Page 28 of The Loves We Lost

I watch them on the video as they walk down the driveway, and I nudge the shed door open a fraction so I can hear the roar of engines pulling out.

There is only one man who can tell me why they were here.

In a split second, the trajectory my life is on changes.

Miles is the only person who can help me. Because I know the police won’t do shit to two men who bought cupcakes and tried to deliver them to my house. That isn’t a crime.

Not until they do something bad.

“Avery, sweetheart, we’re going on a trip, and we need to go right now. And when we get there, there will be cupcakes. I promise. But first we have to pack really quickly.”

“Are you scared, Momma?”

“You know, I am a little bit. But it’s going to be okay, because I have a friend who will help us out, okay?”

I manage to get us into the house and hurry Avery to my room for a brief shower to get the grass and dirt from the shed off her. She thinks it’s the most fun thing to use my en suite bathroom, but I just want her close as I throw my clothes into a suitcase.

The doorbell rings just as she’s drying off, and my heart races as I jump. I’m relieved when I see the video feed on my phone. It’s Anthony.

I rush down the stairs to let him in.

“What the hell happened, Vi?” He touches my arm with his palm, and there’s concern in his eyes.

“Two men I don’t know were asking for me in Emily’s bakery. When they showed up at the house, they pretended they werehere on a delivery. But they were here looking for someone else I do know. Someone who exists in a dangerous world.” I don’t mention Miles, and gesture for him to follow me to Avery’s room. “I overheard them say they would return tonight. I need to get out of here before they come back.”

“You and Avery got some place safe to go? You could come over to my place. It’s not much, but the two of you could bunk down in my spare room.”

Before I open Avery’s door, I turn to face him. “I don’t want to worry Avery more than I need to. I have somewhere safe to go, but could the police be here when the men come back? At least try to understand why they came here looking for me.”

“Of course, we’ll check it out. Where will you be?”

“Heading to a friend’s house.” I hand him my phone with the footage from earlier. “Those are the guys. Screenshot, do whatever you have to. I need to pack.”

“I’m gonna call for some backup.”

Before I can open Avery’s door, Anthony reaches for my hand. It’s an intimate gesture, but my body doesn’t respond at all.

“You sure I can’t persuade you to come stay with me? I’d feel more comfortable if I knew you were safe.”

“I appreciate that, but so there’s no confusion, I got Emily to call you in a professional capacity while Avery and I hid. Please don’t read more into this than that.”

I let myself into the room where Avery is standing in her pajamas and holding Mr. Dinosaur. “Can I take him with me?”

I see her face, the lines on her little forehead. She’s five, and I sometimes forget how little that still is. “Of course. Why don’t you grab your backpack, and you can stuff as many toys as you can into it?”

It takes another five minutes for me to pack up my work and tie up other loose ends. Anthony gives me a hand loading everything into the trunk of my car.

“Can you at least message me and let me know you’re safe?” he says as he closes the trunk.

I sigh. “I will. And I’ll call to find out what happens tonight.”

Anthony squeezes my shoulder. “We’ve got this. Stay safe.”

As I pull up the street leaving him and his patrol car behind, I wonder if I’ll ever feel safe again.

11

BATES