm locked around the man’s neck in a choke hold, forcing him to release me as the dogs snarled at his side, ready to engage.
“You okay?”Hudson’s gaze swept over me.
“Fine.”Breathless, I scrambled to my feet and followed as Hudson manhandled the flailing man outside, shoving him onto the ground and kneeling on his back.
“Get back inside, Luce.”His bare chest heaved, and I realized his lip was bleeding.“I don’t want you anywhere near this piece of shit.”
Sirens wailed in the distance as I stepped into the yard.Ranger bounded toward me, circling my legs as though we were having a party.Sadie and Shadow remained at Hudson’s side, ready to maim.
“Lucy.”Frustration edged his voice.“Baby, you’re barefoot.”
His concern for me, despite the circumstances, made me all the more determined to remain by his side.
“And you’re shirtless,” I challenged.“I assume that’s Jones?”
“It’s him.”Disgust laced his tone as Jones wriggled beneath him.The man’s pants were torn, and grass stains covered his tee.“Caught him trying to scale the house.He got ahead of me.I’m sorry, baby.”
Just then, multiple emergency vehicles came racing up the drive, Griffin’s truck leading the pack.He jumped out of the vehicle in plain clothes, gun drawn, and moved to his brother’s side.
