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My cell started buzzing, and I tried to ignore it, but I couldn’t. It kept going off. When I looked at the screen, I saw it was Ayana.
“Shit.”
I sat up quickly and answered my phone. “What’s wrong?”
“Lock, I’m sorry to wake you, but I really need your help.”
I took a deep breath. “Okay, what’s up? Are you and Brad okay?”
“Yes, we’re fine. It’s not us; it’s Phoebe. Do you remember her? She’s the woman you met earlier today.”
Hearing the name instantly put me on edge. Ayana didn’t call at 4:00 in the morning asking for help. It’s never that simple. When she called, it’s something major. Hearing Phoebe’s name in the mix made me jump from my bed and grab my jeans.
“Yeah, I remember. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. She called me frantic, telling me that the guy that attacked her before was back and she didn’t know what to do.”
“Did you call 911?” I asked her, as I pulled a sweatshirt over my head.
“Yes, Brad called. But Lock, she freaks out with men. She has a history that I can’t get into, but she needs a friendly face.”
“And you think I can help?” I grabbed my keys and moved quickly down the steps out to my truck.
“Lock, I saw you two together. Phoebe doesn’t like to be touched by anyone. I had to work up to just touching her on her arm and when I say it took a while, I’m not exaggerating. You held her in your arms, Lock, and she let you. So yes, you can help.”
I took a deep breath. “Okay. Send me her address.”
I looked at it on my phone and saw she was fifteen minutes away from me up Preston in Frisco.
When I got to a subdivision filled with townhomes, I went straight to the townhouse that had three cop cars sitting in front of it and an ambulance idling in the middle of the street. I jumped out of the truck and went straight to the house, showing my badge as I moved. I didn’t answer any questions nor did I talk to anyone. My main goal was to find Phoebe.
I heard her scream, and I raced up the steps to a room flooded with cops.
“Move back,” I barked and held my badge up. I barged my way into the room, noting a few faces I recognized. It didn’t matter if I knew these cops or not; if one of them got in my way; it would be a problem.
The sight I saw before me brought my level of rage to an all-time high. Phoebe was crouched in the corner with her hair failing over her tear-streaked face, breathing erratically.
I heard someone say next to me, “We’ve searched the house and found where someone broke in, but they’re long gone. We’re canvassing the area for anyone suspicious right now. We found a piece of mail with her name on it. Her name is uh, Phoebe Gates, twenty-nine years old, lives alone. No priors… a war vet…”
My eyebrows rose to that bit of news, but I didn’t reply.
The officer continued. “When we found her, she was there holding that huge knife and no one can get to her. The paramedics want to check her over, but they can’t get close.”
I frowned and turned. “And what? You fucking idiots were just going to stand here looking at her until she tired herself out? Everyone get the fuck out! Paramedic too!”
“But sir,” I heard someone reply and I added, “I’ll let you know when you can come in, and close the damn door behind you.”
Damn idiots.
When the door closed, I moved in her direction. I removed my gun, put it on the bed and I softly called her name. “Phoebe, it’s me, Lock. Do you remember me from Hatch’s?”
No response.
“Ayana and Brad called me saying that you had a break in by someone that attacked you before. Do you want to tell me about it?”
Nothing.
I was lost at this point. This, being sympathetic, wasn’t my strong suit. I had to think of something else. She was rocking and shaking uncontrollably and she could easily go into shock. I got down on my hands and knees and moved to her, keeping my eyes steady on hers. At first, she looked blankly at me. Then finally, as if a switch went off, her eyes focused on me.
“Hey, beautiful,” I said softly, and I don’t know if it was my voice or my words, but she dropped the knife and crawled to me. I didn’t move. I let her come to me. When she got to me, she wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her head under my chin.
I didn’t think about anything Ayana said about her not liking to be touched. I wrapped her tightly in my arms and held her close to me. “Everything is going to be okay. I’ve got you. I won’t let anything happen to you again. Okay, baby?… I promise you that.”