Page 101 of Wasted

She hurried into the hallway and grabbed Sydney’s arm. “Come with me.”

The girl moved with her. “Who—” Sydney’s voice choked on what sounded like fear.

Adrenaline pumped through Victoria, keeping her gaze sharper than normal and nerves standing on end. She listened for strange noises as she walked, keeping her gaze ahead.

She turned into the kitchen, quickly checking the room.

No one lurked there.

But she didn’t breathe normally. Not yet. She dug in the pocket of her purse.

“Who would do something like that? Write that…” Sydney stumbled into the center of the kitchen, wild eyes landing on Victoria.

“I don’t know.” Victoria pressed the emergency call button for 911, then pressed the phone to her ear.

“9-1-1, what is your emergency?”

This scenario shouldn’t be so familiar. It could even be the same operator from the day Victoria had discovered Thomas, dead.

She pushed aside the crippling memory and told the operator about the evidence of an intruder in her home, adding she didn’t know yet if the intruder was still there.

Satisfied that the operator had officers on the way, Victoria ended the call.

She went to Sydney and gently ran her hands along the girl’s upper arms. “I’m sorry you had to see that. Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I guess.” Normal color had returned to Sydney’s cheeks, and her breathing appeared more regulated again.

Thank you, Lord.

At least the incident hadn’t caused premature labor. Victoria would never forgive herself if she brought danger upon this young mother.

“What does it mean?” Sydney looked up at her. “‘You’ll be next.’ Next for what?”

Next to be murdered. Victoria kept the thought to herself and mustered a smile. “I’m not entirely sure. Bad people say very unkind things sometimes.” She glanced over her shoulder to the other doorway into the kitchen. Shouldn’t Cillian have completed his search of the house by now?

Unless something had happened to him. Her chest squeezed. “I’d better check on Cillian.”

Though she shouldn’t leave Sydney alone.

Max. The thought came to her on a wave of fear. She’d assumed he was safe in his crate in her bedroom. But what if?—

“Stay with me.” She hurried out of the kitchen, glancing back to make sure Sydney was following.

They returned to the hallway. Victoria glanced into the bathroom but kept going to the end.

Her bedroom door stood open.

Her breath stopped. She always closed it when she left.

She stepped closer and looked in.

Max stared at her from the crate by the far wall, watching her with his alert expression, mouth closed and ears lifted.

She scanned the room. Her bed was still made, and everything appeared to be as she’d left it.

Heavy footsteps made her jerk back out of the room.

Cillian stalked toward them up the hallway.