I roll over and glare around the empty room, jerking awake and upright in a split second.Where the hell is Daisy?
I don’t see her anywhere and jump up, grabbing my pants and pulling them on quickly.
I go to the door and look out, but see nothing moving. I move quietly around the room and down the hall to the downstairs bathroom. I blow out a quick breath when I see the light on underneath the door. I lean against it and close my eyes, hearing her humming inside the room. Smiling, I tap at the door.
“Hey, angel? What are you doing?”
“Never mind, nosy. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Walking back, I stopped in the kitchen and start the coffeepot. I know my girl and she needs her liquid caffeine in the morning before she even manages a smile.
Leaning on the counter, I smile while the pot runs. A quick flash of dark out the window makes my head turn and my eyes narrow in on the movement. At first, I don’t see anything and I start to write it off as a deer or something like that.
Until I see a flash of light off of something. A gun barrel.
“Shit!” I hit the floor as glass shatters and a bullet whizzes overhead. I crawl along the floor, skirting the glass around me, desperate to get to Daisy.
“Daisy!” I bellow, standing and running to the bathroom after I make it around the corner.
She comes out of the bathroom, wild-eyed and pale. “What’s going on? What was that noise?” Her eyes widen even further and she screams. “You’re hurt! Oh my god, are you alright? Let me see!” She tugs at my arm and I reach up, touching a bit of blood on my forehead.
Shaking my head, I wince when she tries to touch the blood and push on it to staunch the flow. “I’m fine. Baby, I want you to hide. I’ve got a safe room upstairs. I want you to hide in there until I come get you.”
She shakes her head, her glorious hair flying. “No! I want to stay with you!”
I shake her. “Daisy! I won’t be able to concentrate unless you’re safe. As long as I know you’re protected, I’ll be able to focus on him. I’ll get him. I already know who it is and believe me, I can stop him. I will stop him. But I need you somewhere out of the way.”
She nods slowly, unwilling but recognizing that it’s the best thing to do. I don’t need the distraction.
“Fine,” she whispers. “But you have to come get me. Because if you don’t come get me, I’m gonna be really pissed at you, Dex!” She hugs me tight and I can feel her shaking, hear the tears in her voice. “Promise me that you’re going to be alright, Dex! Promise me!”
“I am. I promise you. I will be back for you. I will get you and we are going to live a happy, wonderful life. I’m gonna marry the hell out of you, woman! As soon as we have this little blip taken care of.”
She chokes on a sob. “A blip? That’s what you call being shot!”
“I’m not shot,” I scoff. “Just got hit by a little glass. Trust me, baby. Now go.” I shoo her off. “Second door on the left at the top of the stairs. Go in and find the painting of the boat. Take it off the wall and pull. When that door opens, go in and close it up. Wait for me. Trust me. It will be alright.”
I kiss her lightly and then push her at the stairs. “Go!” I huff. “Now!”
She turns and struggles to smile. “I love you, Dex! But you better propose a lot better when this is all over.”
Chuckling, I nod. “I promise.”
She turns and jogs up the stairs and I watch until she’s out of sight. Then I turn back around, my smile gone. Rage boiling over. This asshole is about to learn what other men that face me over a conference table have learned. I’m no damn pushover. And I take care of my own.
I jog to the back of the room and duck down, certain that I saw movement again. This time it’s what I was hoping for. Franklin is out there. He shoots me a questioning look and I nod, pointing to the front.
I grab the shotgun that I keep by the back door and we both circle around our perimeters, keeping an eye on the exterior, both of us looking for any tiny movements.
Franklin’s head pops up briefly at a side window and I see him pointing, nodding my head. He’s got him.
I see him too. Slimy little son of a bitch. Shooting up my home and trying to hurt my Daisy. My woman. My fingers itch on the trigger and I have to fight the urge to go out there, guns blazing. The bastard deserves it.
But I will not jeopardize my future with my angel. My Daisy means more to me than anything. Even killing this asshat.
Franklin nods to another person just out of my view and I realize that his partner must be out there too.
Calm washes over me. We’ve got this. I head back to the back door, trusting that Franklin and his partner have him. I slip outside and skulk around the corner. I see my partners heading around the corner and Franklin gives me a high sign, telling me where he’s at.
