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“E, honey, you think you’re a raging bitch who no one likes. You think people see you as abrasive, unfunny, and a plain harpy who drives others away. But reality is different. The twins worship you, Neko loves you like a sister, and mind you, the next words I speak are coming from an innocent place, I swear. I see you as a sexy, fierce woman who scares the living shit out of me, but who’s also beautiful, a dedicated friend who would go to any lengths to protect those you love, funny as hell, and anyone who’s smart enough to realize all that and more about you will be a lucky man.”

During my speech, I got up and poured coffee in her mug, and kissed her cheek when I finished, pressing it into her hand.

Before her brain absorbed the truth and she formed a reply, there was a tremendous crash from the living room and an ear-deafening siren, the alarm echoing throughout the house. I ran toward the living room, holding out an arm to prevent anyone from running past me, and peeked around the corner. For a moment, the situation stunned me stupid, as I blinked at the sight in front of me.

A wooden Adirondack chair that didn’t belong to Neko or anyone else in the neighborhood was broken on the floor in the entryway. Shattered glass on the ground sparkled in the bright sunlight coming through the gaping hole. As I grabbed a knife from the drawer and moved toward the exit of the kitchen to confront our intruder, three loud rapports, gunshots, reverberated through the house over the shrill blare of the alarm.

I searched the kitchen for my ear buds and slid them in before I glanced down at my phone. The chat was going crazy. Most already contacted the police, and Neko grabbed his phone. With a quick succession of inputs, the alarm cut off before he placed a call to the emergency services.

Although my head pounded, remnants of the piercing sound, I concentrated on the yelling coming from the foyer.

“Engaged. Are you fucking kidding me? How many times have I told you you’re mine? What do I have to do for you toLEARN! Maybe now, when I empty thirty bullets into the disgusting piece of shit who thought he had the right to touch you, you’ll understand you’reMINE!”

“Are you hearing him? He’s deranged,” then Neko gasped as he glanced at the door, “Oh, fuck! Please, please come soon! My teenage twin sisters, my best friend, and my fiancé are downstairs, all in the line of fire. Hurry, please.”

I almost breathed a sigh of relief when I spotted Neko’s door locked. But he paused, snagged a chair from beside his desk and jammed it underneath the doorknob before he lifted the phone back to his ear.

“His name is Donovan Abernathy the Third. Three years ago, he choked me and punched me before my best friend stepped in and stopped him. Because of that incident, I have a permanent restraining order against him, issued by Judge O’Malley. One minute, please.”

He set the phone down and worked on dragging his desk to block the door. The metal and glass monstrosity wouldn’t budge. Thinking on his feet, he yanked several file cabinets and pushed them against the door before dragging the loveseat over, lifting it vertically, angling it in place.

Neko stumbled his way toward his monitors and with a few keystrokes, put his movements in the screen’s corner while displaying four others from the security monitors; the entrance, the kitchen, the stairs, and the back of the house.

He picked up the phone and said, “If you logon to my stream, you’ll see the security camera feed. Please hurry.”

I messaged him, letting him know we’re safe. His eyes flicked over to the third feed and sagged in relief, giving me a nod. The next instant, his entire body stiffened, and he blinked into the camera. His fingers flew as he typed out his message to me.

He’s getting closer to you.

Chapter 11

Neko-Ren

Panic,which hadn’t been present the moment the fucking asshole threw a chair through my fucking window, setting off the alarm, before shooting up my ceiling, shuddered over me when Donovan turned toward the kitchen.

Graham stood ready near the corner at the entrance between the dining room and the kitchen, staring into the mirror on his left as he watched an irritated Donovan continue to shout. Huddled in the doorway leading to the basement were Echo and the twins, keeping their eyes darting back and forth from Graham and the mirror. They’d head downstairs and barricade themselves inside if Donovan moved closer, but I knew my man wouldn’t.

When his eyes flicked down to his phone, I noted the headphones in his ears and the images moving on the phone. I knew he watched the stream, but he was in danger of being shot the longer he stayed there.

Get the fuck downstairs! Yes, he’s pacing, but if he charges toward the kitchen, you won’t have time to hide!

Rage surged through me, although a healthy dose of fear kept me from rushing downstairs and confronting the coward. The combination left me light-headed and shaking, but what persevered was anger.

My phone vibrated in my hand.

Fuck! He’s heading up.

I breathed a sigh of relief because he’d moved away from the people I loved.

He’s on the stairs.

Antagonistic thoughts swelled inside my head as I searched the room for something to bash his brains in with.

At your door… now!

“Mr. Ellison?”

“Ah, fuck,” I’d forgotten about the emergency operator and whispered, “Yes, yes, I’m here. I barricaded the door, but he’s right outside. No one can reach the front door to unlock it, so please come through the back door. But don’t harm my family. Please.”