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* * *
I stand there in shock watching everyone move around my car. Because I didn’t get close, I didn’t know until now that it has been completely vandalized on the inside too. Red paint is splashed all over the interior. The seats are slashed apart and Marinda’s car seat is destroyed. I stand there worried about her even though I’ve called and confirmed she is safe. My mom should have made it to her by now.
I hear tires squeal and look over to see Tucker’s truck racing through the parking lot. Murfreesboro is over thirty minutes from the zoo, but he made it in twenty. He’s out of the truck and moving toward me as soon as it comes to a stop. Whitlock tries to move between us.
“Get the fuck out of my way before I break you in half,” Tucker growls.
“Settle down. Who are you?”
Tucker points at me. “She is mine.” It’s all he says, and Whitlock moves aside. Tucker’s long legs eat up the distance and I can’t move. My legs tremble and I realize my whole body is shaking. I’m scared and not of Tucker. I’m scared of what this could possibly mean. “Baby,” he says, and wraps me around him. I start crying; the tears roll down my face. He lifts me up and holds me so tightly I can barely breathe, but it’s exactly what I need in this moment.
He holds me as I shatter apart and not in a good way.
* * *
Tucker
I’ve never been more scared in my life until this moment. Her voice when she said her tires had been slashed gutted me to the core. I couldn’t breathe until the moment she was in my arms. I look over to her ruined car. It’s not just the tires, it’s the interior too. I hold her as her mother pulls up and carries Mari to us. She stands next to us and I pull her into me too, holding all of them as we watch. All of these women are mine to protect, and I almost failed them. I won’t let that happen again.
“It was them,” Sydney says, and her mom’s body goes tight.
“Who?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” Sydney whispers and goes quiet.
The state trooper I threatened moves next to me. Lydia is standing next to him and is crying too. His arm goes around her but she pulls away. I watch as his jaw locks tight.
“I think this was Colton,” Lydia says, and we all turn to her.
“Why do you think that?” the trooper asks.
“Who else could it be? He’s mad because he knows Sydney and Sharon are helping me. He was at her house last month and threatened her and Tucker. Right?” She looks over at us. I nod at him, confirming he was there.
Sydney doesn’t say anything, she just keeps looking at the car. I’m sure she’s hiding something. I know in my gut this has nothing to do with Lydia.
* * *
The next day I take off from work so I can be with Sydney. She’s at her counseling appointment right now, so I’m sitting at the Broken Eagles garage across from my best friend. Sydney had nightmares all night long and clung to me most of it.
I take in Wes as he talks on the phone with his wife. He’s changed so much in the last few years since he met and married July. I remember how he was with his ex-wife. He was into his job until he wanted to retire, and she was all about his job. But July completes him. They want the same things in life. He’s more relaxed around her. He wants to be with her all the time. Just like I want to be with Sydney. The thought of her doing something dangerous or being away from me makes my heart pound. I’m still not over what happened yesterday. All that red paint looked like blood.
I’ve been looking at floor plans for my house, making sure there is room for Mari to grow, and any other children I can get into Sydney, and still have room for animals, photos, and life. I want to move on to the next stage of our relationship and become a family.
“How are you doing after last night?” Wes breaks through my thoughts. I realize he hung up the phone and is watching me.
“She won’t open up to me. I know she’s hiding things. I know there is more to last night than it possibly being Lydia’s ex.” He leans back in his chair and looks me over for a moment. “Maverick said the same thing. He was going to call today and find out Colton’s location.”
“Maverick?”
“Sergeant Maverick Whitlock. He’s a state trooper who seems to like Lydia. She called him yesterday and he’s helping with the investigation. Seems like a stand-up guy.”
“You’ve heard us talk about the Boom, but has anyone else told you about the Mayson curse?”
I shake my head. I can believe in the Boom because I’ve seen proof of it. I’ve felt it. But a curse… “Stop. I’m being serious.”
“So am I. The Maysons attract problems. Look at what happened to July and Jax, not to mention June.” He’s right about that.
“But Syd isn’t a Mayson.”
