Page 116 of Back To Our Beginning

Of course he is.

“You doing okay, Maddie?” I asked into my mic.

“For the fifth time, I’m doing fine,” Maddie answered.

I heard Roan chuckle.

“I’m pulling up to the house. I’m going to park in their driveway,” she told us.

I had cameras set up at the three entry points in the house, with two extras. One was inside the front door where Maddie was going to enter, the other was outside where I could watch Maddie’s approach.

Roan, Simon, and I had bets as to how Bruce would decide to enter. Roan was saying through the patio door, and Simon was saying through the kitchen door. My bet was that Bruce would muscle his way in behind Maddie. The man was all brawn and no brain. That meant I wanted to have the front door open and Maddie inside before Bruce could lay a hand on her.

Maddie pulled into the driveway.

“He just passed the house,” Simon explained. “I’ve got a visual on him. If he’s smart, he’ll drive on around the block.”

Roan laughed. “He’s not smart. He just parked three houses down.”

“Maddie, get your ass into the house. Now.” I commanded.

“He needs to see me walking in with the teddy bear. I’ll be fine. For God’s sake, I’ve got two Marine Raiders and one Navy SEAL protecting me.”

I watched as she got out of her Jeep and then wandered around the back and opened the hatch to pull out her satchel and the teddy bear.

“He’s out of his car. He’s wearing a hoodie and gloves. He sure is out of shape,” Roan said. “You shouldn’t have interfered that last time, Beau. Maddie could have taken him out with the bat, no problem.”

“Shut the hell up, Roan, and concentrate on your job. Does he have a weapon?”

“None that I see,” Roan replied. “What about you, Simon? Did you see any?”

“No.”

“He’s crossing through the front yards. He’s almost at the house,” Roan said needlessly. I could see him.

“Maddie, move your fine ass,” I growled. “I want you in the house now!”

She got to the top of the front stoop, and I opened the door. She looked calm as hell. Of course she did. That was my Maddie, strong as fuck. I forced myself not to yank her in, knowing that would give away the game.

“Get in here,” I said through gritted teeth.

As soon as she walked over the threshold, I closed the door and pulled her into a fierce hug, forcing her face into my neck.

“No more. You hear me? No more of this shit. From now until you’re Little Grandma’s age, it’s nothing but needlepoint and baking cookies. You got that?”

“Whatever you say, Beau.”

I was pretty sure she was laughing, but I didn’t care.

Chapter Thirty-Two

There was a polite knock on the front door. I wasn’t expecting Bruce to be polite.

“Get into the kitchen, now. Open the kitchen door. Either Simon or Roan will be there,” Beau told me.

“Are you going to answer the front door?” I asked. “Scratch that, of course you’re not. He has to break in.”

“Maddie, get into the kitchen and open the door.” Beau was getting pissed.