Oh my God, someone is shooting at us. Lily’s hands scraped on the concrete front porch as the realization hit. The first name that came to mind was Brock. The psychopath had finally snapped. Probably because he saw her kissing another man—and what an epic kiss.

Her lips still tingled, her body ached, but the pleasure didn’t take away the fear. Someone shot at me. But would Brock really indulge in something so impersonal as a drive-by? He’d want to kill me up close and personal. The very fact that she believed it made her wonder again why she bothered listening to the lawyers and didn’t just take Zoe and run.

Because he’d find me. There was only one way to stop someone like Brock.

The taillights brightened as the car braked in front of Calvin’s house. It sat idling, just a few feet off the curb, a hovering and menacing presence.

Boom.

The streetlight in front of Calvin’s yard exploded, and a pocket of darkness fell, highlighting the evil red eyes of the car. The lights got larger as the car rolled backwards. Closer.

Calvin snatched the keys she’d dropped and used them to quickly unlock her door before he opened it and pushed her inside. “Get in and stay down. Even better, move to the back of the house.”

Good plan. Move away from the guy with the gun. Lily ended up crawling down the short hall, hands and knees slapping the floor as Calvin slammed the door shut. She made it to the edge of the kitchen linoleum when she realized she didn’t hear or sense him behind her. She cast a glance over her shoulder, only to see the hall and entrance empty.

Don’t tell me Calvin didn’t follow me in? Is he crazy?

Maybe he’d ducked into the living room for a better look at the shooter. He could risk himself if he wanted. She liked her body without any holes, thank you very much. Given she didn’t want to bleed, why was she heading back up the hall?

No, you idiot. Move to the back. The back is safer.

The rebuke didn’t stop her. She knew she should move fully into the kitchen away from the front, and yet instead, she sidled back up the hall and sideways into the living room. Calvin wasn’t there, so she kept going until she reached the window. Holding her breath, she peeked over the ledge.

Red brake lights still glowed where the car sat parked on the street in front of her house. She ducked back down and heard the boom of a gun firing. Another boom, and the living room got darker as another street lamp died.

Since her windows remained intact, Lily braved another peek, hoping she wouldn’t see Calvin dead on the front lawn.

The meager porch light illuminated enough that she could see the lawn remained body free. She didn’t spot a single sign of her date. But she did hear a slight popping sound. Pop. Pop. Pop. More shots were being fired, but not the same shotgun blasts from before. These were more focused and determined. The red lights on the car went out, one by one.

The porch light went next.

Darkness fell so thickly and suddenly, she blinked. The weak porch light across the street didn’t extend its illumination far. A single pop and, a moment later, it died too.

Pure darkness blanketed the world outside. As did silence.

What had happened? Who shot at the car? Was it Calvin? Another one of the neighbors?

A sudden rev of an engine and the car, no longer sporting any lights, squealed as it took off, the sound of its engine fading as it left the neighborhood. She slumped to the floor and heaved a shuddering breath, wondering if Calvin had chased them off. Even if he had, how long before they came back?

This was Brock punishing her for moving on. She was certain of it, which was why, when Calvin suddenly appeared in the living room and flicked on a light, after she finished blinking, she jabbed a finger in his direction and said, “Out. You need to go. Right now.” The date was wrong. Getting involved with anyone right now? Wrong and selfish. It stopped now.

“You don’t have to be scared.”

“Out.” She kept pointing and wouldn’t look at him lest she give in to her hormones again.

“Don’t forget to lock your door.”

No begging to stay and protect her. No telling her everything would be all right.

He left.

The loneliness hit her hard, and she tucked her knees to her chin. She rocked and hugged herself tightly, mostly because she wanted to run after him and beg him to come back. To just hold her for a little while and tell her everything would be okay.

Instead, she did what she always did. Protected others. Protected him.

Stay away from me.

It’s for the best.