Page 66 of Protecting Kelli
“If you don’t answer me, I’m coming over. Understand?”
Yes, she understood, and she closed her eyes as a tear escaped. Kelli’s breaths were coming faster and faster. She felt as if she wasn’t getting enough air.
Flash must’ve heard her hyperventilating through the speaker, because his voice calmed and his tone lowered. “I’ve got you, Kelli. I’m coming. Slow your breathing down. You can do this.”
She couldn’t. She couldn’t do this! Panic was taking hold. At one point, whoever was in her closet actually kicked the edge of the suitcase. She was certain he’d figure out that it was much too heavy and he’d find her.
But he simply swore some more, then left again.
“I’m in my car now. Hold on, Kelli. Hold on.”
Kelli thought for sure whoever had broken in would leave now, but instead, she heard him continuing to stomp around her apartment, smashing more stuff.
It would take Flash almost half an hour to get to her place. Maybe less since it was the middle of the night and traffic was probably light. But so much could happen in thirty minutes. Or even twenty.
“Scared,” she whispered in a voice so low, she was sure Flash wouldn’t be able to hear her.
But somehow he did.
“I know. I can hear how fast you’re breathing. What’s going on? Did you have a nightmare?”
“No. Break-in.”
“Fuck, someone broke into your apartment? I need to call Dude, he lives closer to where you are.”
Panic almost overwhelmed Kelli. He couldn’t hang up! If he did, she’d completely lose it. He was the only thing keeping her from springing out of her hiding place and running screaming through her apartment, trying to reach the door.
“I’m going to patch him into the call. I’m not hanging up. Hang on.”
Relief made her dizzy. Or maybe that was lack ofoxygen. She wasn’t sure. All she knew was that he wasn’t going to hang up.
“Dude? Flash. I need you. Someone’s broken into Kelli’s apartment. She’s hiding.”
“Address?”
Flash recited it to his friend.
“Where are you?” Dude asked.
“On my way but I’ve still got fifteen miles or so.”
“Right. I can be there in ten minutes.”
“I may or may not beat you there. Kelli?”
“Yeah?” she whispered, feeling so much stronger knowing someone—two someones—were on their way.
“Is he still there?”
She paused and strained to hear something, anything. Then, to her surprise, she didn’t hear the intruder…but she smelled something.
Bacon.
The asshole wascooking? She had some of that microwaveable bacon in her fridge. She preferred the real stuff, but when she had a hankering for bacon, it was easy and less messy to cook a piece or two in the microwave.
“Kelli?” Flash’s agitated voice brought her back to the conversation.
“Yes,” she said.
