Page 4

CHAPTER 4

As Ethan walked up onto the porch, the front door opened.

“Hey, Ethan, Mojo,” Brooklyn said, her voice soft but tired. She’d changed her top. Now she was wearing a white tank with a wide-neck navy sweater that fell off one shoulder. Even stressed and scared, she was gorgeous. He had to fight the urge to wrap his arms around her. Her eyes dropped to the gear in his hands. “I see you brought all the stuff.”

“Yep,” Ethan replied with a small smile. “Good to go.”

Brooklyn stepped back, letting Ethan and Mojo enter. Mojo went over to Brooklyn for more ear rubs while Ethan glanced around the space. It wasn’t what he’d expected. The bungalow had a cozy, lived-in feel—practical and warm. Sunlight poured through the large windows, highlighting polished bamboo floors that gleamed under his boots. The muted seafoam-green walls reminded him of calm ocean waters after a storm.

The living room was simple but inviting. A wicker sofa with cream-colored cushions sat against one wall, anchored by a low driftwood coffee table in front of it. Vibrant throw pillows, covered in patterns of ferns and hibiscus, added splashes of tropical color. A couple of rattan armchairs flanked the sofa, their frames worn smooth by use. The whole setup was neat and functional. Yet it didn’t feel sterile—more like someone had carefully pieced it together to create comfort, not impress anyone.

“So,” Brooklyn commented while she studied him, “is there anything you need from me?”

She was bringing his attention back to the reason he was there. No small talk for her. Ethan reset his expectations and congratulated himself on making the right decision about the food. Brooklyn would not have liked that one bit.

“I need a ladder to do the outside cameras. I will install two that will cover your whole front yard. I notice you already have a video doorbell. That’s good. I will tie that into the camera system and the whole thing will be monitored at the Brotherhood Protector comms center.”

“I—I don’t know if I can afford the monitoring.” Brooklyn bit her lip. “I will pay you for the cameras though.”

“You don’t have to pay for anything. It’s on the house and so is the monitoring. We’re not going to leave you out here with no backup.”

She looked like she was about to argue but she finally just nodded curtly. If he had to guess, he would say that she gave in only because it was her nephew. If it had been just for her, she would have argued with him.

Footsteps approaching from the hallway made him look left. A young boy of about twelve appeared around the corner. He was tall and lanky with shaggy brown hair and bright blue eyes. Ethan could see a family resemblance around the eyes between the kid and Brooklyn.

He put down the box and immediately offered his hand. “You must be Liam,” he said.

Liam stepped forward and shook Ethan’s hand. “Yes sir. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Foster. Thank you for doing this.”

Ethan smiled. “Please call me Ethan, and it’s not a problem at all.” He pointed to his dog. “This is Mojo.”

Liam started to reach out and then quickly asked, “May I pet him?”

“Yes, he’d like that.”

Liam immediately went down on his knees and petted the dog. Mojo stood still and let the boy ruffle his fur.

Brooklyn reached out and touched Liam’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go finish up your homework and then you can help Mr. Foster put up the cameras.” She glanced at Ethan. “If that is okay. Liam is into electronics.”

Liam looked up at him with bright eyes. “Can I?”

“I never turn down help,” Ethan agreed.

Liam turned on his heel and disappeared back down the hallway.

“Thank you for that,” Brooklyn said.

“Not a problem. If he helps me put the cameras in place, it will help him feel better about the whole incident. He’ll feel more in control.

Brooklyn looked surprised that Ethan understood why she wanted Liam to help but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she just raised an eyebrow as if to ask if there was a reason he was still standing there.

“Do you want cameras on the inside of the house?”

“Ah…I…didn’t think about that. Do I need cameras on the inside?”

“If it’s alright with you, I’ll take a look around first and then answer that question. Okay?”

Brooklyn considered it for a moment and then said, “I guess so.”

Ethan toed off his boots. “You lead the way.” He signaled to Mojo to lie down and stay.

Brooklyn took him to the kitchen first. It wasn’t big, but it didn’t need to be. White cabinets lined the walls, and the countertops were a pale gray stone that seemed practical for wear and tear. The backsplash caught his eye—a mosaic of blues and greens that shimmered like the ocean under sunlight. Open shelves displayed plates, bowls, and a few mismatched mugs. A small breakfast bar with two stools was tucked against one side, the wood lightly scuffed from daily use. On the counter sat a bowl of fruit—pineapples, mangos, and something he couldn’t identify. It felt... domestic.

“Does that door lead to the garage?” he asked. He wanted to comment on how she’d turned this little house into a home in a much better way than he had managed since he’d moved to the island. He was a bit jealous. His two sisters were good at that type of thing too, but that skill had missed him completely.

“Yes, it does. I usually don’t bother to park in there, but under the circumstances, it seemed…prudent.”

“Wise move,” he commented as he crossed the kitchen and opened the door. It was a standard garage. Neat and tidy, like the rest of the home with lawn chairs and tools hanging on hooks on the walls and her small SUV in the garage. He noted a large ladder resting against the front wall, then closed the door. “Let’s see the rest of the house.”

She moved over to the dining area. A round wooden table with four chairs sat under a simple pendant light. A small vase of flowers—some kind of bloom that smelled good—added a touch of color. The table looked like it had seen a lot of use. Scratches in the wood and faded rings from coffee cups spoke of everyday life.

A set of patio doors led to the backyard. Ethan opened them and stepped out to the back deck. The yard itself was quite large. It appeared neat and well cared for, with a few bushes and palm trees. He was pleased to see it was fenced.

He turned to Brooklyn. “I’m going to put a couple of cameras here and here.” He pointed to the corner of the house and a tree on the right. “Those will cover the whole yard. I’m also going to put one in that back corner that will keep an eye on the yards around you. None of those are fenced so it makes for an easier approach for anyone not wanting to be seen.”

Brooklyn rubbed her forehead. “I’m not sure my neighbors will like that.”

“They won’t even notice. I have a camera that looks like a birdhouse.”

She grinned. “That’s sneaky.”

She looked amazing when she smiled. It was the kind of smile that hit him in the solar plexus and knocked the wind out of him. Ethan grinned back. “Yeah, but it works beautifully.”

Heading back inside, they did a quick tour of the rest of the house. Three bedrooms, one which she obviously used as an office, and a bathroom. They returned to the front door.

As he stepped back into the main living area, Ethan’s eyes caught on the details again. This house was practical, but it wasn’t cold. It felt cared for. It fit Brooklyn perfectly—no-nonsense, but with a softness she probably didn’t even realize she had.

“There are a couple of spots I can install cameras on the inside if you want but if you’re not comfortable with it, then I think we can manage with just the outside.”

She exhaled audibly. “That’s good. The idea of putting cameras inside my home is just…”

“Invasive,” he supplied.

“Yes. That’s a good word for it.”

“Okay then. He quickly stepped into his boots and picked up his box. “If you’ll just open the garage, I’ll get the ladder and get started. Send Liam out when he’s ready.”

“I will,” Brooklyn confirmed and then opened the door for him.

Mojo followed Ethan back to the porch and waited while Ethan glanced around once more, mentally mapping out the best places to install the cameras in the front yard again. She’d want coverage of the front and back doors, but he’d add a couple more in blind spots she might not have thought about. He wasn’t taking any chances. This house might feel secure, but safety wasn’t a guarantee. Her smiling face floated up to the front of his brain.

And right now, keeping her safe was all he cared about.