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Jared
It’s two days after I caught Nia’s ex trying to hurt her. I’m ashamed to say in that time, I’ve done everything I can to avoid her. Why? Because I almost kissed her.
Shit.
That can’t happen—especially not while she’s vulnerable. I’m not sure I’m ready to go there either. The ghosts of the past still haunt me and I don’t want to bring that kind of baggage to Nia’s door.
As I pull my car into the garage parking lot, my eyes gravitate of their own accord to Nia’s store. It’s pathetic and desperate, but I can’t help but wonder if she’s okay, if she’s as freaked out by the kiss we almost had as I am.
Driving past, I notice there’s something weird about the front door, but I can’t focus on it and steer the car. Once I’ve picked a space and shut the engine down, I climb out of the car and slowly walk across the street.
I should leave it alone. Whatever it is it’s not my problem, but I made that promise that nothing bad would happen to her again, and I don’t break my word.
As I approach the door, I can see what caught my attention. It’s been jimmied open, the wooden frame broken down one side.
“Jared!” Nia’s surprised voice has my head snapping in her direction.
I hold a hand up, stopping her in her tracks.
“What’s wrong?” she demands, and I shake my head.
“The door.” I point to the broken wood, and her hands fly to her face. Raising a finger to my lips, I indicate for her to keep quiet. Then I reach for the door handle.
She snags my arm, pulling me back. Together, we step away from the door.
“Are you crazy?” she hisses at me in a low voice. “You can’t go in there.”
“I’m just going to make sure whoever broke in isn’t still there.”
“Exactly! Crazy!” She gives me a little shake, as if she can shake some sense into me. “You’re not going in there.”
“Nee, I was in the Army for years. I can clear a store.”
“Was in the Army, Jared. Was. You no longer are. Let’s just call the police.”
“Trust me, okay?”
She lets go of my arm and I see the warring emotions playing across her face. “I do trust you.”
I don’t know why, but her saying that warms me in a way I didn’t know I could be. It’s been a long time since I had the trust of a woman. Realistically, she probably shouldn’t trust me. The last woman who did ended up dead, but I vow I’ll keep Nia safe, no matter what it costs.
With a final glance at Nia, carefully, I push the bottom of the door with my foot until it swings open. Without any lights on, the inside of the store is a series of shadows I can barely see through.
I feel Nia shifting next to me, but I ignore her and step inside the store. My fear is pushed into the same box I’d shove it in when I was deployed, and that ingrained training takes over. I clear the room like I’m on a mission, ready for whatever might happen. As I pass a display that has been knocked over, I see a fire poker among the debris and pick that up. It won’t do much damage, but it might just be enough protection if it’s needed.
I step over items littering the floor, careful not to add to the destruction, and move through the building methodically, clearing each room as I go. I wish I had one of my old team behind me, but Beanie and Slider won’t be here for another thirty minutes or so, and no way am I waiting for the cops to turn up—not if there is danger still here.
As my eyes start to adjust from the brilliant sunlight to the darkness of the store, I can see clearly the level of destruction that has occurred and my stomach twists painfully. This was done maliciously, no doubt about it, but who did it, I don’t know, but suspect it could be her asshole ex.
By the time I reach the last room, I’m convinced whoever broke in is long gone, so I turn the lights on. The main shop had seemed like a disaster in the poor light, now, illuminated by the overhead lights, it’s catastrophic.
Decorations are broken and furniture upended, but there’s a pattern to the destruction that I can’t quite work out.
I beckon through the window to Nia to join me, which she does. As soon as she steps foot over the threshold, she gasps, her face dropping into her hands. I don’t blame her for her reaction. She worked hard to get her store up and running and now…
I glance around the chaos, and feel my mouth pull into a tight line. This is made worse as she moves slowly through the destroyed store.
“Oh my God,” she mutters.
