Page 116 of The Bodyguard's Fall

Luke seethed. “Of course he picked a car that fifty percent of the population owns.”

“That’s exactly why he picked it,” Tate said.

“I think we’re giving him too much credit,” I said. “He’s not the type of guy who can just outsmart a bunch of cameras and outrun a cop. He’s just been lucky.”

Tate’s jaw twitched. “He didn’t outsmart anybody. The cameras worked just fine. There was an alert on my phone ten seconds before he threw the rock. The cameras capture; they don’t prevent.”

“Did you see him throw it, then?” Luke asked, looking at his brother.

Tate’s eyes flicked to mine. Our time playing cards and the moments after my win seemed like a lifetime ago.

We sat in silence. Underneath my worn-out, shocked exterior, a new emotion was beginning to settle into my chest. Anger. But not just any anger.

Blind rage.

The audacity of this outside force interjecting his way into my life and using tactics meant to frighten and control. But now, watching Luke trying to act older than he was, dealing with a crazed stalker and a gun thrust upon him… And Tate’s slumped shoulders, his faraway expression, and distress rolling off him in waves… Watching all of this, I felt a rage that overpowered the fear. How dare he?

How dare he?

Will: Is she alright?

Tate: Yeah.

Will: Are you?

Tate: Just start running a list of people in Vermont who own a gray Toyota Camry and see if anything comes up.

Will: Already on it.

It was late by the time the Autumn Ridge PD left. They’d watched the tapes from the security cameras and told us they’d keep an eye out for a man that fit Leroy’s description, as well as for a gray Toyota Camry. Tate looked like he was ready to explode on the rookie cop who told us it sounded like a prank. I clutched Tate’s arm, forcing him to look at me instead of lashing out at the baby-faced officer.

“They’re doing their best,” I whispered.

Tate rubbed his eyes and kept his anger to a contemptuous snort.

He’d been fit to be tied all night. I was surprised he hadn’t worn a hole in the kitchen floor with his endless pacing. His parents arrived home not long after Tate had returned. Ann sat beside me at the far end of the table as the Walker men taped and boarded up the window. When I began to protest the boards going across the window, hating the idea of Ann’s siding getting ruined by nails, she just waved my worry away.

“That doesn’t concern me one bit. Besides, it makes me feel better having it harder for someone to get inside without us hearing anything.”

“Ann, I’m so sorry I’ve brought all this to you.” Emotion made my voice crack. I covered my face with my hands on the table.

“Don’t be sorry. I’m not.”

I peered out from my hands and looked at her. “How can you say that? I’ve turned your home into a crime scene. Twice now.”

“Someone else has done that. Not you.”

“But this shouldn’t be your problem.”

She shrugged, her eyes sparkling the tiniest bit. “Well, family sticks together. If someone messes with one of us, they mess with us all.”

I smiled at her sadly, appreciating the sentiment, but it hit kind of raw knowing I wouldn’t be staying.

“But I’m not really your family. This is all…temporary.”

She glanced over to where Tate was holding up a board just outside the kitchen door while Tom hammered it in.

“You married my son,” she said quietly. “So that makes you my daughter. The shooting had shaken him up pretty badly before you got here. He wasn’t sure what his future held. But you’ve given him something to live his best for. You’ve woken him up in all the best ways, and for that reason, we’re in your corner, Liv. Whether you want us or not.”