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When Tyler pulls me into his chest and whispers softly in my ear, I realize I’m crying.
“We’re going to put up tape and pull prints tomorrow morning,” I hear one of the officers say. “Hopefully, whoever did this didn’t wear gloves and left something behind.”
“Yeah, hopefully,” Tyler rumbles, holding my head firmly against his chest as he sifts his fingers through my hair.
“Is she good to stay with you?”
“She’s good,” he agrees before he lifts me into his arms.
He talks with the officers some more, but I don’t register anything they’re saying. My mind is overwhelmed with everything that’s happened and the state of my house. I feel numb, like I’m in an insane dream I can’t wake up from. It isn’t until Tyler lays me in his bed and wraps himself around me that I start to come back to myself.
My chest aches. “Why? Why would someone do something like that?”
“I don’t know, baby,” he answers, holding me tightly while resting his lips on the back of my head. I shiver in his hold as fear creeps down my spine. “You’re safe, Leah. Nothing and no one will ever touch you.”
I want to believe him, but part of me knows he might be wrong.
Suggestion 15
BE THANKFUL
LEAH
“Did they tell you what time they’d be over to lift prints?” my mom asks, handing me a cup of coffee before taking a seat next to me on Tyler’s couch.
“Thanks.” I take a sip before I answer. “No, just that they’d call when they got here so I could let them in.”
“I told you that you needed to get an alarm system put in,” my dad says, sounding pissed, and I look to where he’s standing near the door with his arms crossed over his chest. He’s been an angry papa bear since he got here, mad that I waited until this morning to call and tell them about the break-in, since I didn’t want them worrying all night. My dad was not happy and insisted on coming right over, even though I explained to him that I wasn’t allowed into my house until the cops told me it was okay. My mom was just as upset about it and came with him.
“Gary,” Mom sighs, and Dad cuts his eyes to her.
“A girl living on her own needs an alarm system or a dog. You don’t have either. Instead, you have a fucking cat that can’t even be seen most of the time,” Dad grumbles.
Mom defends me, glaring at my dad. “Mouse is with Mom, and Tyler and Leah weren’t even here. I doubt this would’ve happened if they were, because Bruce would’ve been around. Just thank God she’s okay. You can complain later.”
“I’m not complaining. I’m pointing out that if she had an alarm system, it would’ve been armed while she was gone, and the cops would’ve been notified when someone broke in. This could have been avoided.” He shakes his head, then glares at me. “I’m calling and having a system installed today.”
“Dad.” I sigh in frustration.
“And I’m telling them to put one in here, too, since you’re staying here.”
“This is Tyler’s house, not Leah’s,” Mom snaps at him. “You can’t just order Tyler to put in a security system because you deem it so.”
“I was going to put one in anyway,” Tyler states, coming out of the bedroom where he went to get changed for work. “Gary’s right. Leah is here with me, and I need a system. So does she.” He looks at my dad. “I hate that I gotta leave right now, but I’d appreciate if you made the call to have the system installed today. Let them know I’ll pay extra if they need me to. I just want it done by this evening.”
“I’ll get it done,” Dad assures him, looking relieved.
Tyler lifts his chin, then looks at me. “Are you going to be okay? I don’t want to go, but I need to check on the job. I won’t be gone long—maybe two hours.”
“I’ll be fine.” I feel guilty that he’s worried about me when he needs to be thinking about work. “Mom and Dad are here, and after I hear from the cops, I might go to the shop. I need to call the clients I was supposed to see today and reschedule appointments.”
“All right, baby.” He comes closer, dropping a kiss on my lips. “Let me know what the cops say, and don’t forget to call your insurance company. They need to know what happened so you can file a claim with them.”
“I’ll make sure she calls them,” Mom says, giving my hand a squeeze.
Tyler glances at her and nods before looking at me once more. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” I close my eyes as his lips touch my forehead, and then I watch him leave after saying goodbye to my parents.
