Page 314 of Second Sets Omnibus

“Yes, Sir,” she grumbles sarcastically, climbing to her feet and shuffling up the stairs.

“They’ve agreed to a meeting,” Kieran whispers, holding up a text exchange between him, Seger, and Zeppelin West.

“When?”

Kieran licks his lips, looking around between us. “As soon as she leaves. We’re going to tell them what we’re doing.”

Rad grins, rubbing his hands together. “I thought I’d be terrified of this… Losing our music.” He shakes his head. “But I’m excited.”

As soon as River walks out the door, we pile into my car and take off, about to decimate our careers.

But in the end…

It’ll all pay off.

Being scaredto enter my own house shouldn’t be a thing. Right? Like I shouldn’t feel my heart thumping wildly in my neck. Or the anxious swirl in my belly at the thought of walking through my front door.

But yet, here I am, standing in front of my house. By myself, wishing I had someone to hold my hand.

I peek at the quiet band house from over my shoulder. They’re in band practice right now, working hard to get back into a routine. At least, that’s what they told me they were doing before I left with Ly and dropped her off at school. I could march over there and demand someone help me walk into my house. They’d drop everything to help me. I’m sure of it.

But I won’t.

Why? Because I’m a bad bitch who needs to get over the fear coursing through my veins. By myself. Van invaded my privacy here. Multiple times. But he’s gone. Locked in prison until his very last breath. There’s no way he’s getting out now. Jordy made sure of it.

His security firm’s equipment is gone from my home, too. Every camera. Every wire. Any trace of him has been erased like he never existed in the first place.

So, why am I so fucking terrified to go inside? He’s not here anymore. I am. It’s my home, goddamnit. The place I built so Lyric and I could have a paradise of our own on a beach to ourselves. We were safe here. Just us and my security guards. Useless bastards. They’re gone, too, replaced by bigger and better people, guarding my driveway and walking the property. Carter gave me my own Veritas agents who will protect me no matter what. Or I’m sure Carter will murder them in their sleep.

So, I should feel safer than before. My stalker is gone. For real, this time. I have better guards. My guys are stuck to me like glue. So, why do I have this constant anxiety running through me, leaving me with sweaty palms and heart palpitations? God, my stomach churns, thinking about all the shit Van put me through, pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes.

Van somehow snuck his way onto my property, putting his fingers in situations he shouldn’t have. He tortured Ly for months with his constant tapping on the windows. Mine too. He watched us through the cameras. Probably every fucking day. I shiver, pushing the thoughts of what he did with those videos out of my mind. I have no doubt; he was a very sick man.

I don’t know if I can ever live here again without feeling his eyes on me. Or his hand on my mouth. Or his body pressed against mine as he held me captive.

I take a deep breath, grounding myself. I’m free. I can do this. Totally can do this without any help. Fuck.

Looking over my shoulder again, I peek at the band house, which seems eerily quiet from here. Maybe Rad could come over and help? He’d hold my hand and?—

No. I can’t. I need to face this head-on so I can continue living my life. Van can’t dictate my life anymore. I’m done letting him take up space in my brain. He can’t scare me anymore.

With trembling hands, I unlock the door and step into the house. I nearly piss myself when the alarm begins to beep at a steady pace, echoing on the walls. Holy shit! My heart nearly leaps out of my damn chest and takes a walk.

Right. Carter added new security for me after dismantling Van’s.

After inputting the code and turning it off, I freeze in the living room. My eyes dart around, taking in my familiar surroundings. My home. The place I built as our paradise. I take a deep, calming breath and shake the eerie feeling pushing down on my shoulders.

The feeling of ants marching across my skin starting at my toes makes my skin crawl. It feels odd standing here by myself. My home closes in on me. The walls caving in. I squeeze my eyes shut.

Maybe I should have brought them over. Then I wouldn’t feel so alone.

My guys appease me by letting me bed-hop in the middle of the night. Never protesting when I crawl in with one and then leave when I can’t get comfortable. Or fall asleep. That’s been the hardest part of coping. Every time I close my eyes, his voice rings in my head, and his face appears with that menacing grin.

They know something is wrong, but I just want to go back to normal.

Whatever that is.

I rub a hand up and down my arm, attempting to soothe the swirling nerves taking me over as I walk through the silent house. Nothing has changed. It’s all the same as I left it the day we left for Lyric’s birthday party.