by Devney Perry
“Tell me.”
“You know how I was working at that garage in Colorado?” he asked.
“Yes.” I nodded.
“Before that, I worked for my dad at the club garage where Dash works now. I learned early and it came naturally. So when I started in Colorado, the owner didn’t have much to teach me that I didn’t already know or I hadn’t learned from my certification classes. So instead of teaching me about cars, he taught me about running a business. Encouraged me to start my own shop. When I told him I was quitting to move home, he gave me that sign.”
“It’s a remarkable piece.” The huge stainless steel sign was shaped as a wrench and hung from the ceiling by two thick chains. The letters were cut into the metal in solid blocking.
“Yeah. He was a nice guy. Passed a couple years ago from cancer,” Nick said.
“I’m sorry. Why didn’t you start your own garage?”
“Money, mostly. Security. When I came up here, I was hoping Dash would come live with me and avoid the club. I wanted to have the stability of a paycheck. Starting a garage can be risky, especially in a small town where there’s already a good shop.”
I could see his point. The Prescott populace was nothing if not loyal. And if there was a garage in town where people trusted the owner, they would be reluctant to move their business to someone new.
But Nick wasn’t a stranger in town anymore. He was loved in this community. Prescott’s residents would support him if he started his own garage.
“You love it, Nick. I’ve never seen you this excited about your work. Why don’t you try it now?”
“I like the fire station. It feels good to be part of something that protects the community. My whole childhood was spent with guys who avoided the law and any type of authority. It feels good to embrace it instead of fight it. Plus, I get paid well and it’s fairly low stress most of the time.”
“But it’s not your passion.”
“No, it’s not. I enjoy the challenge of working on a car. It’s like putting a puzzle together. Making all the pieces fit.”
“Then do it.”
He shrugged. “Maybe someday.”
His deflection told me that he’d given that dream up ages ago. But I wasn’t going to stop encouraging him. I had abandoned one career path for another so I could pursue my dreams, and not once had I regretted my decision. It might take some time, but I was going to keep pushing until he had his dream job too.
Dash returned and we enjoyed the rest of the afternoon and evening together. I enjoyed the time getting to know Dash and seeing Nick interact with a family member. He was caring and affectionate and it was obvious he would like to see Dash more often.
“Thanks, Brother,” Dash said, shaking Nick’s hand as he was leaving.
“Any time. It was good to see you.”
“Glad to have met you, Emmy. Get this douche bag to bring you up to Clifton Forge one of these days,” Dash told me.
“Thank you.” The chances of Nick taking me to his hometown were slim at best.
“Dad’s always bitching about having too much custom work to keep up with. Bet he’d ship a few cars here if you wanted a project to tinker with,” Dash told Nick.
I was pressed against Nick’s side with my arms wrapped around his belt. With the mention of their dad, tension radiated through his body.
“No thanks,” Nick said.
“That’s what I thought. Maybe one day you two can work through your fucking shit so I can see you more than once a year.”
“You know how I feel about all your club business. My stance hasn’t changed.”
“I think you don’t know shit about my club.”
“True. Let’s keep it that way,” Nick said. “Drive safe.”
Dash shook his head and strode to his truck.
As he roared down the drive, I thought it was such a shame to end his visit on a sour note. We’d had such a nice Sunday together, working on his car, grilling steaks for dinner, laughing and sharing stories. Now the day felt tainted.
“Are you okay?” I asked as we watched his brother leave.
“No. I shouldn’t have snapped. He always plays the middleman between Dad and me. I wish he’d realize that I can’t be around the old man. Just give it up.”
“I think he just misses you.”
“Yeah,” he sighed. “I miss him too.”
“He seems nice. I guess when you told me your family was in a motorcycle gang, I pictured a much scarier version of a brother. Someone dark and menacing.”
He scoffed. “That’s what’s scary, Emmy. Everything in their lives appears normal until the minute they’re taking a pipe wrench to a man’s body or holding a gun to your head.”
