RJ’s playful demeanor vanished as he, too, glanced out the window at the garage. “Yeah, it was shut when we arrived.”
Dale straightened his spine. “We need to check it out.”
Chapter Seventeen
Sadie stood in the kitchen, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as she watched everyone but Dale move toward her garage. He’d stayed in the house to protect her. She was grateful and in shock.
Her mind raced as the reality of the situation settled over her like one of her crocheted blankets. The thought that someone had been in her garage—her sanctuary—left her feeling exposed and violated. It was as if every ounce of safety she’d felt in her home had been stripped away in an instant. The anxiety bubbling in her chest threatened to spill over, and she found herself trembling despite her best efforts to remain calm.
Damsel in distress, victim—those words weren’t part of her character or her existence, until now.
She prided herself on her calm nature, her backbone, her strength, but those traits were quickly slipping from her grasp.
Dale must have sensed her unraveling because, without a word, he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a solid, reassuring embrace. The warmth of his body and the steady beat of his heart against her cheek grounded her, providing a much-needed anchor in the storm of her thoughts.
“Hey,” he murmured softly, his voice a low rumble that she felt more than heard. “I know this is a lot, but I’m here. You’re not alone, Sadie.”
Closing her eyes, she let herself sink into the comfort of his embrace, her hands clutching the fabric of his shirt as if he were the only thing keeping her tethered to reality.
“It’s terrifying to think someone was here, in my space, planning who knows what,” she said, holding him tightly. “Whatif they come back? What if—” Her voice broke off, unable to finish the thought of Dale getting hurt trying to protect her.
Dammit. Get a grip.
Dale’s hold on her tightened, his hands rubbing soothing circles on her back. “I’m not going to let that happen. Plus, you have a whole team of people looking out for you now, and we’re going to do everything we can to keep you safe. Whoever did this, they messed with the wrong people.”
Sadie nodded against his chest, the strength in his touch and in his words giving her a flicker of hope. “I just feel so helpless. This is my home. My safe place. And now—”
“And now it feels like that safety’s been taken from you,” Dale finished for her, his voice gentle. “But we’re going to get that back, I promise. We’ll figure out who’s behind this, and we’ll make sure they never come near you again.”
She pulled back just enough to look up at him. The intensity in his gaze and unwavering determination made her believe that maybe, just maybe, things would be okay. “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you here.”
“You won’t have to find out,” he replied, softly trailing a finger down her cheek. “I’m not going anywhere, Sadie. I’ve got your back.”
She let out a shaky breath, feeling the tension in her shoulders start to ease just a little. “I’ve got yours,” she told him softly, finding comfort in the words, in the thought that she wasn’t facing this nightmare alone, and neither would he.
For several quiet, calming moments they stood there, wrapped in each other’s presence, while outside, the men continued their investigation. No matter what they found—or didn’t find—Sadie knew she had someone she could rely on. And in that, there was strength.
But she also knew she could rely on every single person at ESI.
As if on cue, the back door opened, and the guys stepped into her kitchen. The expressions on their faces told Sadie everything she needed to know before they even spoke.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
“What did you find?” Dale asked, his voice tense, his hand sliding down across her back to grip her hip as they faced the others.
Cooper blew out a breath, and the others wore matching frowns as Mac spoke.
“We found a machete,” the guy replied. “Just lying there in the middle of the garage floor, out in plain sight.”
RJ’s gaze met hers. “Do you happen to own one, Sadie?”
She shook her head, and her breath caught in her throat as a cold wave of fear washed over her.
A machete?
Whomever did this wasn’t playing. This was a threat—an unmistakable, terrifying warning that someone intended to hurt her—or worse.
Dale’s grip on her hip tightened, along with his jaw. Fury flashed through his eyes as he used his free hand to pull out his phone. “I’m calling Gabe. He needs to get over here.Now.”
