I know little about Nick West, but this isn’t what I expected. For the first time ever, I wonder what his story is.
I’ve put in little—okay, no—effort to get to know the guy. Garrett had a good camaraderie going with him, but I never cared to ask what he knew about our neighbor. What did I care? I was happily married and busy raising Ava. My single neighbor was low on my list of priorities.
Considering he’s currently putting his life on the line for me, I should probably change that and give the guy a chance.
Maybe he’s not as infuriating as he seems.
Strength
Nick
THERE ARE VERYfew things in this world that surprise me, but Alyssa Mann pounding on my door in the middle of the night, soaked through and scared as hell, was something I didn’t see coming.
We’ve hardly spoken to each other in the four years that I’ve lived next door. I’ve never gotten the impression that she cares much for me. Whenever I’m around, the woman dashes off like her ass is on fire, and I have absolutely no clue why.
I considered asking her once but thought better of it. Garrett was a great guy, and I respected him too much to interrogate his wife about shit that doesn’t matter. Her opinion of me is none of my business.
The fact it was my door she knocked on tells me how damn scared she must’ve been.
Maybe after tonight things will change?Doubtful.
I’ve canvassed the entire first floor and I’m making my way through the second. I take one last look around what must be her daughter Ava’s room, based on the girlie pink-and-purple flower decor. I searched the closets, looked underneath the gray four-posterbed, and managed to get myself tangled up with white drape netting. It was set up like a tent, and in my hurry, I damn near pulled it down. Seeing it for the hazard it was, I pulled the fabric together, attaching it at the corners, with ties tied into matching white bows.
I’m helpful like that.
The room is secure, so I close the door behind me and make my way down the poorly lit hallway to the next door. This one’s narrow, indicating it’s likely a closet.
With one hand on my holster, I rip it open to find nothing but towels in the same shade of blue on the first three shelves and two bins with labeled cleaning supplies on the bottom.
This place is next-level organized. I didn’t think it was possible for someone to be more anal than my sister, Jackie, but I think I found a contender. Outside of the office space, which was bedlam, the house is immaculate.
The light above flickers, indicating the bulb is burning out. No wonder Alyssa was scared. The flickering alone gives meAmityville Horrorvibes. I make a mental note to offer to replace it for her. Along with the yellowed smoke detector attached to the ceiling, the color a clear indicator it’s old.
Something crashes, and my head snaps toward the sound coming from the closed door at the end of the hall. I grab my phone from my back pocket and fire off a quick text to my partner, Eric.
NICK
Need your assistance at the house next door to mine.
The standoffish widow. Possible intruder.
I wince at the description I’ve given of Alyssa. Unfortunately, that’s the only detail I’ve given Eric about my neighbor, and it’s the easiest way to ensure he finds himself at the right place. If he wentbusting into Mrs.Fields’s house at this hour, he’d likely scare her to death.
Literally.
At eighty years old, she’s had more than her share of frights through the years, and I’ve been called for every one of them since I’ve lived next door. Not that I mind. It’s what I live for. The chance to help and have my adrenaline spike. It’s a thrill that only people in my line of work would get.
I shove the phone back into my pocket and check my gun once more to ensure it’s ready to go in the off chance it’s needed. Typically, an intruder can be apprehended without the use of a deadly weapon. Let’s hope tonight proves to be typical.
With my gun raised, I throw open the door, popping my head around the white frame, doing a quick sweep with my eyes. My hand feels around the wall, locating the switch for the overhead light and flipping it on.
The yellow room with white furnishings suits Alyssa. There’s a busted bulb from a fallen lamp, but no additional signs of an intruder as far as I can tell. I take a few tentative steps into the room, keeping my back to the wall and eyes on any and all places where someone could be hiding out.
I make my way to the windows to ensure they’re all locked, and they are. Not that anyone would chance a fall from this height. They wouldn’t escape without broken bones or worse.
Making my way back toward the door, I search the bathroom and ready myself to open the closet, but right before I do, I catch a glimpse of a man’s profile in a floor-length mirror, trip, and land flat on my back. The hardwood floor is unforgiving, and pain shoots up my spine.
“What the...” I groan, rubbing at the back of my neck. I don’t move, taking this time to internally berate myself because it was me. I was startled by my own damn reflection.
