“I followed the guy home who was recording y’all at the club. Once he got settled for the night I went to grab a bite to eat before heading over to check on her house. I take it she’s with you.”
“Yes.”
“Good. Whoever did this trashed her house and used spray paint on her walls.”
“Damn. We’ll be right over.”
Chapter Ten
Summer looked around her living room in shock. Her pristine little home was a shambles. Her cheeks reddened as she read what had been spray-painted on her white walls.
“Whore.”
“Slut.”
“Fucking cunt.”
Whoever had done this had left her front door hanging wide open with the word “Cocksucker” painted on it.
“Why?” Her belongings were strewn everywhere, and she felt violated. She looked in the bathroom and saw her costly toiletries and cosmetics thrown and shattered in the porcelain bathtub. The waste made her want to cry.
Walking back to her bedroom, she headed straight for the closet. It was a small consolation that the safe was undamaged. Her sex toy collection, locked inside a file safe, was also untouched. Every item of clothing she owned was tossed about on the floor. Nothing appeared to have been stolen in the random chaos.
Tears overflowed her eyes when she picked up the frame that held a picture of her with her grandmother when she was a little girl.
“Grammy.”
It had been broken, lying face down on the floor, evidently stepped on. The picture inside was salvageable, but the ceramic frame had been a gift from her now-deceased grandmother. It was too much.
She broke down, and strong arms closed around her as she sobbed. Judging by his spicy scent, it was Ace who comforted her. He held her and rocked her gently as she let the emotions out.
In a comforting tone, he whispered, “At least you weren’t home, kitten. This could’ve turned out much worse. I’m so glad you came to the shop with us.”
Summer shuddered at the thought. Kemp came in and stood beside them. “The police should be here any minute. Duke just called it in. You okay, Summer?”
With a teary sniffle, Summer shrugged and nodded, unsure how she felt. Kemp reached for her, and she went into the haven of his arms. A few minutes later the police arrived. In addition, David Northup also showed up. She thought it was kind of him to come when it wasn’t absolutely necessary because the police officers had already taken her statement. She also hoped his arrival didn’t create more tension between the men. David was nice, but she wasn’t interested in him.
Ace and Kemp kept it friendly, which was a relief, and after the officers were finished with her, she set about picking her clothing up off of the bedroom floor.
That was where Kemp found her a few minutes later after he and Ace were finished conferring with the authorities. Kemp began lifting her clothing from the floor, shaking each item out before neatly laying it on the bed.
Ace joined them in the task and said, “Kitten? Why don’t we save this work for tomorrow? Come back with us to the shop.”
“I’m sorry, Ace. I can’t. I’ll never be able to rest knowing this is waiting for me here. I need to get it picked up now. My privacy has been violated and I can’t leave it like this.”
Nodding his understanding as he caressed her shoulder, Ace replied, “We understand. Do you by chance have any interior paint left over?”
Their willingness to help in such a concrete way touched her heart. “Yes, I saved a can from when I painted this past spring. It’s in the garage.”
“Good. You do your thing and we’ll take care of the spray paint. After we’re done we’ll help with the rest. I think Duke is tidying up your kitchen, sweeping up the broken glass and whatnot.”
She had yet to meet the mysterious Duke, and he was helping to pick up the pieces. The intruder had cleared out an entire cabinet of glassware and dishes onto the tile floor. She rubbed the heels of her hands on her forehead.
Sounding concerned, Ace stroked her knotted shoulders. “How are you doing?”
“I’ll feel much better after this is set to rights,” she replied, indicating the mess with a wave of her hand.
Ace stroked her cheek and said, “Would you consider staying with us from now until you’re ready to move?” She looked up at him in surprise, and he continued, “This could happen again, and it pains me to think of what might’ve occurred if you’d been here when this person broke in.”
It scared her to think of it, too. “Let me think about it?”
“Sure, kitten. We’ll take care of painting over the graffiti. Just think it over. We’d feel much better knowing you’re safe with us, rather than home alone.”