Next morning, at five, I walk down the stairs confidently. I have the permission to roam around after all. I turn on the kitchen light and my heart stops seeing an instant cinnamon latte packet on the table. When did he buy it?
I pick it up and there’s a yellow sticky note above it.
Read the instructions on the back.
15
KEITH
My gaze slides to the rearview mirror as I make the turn onto my street. Looking at the traffic behind me, I see nothing suspicious. Then why can’t I shake this feeling that someone’s watching me?
I speed-dial Lukas.
“Spencer.” He picks up immediately.
“Anything on the black cruiser?”
“Nope. I don’t think they were following you, Keith. Our men sat outside Vanshionista for half a day, but the black car didn’t move. I have a suspicion they were shadowing someone, possibly Vanessa Hilbert.”
“And it doesn’t bother you that we can’t ID the car?” I enter my garage.
“If it’s personal security, I can understand why they’d want to stay undercover. What’s bothering you?” Lukas doesn’t sound impatient, but curious.
“I don’t know.” I crack my knuckles. “I can’t shake this feeling that I’m being watched. Can you run the plate once again?”
“Of course. If you like, I can have two men outside your house or around Mere’s school. I trust your instincts one hundred percent, man.”
I think about his idea for a second. As tempting as it sounds, I don’t want my team sitting idle in case my instincts are wrong. “Let’s wait on that. You run the plate and I’ll drive Mere to school and bring her back home until I’m sure it’s safe.”
“You got it.”
Ending the call, I look around once more before my hands stray to the glove box. I’m about to open it, when I hear low laughing sounds from inside my house. Giving the glove box one last look, I get out and troop into the living room.
My heart fucking stops.
Sitting on the couch, Clementine is working on a green fabric with a thread and needle. Merida is perched on a chair, her feet dangling from the armrest and her eyes fixed on a thick book on her lap. Meanwhile, there is a faint song playing somewhere in the room.
I fail to remember when my house was this…blissful. I’m startled when something soft grazes my foot.
What the fuck?
A white ball of fur settles itself before me.
“Dad, you’re early.” Mere jumps from the sofa chair.
“What’s that?” I look down at the kitten now hugging my pants.
My throat tightens at…everything around. The music, the kitten, the nice-smelling candle lit by the window. This is not how my house is supposed to be. This is a happy house! Happy but not mine!
Mere quickly grabs the cat and it settles in her arms.
My legs fucking shake and my heart rate picks up in panic.
I turn around and enter the kitchen. With trembling hands, I pour myself a glass of water.
While a part of my brain continues to scream this happiness isn’t right, the other half argues, why the fuck not?
And I have no answer.