“You’re not sure?” My fingers tighten around the phone. “What do you mean you’re not sure? What’s going on?”
“The motion detector out back went off. It might be an animal, but…”
But Alec adjusted the settings. The sensor isn’t supposed to be triggered by small animals like raccoons and possums. A deer or bear, sure, but why would one of those be walking past Angel’s back door? Especially when her small backyard is fully fenced in?
“Can you see what it is?” I ask. Turning away from the door, I see Max watching me with concern.
“I’m trying to rewind the recording,” Angel replies. “It’s not loading. My internet…”
Then she gasps.
“Angel. What is it?”
Instead of her answer, I’m met with quick, frantic breaths. Then a flurry of soft footsteps.
Fear clutches at me. “Angel.” I work to keep my voice calm. “What’s going on?”
“It… It was a person,” she whispers. “Oh, God.”
“What?”
Max stands. His worried gaze meets mine, silently questioning.
“I hear something downstairs.” She makes a small, scared sound. “Like someone’s trying to get in.”
What? Someone’s trying to get in?
Fear edges towards panic. But if she’s right, if someone’s coming inside… Shit. How could they? The cameras. The deadbolts. The unsuspecting house in a safe neighborhood.
But I know how they could. It’s my damn job to know. But fuck. It’s not supposed to happen to Angel.
“I can hear them,” Angel whispers. “The door. I can hear someone messing with it.” A tiny, choked sob escapes. “Ronan. Someone’s trying to get in myhouse.”
Fuck.
Ah,fuck.
For a second, I’m frozen.
I can’t speak. Can’t move. Can’t even think clearly.
Panic takes over everything.
Someone’s breaking into Angel’s house. While she’s there, all alone.
It’s my fucking job to protect people. But when Angel needs me, where am I? Not there. I’m at fucking Max’s house, watching some sport I don’t care about, pissed at myself?—
Stop. Get it together,the voice that’s guided me through countless ops speaks up.Yes, it’s your job. So get your head on straight and do it.
I give my head a quick shake to clear it. Then I shove my fear down deep and stomp it for good measure. “You need to hide,” I say. “And if you can, grab a weapon on the way.”
“A weapon?” Angel’s voice is achingly small.
“Yes. If they’re inside—are they inside? What can you hear?”
Her breath comes in quick, uneven bursts. “I’m not sure. I—” She stops. Everything goes quiet, like she’s holding her breath. Then she lets out a shaky exhale. “I heard… the door. It just shut.”
Angel whimpers. “Ronan…”
