Page 37 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

His entire body shook, his teeth chattering hard enough to hurt.

Maybe it’s a robbery. Please let it just be a robbery.

Amidst the panic, a clear thought cut through the frenzy building inside him.

Cassidy.

Xander called the number he’d memorized from staring at the same card a hundred times.

It rang once before the call connected.

“Xander, what’s wrong?”

The way Cassidy recognized it was him and answered so quickly, coupled with the steadiness in his voice, damn near broke him.

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

“Xander?”

“I—” His breathing hitched. “Someone’s in my house.”

Silence.

He heard faint beeping in the background as though Cassidy was calling somebody.

“There’s no 911,” he choked out. “It’s busy.”

“Where are you?”

Cassidy was so calm and measured…stern.

“My bedroom.”

Another loud bang sounded, but closer, maybe in one of the other bedrooms.

“Cassie help me.”

“I’m already on my way.”

Xander was squeezing the phone so hard he was surprised it didn’t break.

He could hear footsteps now. Maybe more than one, he couldn’t tell.

“They’re coming,” he whispered.

“Do you have balcony access or a big window?”

“Yes.”

“I need you to open it. Then go hide somewhere else in the room. Right now.”

Xander forced himself to move.

He threw open the balcony doors before darting into the connected workout room and closing the door behind him.

He crouched behind the six-foot tall weight rack, fear pumping through him so fast and hard he was surprised he hadn’t passed out.

“I have people coming to you,” Cassidy assured him. “Keep quiet. I’m gonna stay on the line with you.”