Page 57 of Fools in Love

“What’s wrong?” He set the knife down and picked up the phone.

“I miss you,” she said with a heavy sigh. “What happens if… your dad isn’t caught for a long time? Some people hide from the law for years.”

He thought about it and shrugged. “I’m not sure. I don’t intend to stay away from you that long,” he assured her, and the corners of her lips curved up. “We’ll give it until the end of the month,” he suddenly said.

Her smile grew. “Promise?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I—”

Just then there was a loud noise and her phone dropped. He heard her scream. He almost dropped his phone as he called out to her over and over.

He was rushing towards the door when she finally came back on the screen.

“I’m here,” she said, a little breathless. Her hair looked messed up, and she had a panicked look on her face.

“What happened?” he asked, taking his car keys off the hook by the back door.

“I…” She was glancing around. “Someone threw something through my window. It’s…”

“I’m on my way over there,” he said quickly. He wanted to keep her on the phone, but knew he had to call backup. “Is your door locked?” he asked her.

“Yes,” she said, rushing over to it and making sure. “Yes,” she said again.

“I’ve got to hang up and call for backup. Stay put. Don’t open the door until you hear back from me.” When she nodded, he hung up and called Aiden as he drove like a madman to her place.

When he got there, there were already two patrol cars outside. He punched Kate’s number, and she answered on the first ring. “Nick and Aiden are here,” she said. “I let them in.”

“Good, I’m coming up.”

He ran up the stairs, a little breathless when he reached the top. He burst through the door and wrapped his arms around her, taking in the shattered window and her broken glass-top coffee table.

“Are you okay?” he asked her.

“Yes,” she said, her voice muffled against his chest. “It just scared me.”

“It’s a brick,” Aiden said, showing him. The word bitch was written on it with white paint.

Shit. Even though he’d steered clear of Kate, somehow, his father had found her anyway.

“Pack your things,” he told her when he noticed that she was still pale and shaking. “You’re going to go stay with your folks.”

She shook her head and took a step away from him. “No, I’m not.”

“Then you can stay with me,” Nick suggested.

“No.” Kate frowned at her brother. “I can stay with Tom.” She turned back to him. “If he already knows about me, then it’s too late. I’m better off with you.”

He hated the idea, but seeing the determination in her eyes, and getting the nod from both Nick and Aiden, he relented.

“Fine, go gather what you need.” When she disappeared into the bedroom, he turned on the men.

“How the hell did he get into town without anyone seeing him?” he growled.

“Good question.” Aiden turned the brick over in his hands. “Are we sure it’s him?”

Nick took the brick, walked over to the window, and looked out. The broken glass from the window crunched under his feet.

“Whoever threw this had to be standing just there.” He motioned as his eyes pinpointed a spot directly in front of O’Neil’s below them. “Any chance Patty’s security camera might have caught it?”