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She nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. Here she was, back to square one. He’d been close enough for her to smell his cologne. Was he taunting her? Playing with her like a cat with its prey?
“What do I need to do?” Finn asked, his voice rough with frustration.
“Keep the doors locked. Stay vigilant. Don’t let her out of your sight. I’ll have you on our patrol route. If you see or hear anything, call me right away.” Bently’s tone was far from his usual jovial self. That alone told her how serious it was.
“Done,” Finn agreed.
“Try to get some rest,” Bently added.
“Thanks. Good night,” Finn said before he tapped the screen, ending the call.
“Come on. I’ll run you a bath and tuck you into bed.” Finn grasped her hand, leading her up the stairs. She followed numbly.
Trying to remember that stress wasn’t good for the baby, she made her best effort to relax in the hot water as Finn stood watch. And when he helped dry her off and put the large T-shirt over her head before pulling back the covers, she repeated the mantra in her head: I’m safe. I’m safe. I’m safe.
Finn slid the blankets over her, sliding into the spot next to her and holding her in his arms against the beating heart in his chest.
“Sleep, Charli-baby. I’ll keep watch over you. I’ve got you.”
She closed her eyes, burning from exhaustion like she’d never known. Drained from the emotional roller coaster of a day, she gave in to sleep. His warm body chased the chill from her bones that even the hot bath hadn’t gotten rid of. His heartbeat lulled her into slumber. Here, in his protective embrace, she could almost believe that she was safe—at least for now. But the sun would rise, tomorrow would come, and with it the reality that someone wanted her dead.
19
Charli
“Finn?” Charli called from the hallway the next day.
“In here.”
She walked into the bedroom and froze at the metal glint in Finn’s hands. Her pulse jumped.
He turned the gun over before bringing his attention to her face. “Why is this in the drawer?”
Charli sat beside him. “You gave it to me after your last deployment—taught me how to use it too. After the attack, you wanted me to have something since I was home alone all the time.”
“Can you . . . do you mind telling me what happened?”
Charli blew out a breath. “I worked closing. You already know why Mason wasn’t there. There had been a guy who wouldn’t take no for an answer at the bar earlier that night. Young college-aged kid. I had to have Mason kick him out. I went out to the car, and before I could put the keys into the door . . . he came up from behind me.”
The memory flashed through her mind as fresh as the moment it happened.
“Stupid bitch. Thought you could embarrass me like that. Do you know who the fuck I am? Nobody treats me like that and gets away with it.” He wrapped his arm around her neck and shoved her against the car, stealing her oxygen.
She moved out of reflex—so many hours of training in self-defense with Bently and Finn. Jabbing her fingers into his side, she pinched his flesh as hard as she could while she stomped on his foot.
He swore, loosening his grip around her neck enough for her to run, but he grabbed her hair and pulled her back before shoving her to the ground. “I’m gonna make you pay for that.” He reached for the button on her jeans.
She screamed and swung her arms. Pain split her head as he punched her and swore at her. His spittle flew onto her face as she clawed at him, struggling with all her might. But he was bigger and heavier. Feeding off her pain, his hands were on her body, groping her breasts roughly. Vomit rose in her throat in revulsion. “No! Please no. Stop!”
Then his hands were on her throat as his weight settled over her chest, squeezing the air from her lungs. Leaning down, he bit down hard on her lip. Her lungs burned as he choked her. Realization that she was going to die was blaring in her mind until everything went black.
“Charli?” Finn’s thumb brushed away a tear on her cheek. She hadn’t even realized she’d started crying. “You don’t have to if it hurts too much.”
“He just . . . he hurt me. He hit me and choked me until I blacked out. I woke up cold in the empty parking lot and crawled to my phone. I managed to call emergency services through the shattered screen and they came. From our security footage, we know he ran off after a car pulled in. Scared him enough so that he didn’t finish what he’d started.”
Finn’s hands clenched into fists. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you.”
She laid her hand over his, pulling it into her lap. “It’s not your fault. And it’s all in the past. I’m just hoping they catch him before he hurts anyone else.”
