Page 105 of Take My Kiss
As soon as those words leave his mouth, a piercing alarm blares from outside.
Remy sprints toward it, barking so loud that it makes my ears ring. I follow Colton, watching as Remy jumps on the front door.
“What was that?” I ask, panicked.
“I think that’s my truck’s proximity sensor.” He pulls out a bat from the coat closet, then shoves his bare feet into his boots. “Stay inside, please.”
“It’s pitch black out,” I whisper-hiss when he releases the deadbolt. The motion light only reaches across the deck, so you can’t see down the staircase or driveway where he’s parked.
“Remy has good night vision.”
That doesn’t make me feel much better.
I wait impatiently as they walk out and listen for any suspicious noise or movement in the woods. Remy sniffs around the deck, wagging his tail, then runs down the stairs with Colton close behind.
“Who’s there?” Colton shouts from below the deck, so I can’t see anything.
There’s some commotion and wrestling before silence.
“Colt?” I yell.
Remy’s continuous barking makes it harder to hear what’s going on.
I’m torn on leaving the house with the kids inside or checking on Colton.
“I’m okay.”
“What’s goin’ on?” I ask urgently.
Two shadowy figures appear up the stairs, my heart beating wildly in anticipation as they walk toward me. Remy’s closebehind and finally calmed down enough so I can hear the blood rushing through my ears.
“Who’s that?”
A man I don’t recognize stands before Colton, his hands up in surrender, looking sheepish and nervous.
Colton points at him with the bat. “This guy claims he’s your dead brother.”
chapter twenty-four
Colton
When he tries getting closerto Amelia, I yank him back by his shirt and hang onto him.
“Stay,” I demand.
Remy immediately sits next to Amelia.
The man swallows, then grins coyly at her. “Hi, Mellie.”
Her head tilts, blinking hard as if she needs to clear her vision. “What did you say?”
“Mellie.”
“Where did you hear that name?”
“It’s what I called you when we were kids. You called me Sammy. I called you Mellie Pie.”
Amelia gasps. “Oh my God.”