I shuddered at the mental image and Nick knew he had me freaked. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I said.
“Come on, Wife. Let’s watch a movie. It’s time you were introduced to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.”
I had actually heard of that film before. Paul Newman and Robert Redford? He’d get no objections from me.
The second my cell phone stopped ringing downstairs, Nick’s dispatch radio kicked on.
“Milo, this is dispatch. Got another call from Emmeline Austin’s security company. Her alarm’s been tripped and she didn’t answer when they called.”
“Roger. I’ll go over now. Gimme the address.”
“Fuck,” Nick cursed and shot out of bed.
“Oh my god,” I gasped. “Do you think it was another break-in?”
“I don’t know, Emmy. But we need to get over there.”
“Right. Should we call the station so they know I’m not home?” Nick’s phone was already at his ear. Following him to the closet, I threw on some clothes and mentally prepared for whatever I might find at home.
“Why is this happening?” I asked Nick as he sped to my house. The clock on the dash read 3:16 a.m.
“I don’t know but it’ll be okay,” he said, lifting my hand to his lips.
“I hope you’re right.”
Milo had beaten us to the house. The lights on his cruiser were flashing and he was standing in the drive watching our approach.
“Fuck. I hope he didn’t come racing down here with those lights on and fuck up any chance of catching this guy,” Nick clipped.
“I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.”
He grunted. “I wish we would have been here tonight. I would have loved to catch this guy in the act.”
I felt exactly the opposite but kept quiet. Wishing we’d been here was asinine. A dangerous and potentially armed criminal had been here not long ago. I felt lucky we hadn’t been here.
Two break-in attempts just a month apart could not be random. Someone was targeting my house. Maybe they were targeting me. Who knows what could have happened if we had been here?
“What’d you find?” Nick asked Milo as we congregated by the cruiser.
“Nothing. The front door was wide open when I came up. Whoever broke in was long gone by the time I showed,” Milo said.
“Did you check the area?” Nick asked.
“Yeah. Tracks in the snow lead around the side of the house and then south into the trees. I didn’t follow them far. Jess is on his way. He might want to hike out there tonight. I’m guessing he’ll wait until first light,” Milo said.
“Fuck,” Nick hissed. “I’m going with you guys when you check them out.”
“Sure thing, Nick.”
“Did you clear the house?”
Milo nodded. “First thing I did. Place is empty.”
“Emmy, go ahead and disarm that thing.”
I used my phone to silence the blaring alarm.
“Come on. Let’s get inside before you get too cold,” Nick said, grabbing my hand and pulling me up the front steps.
Nothing was like the first break-in. Whoever came in had not been careful and quiet. The handle on the front door was broken and hanging loose. My table in the foyer was knocked over. S
now was tracked in past the entryway and up the stairs.
“Fuck me,” Nick muttered. “Are these tracks yours, Milo, or were they here?”
“They aren’t mine.” Milo pulled out his phone. “Before you guys go too far, let me get some pictures.”
“I’m scared,” I told Nick while Milo worked.
“I’ve got you,” he promised, holding me close.
An hour later, I was back in an all-too-familiar position: huddled next to Nick on a couch while Jess informed me of the break-in.
“I’m sorry, Emmeline. Wish we could have caught this guy the first time around. Hate that we’re here again,” Jess said.
“It’s not your fault,” I said.
“Least this time we’ve got some leads,” he said. “Footprints Milo found show him leaving through the trees. Either he didn’t leave any tracks coming to the house or we just haven’t found them yet. We’ll know more in the morning. First light I’ll hike up behind the house.”
“I’m coming with you,” Nick said.
“Okay.” Jess nodded.
“Do you think it’s the same guy from the first break-in?” I asked.
“Most likely. Alarm didn’t scare him away, which tells me he knew it would trip when the door popped. And he wasn’t wasting any time. Tracks up the stairs look like he took them two at a time, coming and going. Like he knew exactly where he was headed.”
