Pretend You're Mine(99)

“Harper, listen to me. Glenn posted bail and was released today. He was supposed to go straight to his mother’s house, but hasn’t showed.”

Her stomach flip-flopped. “Do you think he’d come here?”

“It’s more likely that he would go to Gloria’s place, but you could still be a target.”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Gloria’s here with me and Soph and Hannah. We were just waiting on pizza, which has no bearing on the situation at all. I’m just nervous and I’m going to shut up now.”

“Listen, I’m going to swing by Gloria’s and then her mom’s and check things out. I’ll let you know if we find him. Just do me a favor and keep your doors locked.”

Harper gulped and hung up. Her three friends were watching her expectantly.

“What the hell is going on?” Sophie demanded.

“Glenn’s out. Ty thinks he might be heading to Gloria’s.”

“Oh my God,” Gloria whispered, bringing her fingertips to her mouth.

“It’s going to be fine. Ty is heading to your place now to check things out. The police know he’s missing. They’re looking for him. He’s not going to get to you. No one is going to let that happen.”

Gloria took a steadying breath and nodded. “I think I’m going to text Aldo and let him know.”

“Good idea,” Sophie said, patting her hand.

They watched her as she took her phone into the dining room. Sophie’s eyes met Harper’s. Her voice was low. “So what’s going to happen if Glenn doesn’t find her at home?”

“He’s going to come here.”

“Crap,” Hannah sighed.

“Ty doesn’t think that we need to be worried, but maybe that’s his way of trying not to worry us. He told me to lock the doors. Just in case.”

Gloria’s voice sounded softly from the dining room. “Aldo must have called her,” Sophie whispered.

Harper nodded. “It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if Aldo stopped by. Sophie, will you let the dogs in the back and lock the door? I’ll get the front door. Hannah, can you check the windows on the first floor. I’m sure it’s just a precaution. But I think we should be prepared just in case.”

She picked up her phone and dialed Mrs. Agosta just in case the kids were out late catching lightning bugs and made her promise to keep everyone inside and lock up tight.

“It’s probably nothing. We’re just taking precautions,” she told her

It was probably nothing, Harper told herself when she hung up. They were probably just overreacting. The odds were that Glenn had just gotten good and drunk and was passed out somewhere far away from here.

Her fingers shook as she twisted the deadbolt on the front door. Lola trotted down the hallway towards her, a rumbly growl in her throat. “It’s okay, sweetie,” Harper bent down to pat Lola’s silver body. “We’re safe.”

The dark outside the windows made her nervous so she reached over to flick on the porch lights.

And there he was.





CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE


Glenn Diller peered at her through the cut glass of the side light window. The night shadows made his face look even more sinister. Harper’s heart jumped into her throat.

Before she could shout a warning to her friends, he hefted the fern in the terra cotta pot and heaved it through the dining room window.

“Everybody out! Go to Mrs. Agosta’s.” Harper screamed, as his thick leg swung over the sill. Glass crunched under his boots.

Lola growled low at her side, her fur bristling into a mohawk down her back.

“Well, look who’s home.” His eyes were unusually bright.

Harper backed up a step and prayed that the girls made it out through the backyard.

“Gloria’s gone. She’s safe and calling the cops right now.”

“I’m not here for her.” He reached behind him and pulled out a hunting knife. The light from the kitchen glinted off of the four-inch blade. Glenn took another step toward her, and Lola’s growl became a snarl.

“Aren’t you gonna run?” He licked his lips, and Harper’s stomach churned.

“If I run, my dog is going to rip your face off, and I really like this rug.”

As if in slow motion, Harper watched Glenn lunge forward. He grabbed her arm in his meaty fist as Lola coiled and sprang, closing her jaws around the forearm of his knife wielding hand.

He shrieked and the knife clattered to the floor. Glenn flung Lola off of him into the wall. She landed with a sick thud and a yelp. Harper screamed and launched herself at him. Her fingernails raked his face.

He grabbed for her again, catching her by the ponytail and they crashed to the floor. Harper scrambled forward on her hands and knees reaching for the knife, but he caught her by the ankle and yanked her back. His body ranged over hers, crushing her to the floor, and she saw his hand close around the handle of the knife.