AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He had said those words while looking deeply into her eyes. She wasn’t imagining it. He was interested in her.
There was also the comforting fact that Jensen had police watching her house tonight, camping out across the street, and they would make rounds through her yard and neighborhood. That helped her bravery immensely.
“I’ve got officers across the street watching my house. I promise I’ll keep my gun and my phone within reach, arm my security, and deadbolt all the doors, even the one leading into the garage. I’ll also push my dresser against my bedroom door if it makes you feel better.”
Her dad smiled and shook his head. “I’ll feel better when Treven leaves you alone. I’m tempted to go visit him in prison and explain what happens when you poke the daddy bull.”
She would’ve smiled at the memory of her dad playing ‘daddy bull,’ chasing her and David around the living room on his hands and knees. But the thought of him putting a target on his back with Treven turned her stomach inside out. “I love you, Dad, but please don’t. Treven’s friends won’t hurt me, but they would hurt you, Mum, or David if you threaten him.”
They might go after her family simply to control her. Treven had used that terrifying tactic with immense success on Sophie, keeping her away from Prince Malik for six years to protect the man she loved.
At the frustration on her dad’s face, Livvy added, “Please. I’m brave and tough. I’ll be okay.”
“You are very brave and tough, my girl.”
“Thanks. Go home and take care of Mum and David.” Her brother wasn’t slow—in fact, he was very smart—but he struggled socially and in some ways was very childlike.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.” She hugged him and then swung open the door, waving to the police officers across the street. They waved back. They weren’t hiding that they were watching out for her. “See? Diligent officers.”
“Instructed by their chief to keep you safe.” Her dad pumped his eyebrows.
It was nice to know her dad was as impressed with Jensen as she was.
“Goodnight, Dad.”
He grinned and walked through the door, turning to point at her. “Alarms on, deadbolts secured, gun and phone by your side, dresser in front of your bedroom door.”
She saluted him. Then she shut the door, turned the deadbolt, and armed the system.
“Good girl,” he called through the door.
Livvy smiled to herself as she checked the back patio door and the garage door, securing the garage door deadbolt. She made sure all her windows were locked, got a drink of water, and then went into her bedroom. Pushing a dresser in front of her door made her feel a little silly, but it would help her sleep.
She opened her safe, pulled out her gun and loaded the clip before setting it by her bed. She’d worked hard to be a good shot; a skill that was not easy for her. She didn’t always hit the bullseye, but she was close.
Livvy washed her face and brushed her teeth, said her prayers, and then lay down in her comfortable bed with her phone plugged in on her dresser and her gun lying next to it. She pulled up the recent calls; Jensen’s name was at the top of the list.
Sleepy but still fantasizing about Jensen, she closed her eyes and imagined him touching her again, hugging her, someday kissing her. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so empowered and full of hope. Treven wouldn’t control her any longer, and she finally had a future in front of her. God was good and it would all work out.
She drifted off to sleep with a half-smile on her face.
Something roused Livvy from a beautiful dream. She blinked her eyes open and fumbled for her phone. Three-fourteen a.m. What had woken her?
Light tapping sounded from her window. Her pulse quickened, and she automatically reached for her gun, sliding off the bed on the opposite side of the window. Should she call Jensen, the police, or her dad? What if she had imagined the noise?
Her window and part of her wall exploded.
Livvy screamed and ducked behind the bed, debris raining down on her. The house alarm ripped through the night air. It sounded far away compared to the ringing in her ears.
She peeked over the mattress and caught the rough outline of two men launching themselves through the hole in her wall and into her bedroom. Double vision and tricky colors burned into her retinas made it hard to get a clear idea of their position.
Shaking, Livvy took the safety off the gun, aimed through the dust and smoke, and fired.
The bullet hit the wall between the two men. The retort of the gun was as loud as the alarm and made the shell shock even worse.
Instead of fleeing the way they’d come, both outlines turned to face her. The gunshot had only alerted them to her position. Like jungle predators, they both lunged across the bed toward her.