“My bedroom is upstairs. Do you think he was coming for me?”
Nick must have been thinking the same thing because the grip he had on my hand became painfully tight.
“I don’t know,” Jess said. “It could be that’s where he suspected jewelry or valuables would be. Could be about you. Either way, don’t plan on staying here by yourself until we know what’s going on.”
“Not to worry. She’s been at my place for weeks. That’s where she’s staying for the foreseeable future,” Nick said.
“Do you think it could be a stalker? Am I in danger?” I asked Jess.
“Can’t be sure,” he said. “Have you noticed anything strange lately? Anyone give you the creeps?”
“No,” I said. “Everything has been normal.”
“Good. I doubt someone’s stalking you. If they were, they would have known you weren’t here tonight. My guess is your intruder saw your vehicle missing and thought they could make a quick score. That said, be diligent. Pay attention to folks around you.”
“Okay.”
“You’re not to come here alone anymore, Emmy,” Nick said. “If you need clothes or something, you wait for me to come with you.”
I nodded.
“I’ve gotta swing back to the farmhouse. Then I’ll be back. You guys staying here or heading back to Nick’s?”
“My place,” Nick said.
“Hike out at seven?” Jess asked him.
“I’ll be here.”
Nick and I went back to his place but sleep was pointless. We both sucked down cup after cup of coffee before he insisted on driving me to work.
It was the worst Monday in history.
I was exhausted. Keeping focus was a struggle. Everywhere I went, I looked over my shoulder. If Jess didn’t find the person or persons breaking into my house, I was going to reach an all-time-high level of crazy.
The minute the students left the building, I texted Nick to come and get me. Even though Jess had said I wasn’t likely in danger, the idea of staying in my classroom alone had me scared.
With a pizza in the truck, we stopped by my house to pack a couple of weeks’ worth of clothes. The minute we got to Nick’s house, I was pulling on yoga pants, eating half of our pepperoni special and going to bed.
“I can’t believe you didn’t find anything,” I said, tossing a stack of sweaters into my suitcase.
“Me too,” he said. On the drive over, he’d told me that he, Jess and Milo had followed the tracks through the trees but when the footprints circled back to the paved highway, they’d lost the trail.
My shoulders sank. “Now what?”
“Jess is pulling footage from the stoplight camera on Main Street. That was an odd hour. If the guy drove back through town, we might be able to identify a license plate.”
I threw a pair of pants on the bed. “This is so frustrating!”
“I know,” Nick said, pulling me into his arms. “But we’ll catch them. Tomorrow we’re going to put some security cameras up around the house. If the stoplight footage doesn’t get us anywhere, hopefully the guy will be stupid enough to come back.”
“What if it’s different people? We don’t even have a clue!” I cried into his chest.
“Let’s not worry about it anymore tonight, okay?” he asked. “We’re both exhausted. Let’s go home, eat dinner and get some fucking sleep. Tomorrow we’ll meet with Jess after work and start brainstorming next steps.”
I huffed out a breath. He was right. Nothing was going to get solved tonight and I was too tired to think straight.
“Did you pack the gray dress?” he whispered into my hair.
I tipped my head back and looked into his hazel eyes. Today the brown flecks were more pronounced than the sage green.
“And a fancy green one so you can take me to dinner at The Black Bull. I think you’ll like it. I can’t wear panties or a bra.”
“Change of plans, Wife. Home. Sex. Pizza. Sleep. Tomorrow after we meet with Jess, we’re going to The Black Bull.”
A shiver traveled down my spine as I walked back to the closet. I wasn’t all that tired anymore.
Sex with Nick did not disappoint. He always took care of me, usually more than once. He loved making me come with his mouth. If I went down on him, he made sure to thoroughly reward me for my efforts.
And my man had stamina. He could go forever, hence his ability to dole out multiple orgasms every night.
With a smile on my face, I finished packing and sent Nick to the truck with my suitcases while I thumbed through some mail in my kitchen.
“Emmy, are you expecting company?” Nick called.
“No. Why?”
“Two black Escalades are coming up your drive.”
“What?” I gasped, running to the front door. My mother and Alesso climbed out of the first SUV. Her assistant and personal chef emerged from the second.
“Not today,” I muttered, closing my eyes.
“I take it you know them?” Nick asked.
“That’s my mother and her entourage.” We stood together at the door and watched as the crew hustled their way up my stone steps.
“Emmeline, darling! Surprise!” my mother said and threw her arms around me.
“Hi, Mom,” I said, hugging her back. Even though her visit was a shock, it was nice to have her here after such a rotten day. “What are you doing here?”
“We were bored and I missed you. When we talked on the phone last week, you sounded so relaxed. I thought we could visit and ruffle your feathers a bit. Is this my son-in-law?” she asked, abandoning me and crowding right into Nick’s space for a hug and double-cheek kiss.
“Nick Slater,” he said.
“Nice to meet you, Nick Slater. I’m Collette Austin,” she said. “This is my fiancé, Alesso Nespola.”
“Fiancé?” I asked, shocked. My mother agreeing to marry Alesso after fifteen years together was news. Page Six news.
“Oh, yes. We’ve finally decided to get married. Another reason for our visit. We need to celebrate!”
“Congratulations, Mom!” I gave her another hug, then turned to Alesso. “I’m so happy for you!” I said as we embraced.
Alesso was younger than my mother by a few years. His black hair was liberally streaked with gray, and the olive skin on his handsome face was creased with laugh lines. He kept himself in good shape but wasn’t bulky. He was Mom’s silver fox.
“Me too,” he said, squeezing me tight. “Sorry we barge in, bella.”
“You’re always welcome. I’m glad to see you both.”
Nick and Alesso excha
nged greetings and I introduced him to Mom’s assistant, Frannie, and chef, Samuel.
The pair had been with my mother for years, long before she’d moved to Italy. Frannie and Samuel were married with no children and were the closest thing I had to an aunt and uncle. When Mom had decided to move with Alesso, I hadn’t been surprised when they’d followed her across the Atlantic.
“Are you going somewhere?” Mom asked when she spotted my suitcases.
I grimaced. The thought of rehashing the break-in stories, both of them, was daunting. I had omitted the first one from our biweekly phone calls and knew she would not be pleased that I had kept it from her.
“Come on into the living room,” I said. “We’ve had a bit of a situation.”
After a brief recap of my troubles, numerous gasps and a thousand questions, we left my house and all drove up to Nick’s.
“I love this place, dear. It’s so comfortable,” Mom said, wandering through the main room. Nick, Alesso, Frannie and Samuel were all in the kitchen, laughing and talking, while the four of them supervised the baking of one pizza.
“I think so too,” I said. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay with us?”
“No. No. No,” she said. “We are not going to put you out. Frannie found us this wonderful rustic chalet for the week and Samuel won’t stop talking about experimenting with Montana bison and trout. It’s all decided.”
“Okay. If I can, I’ll try and find a substitute for the end of the week.”
“No you will not!” she scoffed. “You go to work and shape the minds of the future. Don’t worry about us. Frannie has planned activities to keep us busy all week while you teach. You and Nick can plan to join us for dinner in the evenings and then this weekend we’ll all do something together.”
“Thank you. That sounds wonderful,” I said, grateful that my mom was so supportive of my teaching career.
“What a lovely picture,” she said, lifting up Nick’s photograph of me from Las Vegas.
At some point between my first visit and my return from Italy, Nick had found a frame, and the photo was now front and center on his bookshelf.
“This isn’t recent,” Mom said.
“No. It’s not.”
She gave me a smug grin and continued snooping. “I’m worried, Emmeline. I don’t like the sound of these troubles you’re having. Should I call your father? For all his faults, he did always make sure we were safe. Remember that awful bodyguard we had your senior year? What was his name?”
