I welcomed the sunlight as it streamed across the inviting windows of the new day. Yesterday had been full of dread, but today was full of hope. The anticipation of something new had me giddy, thinking of Zack and his passion for our life together. I was stunned by how much I felt loved, when just a short time ago, I felt despair. I loved him with all my heart, and just thinking that we may not have ended up together in this way had my insides in knots. Thank goodness he wouldn’t let that happen. Thank God he came for me when he did, to the hospital after I got cut by the box that fell on me.

I wondered if we would be where we were today had it not been for the timing of that incident, and all the events that happened afterward. All night long and this morning, Zack had shown me just how much he loved me. His love knew no bounds—something I had often heard but never understood until now. As I tried to move this morning, my sore muscles stiffened with every stretch. But it was a welcome soreness, a pain I would so love to endure throughout all our days together.

Together—it was such a simple word, with the power to hold us under its spell. I was grateful for just about everything this morning, even the life that had led to this moment. Stretching across the soft sheets, I cuddled Zack’s pillow, breathing in his scent.

Making my way across the room toward the adjoining bath, I decided to cross town for some boxes to gather my things and bring them over to Zack’s. There was no reason why we shouldn’t move in together. I wanted us to start our life without the worry of my constant retreating whenever flashbacks or setbacks occurred.

Humming as I pulled my hair together into a ponytail, I wasn’t that surprised at how free I felt. How long I had waited to feel this way after the nightmares I had endured! No amount of therapy could replace the love of this man, someone who’d filled the holes of my abused heart.

Stepping onto the sidewalk, I followed the path that led to the road as noises from the brush captured my attention. When they grew louder, they caused me to turn my head. Startled, I jumped back when a hand appeared suddenly out of nowhere, grabbing for my jacket. Dark eyes met mine for one terrifying moment just before I turned to run.

 

***

 

“Katie! I’m home, honey!”

Zack walked through the door, where he was sure he’d find her waiting for him on the other side. Not that he’d expected her to be just sitting there all day waiting, but he was certain that she’d be at his house once he made it back home after his meeting. The meeting had run late, but it had still only taken a few hours.

He continued to walk around the house in his search for her, first to the bedroom, where he found the T-shirt she’d worn the night before neatly spread across the side of the bed. The bathroom towel also hung on the hook, so he knew she’d taken a shower earlier. But where was she now?

“Katie! You here, baby?”

He made his way toward the back office. He was sure she’d be sitting there. Perhaps she’d be reading a book and hadn’t heard him calling

Perplexed when he opened the door to an empty room, he decided to go to the garage. Her car was still parked there, sitting right where they’d left it only the day before. But Katie didn’t seem to be in the house. Trying not to panic, Zack headed out to the backyard. He wasn’t sure why she’d be out there, but maybe she’d decided to get the lay of the land before they had a chance to revisit the moving-in discussion. As he walked further into the yard, he realized that she wasn’t there. She wasn’t anywhere on the property. Racing back inside to see if her purse and jacket were still there, his heart hammered in his chest. The walls seemed to close in on him with every step he took.

Where was she? Had she just gone off for a walk, and he was worrying over nothing? She wouldn’t have left completely. Heck, her car was still in the garage. At the front door, he confirmed her jacket and purse were indeed gone, so he knew she must have them with her. Placing a call to her cell, he thought she would set aside all worries as soon as she picked up the phone. It wasn’t like her to worry him like this, so he knew she would pick up right away when he called. Instead, the call went to voicemail without even ringing beyond the first connection. That was odd. She never turned her phone off. She always tried to answer, just in case her family were trying to contact her.

Trying not to panic, although his body was betraying him, Zack felt as though something was terribly wrong. Katie wouldn’t just leave like this after everything they’d discussed. After all, the demons had been put to rest once and for all, and they’d figured out how to cope with things together. As though he’d just heard her scream, he whipped his head around to stare out the front window before taking off into a run out the front door.

“Get off me!”

He saw her struggling with a hand that reached out from the bushes halfway down the block. The hand had a firm grip on her jacket, but she was desperately trying to free herself from the garment before it could pull her in.

“Katie!” he shouted as he raced toward her. “Get off her, you asshole!” he yelled as he approached moments later. Once he’d arrived, she was not only free of the unknown assailant’s hold, she was also running to meet him before he made it to her.

“Oh, God, Zack!”

“Jesus, Katie!”

They said it at the same time as they embraced each other. Then Zack pulled away a bit so he could get a better look at her to make sure she was okay. His security detail ran past them toward the bushes where the hand had come from, trying to reach the person before he or she got away.

“You okay?”

Breathing rapidly and unable to control himself, he pulled her toward him again without giving her the chance to answer.

“Doesn’t matter. Let’s get you home first, then we’ll decide if you need a doctor. In fact, let’s just call Justin to check you over.”

They had walked a few feet before he bent over, picking her up and carrying her the rest of the way. Security stood outside his door.

“Check the property. Make sure there are no intruders before we get inside.”

Both guards looked at one another, then said something into their sleeves before entering the residence.

“Fuck this, we’re going to the condo.”

Zack often had to work in the city, and the condo he kept there ensured he was able to get some rest between meetings.

“Yes, sir.”

The security guards ran for the car. Opening the door, Zack and Katie barely made it inside the vehicle before it pulled off onto the road toward town.

“Can you talk, honey?”

She was tucked under his arm, firmly against his side as the car made its way across town.

“Yes.”

She sounded so lost and so scared that it almost broke his heart. After everything she’d been through, an attack so close to his place was the last thing she needed right now, especially when everything else was falling into place.

“Where was security? I expected you guys to be watching over her!” he barked at the two men in the front seats.

“You could have been taken, or worse…”

Not wanting to verbalize the unknown scenario, Zack just narrowed his eyes into the mirror so the driver could see his dissatisfaction.

“I expected better of my security detail. I expected much more than this from all of you.”

“It’s not their fault. I just left without thinking. I didn’t fill them in on where I was going.”

“That’s irrelevant. They should have been watching you from the time you left the house. If something were to happen to you, I would never forgive myself.”

His shoulders slumped as his head hung down. He was unable to contain himself as he began to shake violently. Whether from fear or anger, she wasn’t sure, but what she was certain of was how close a call it had been just moments ago, when some man had tried to nab her in broad daylight. Her whole body stiffened at the thought.

“What is it?”

Zack turned his head to look at her as he felt her body stiffen next to his.

“I realized he was trying to take me, and it scared the daylights out of me.”

Holding her closer to him, unable to separate himself from her even for a moment, Zack unbuckled her belt to pull her onto his lap.

“Oh, God, baby. Are you okay?”

“No! Yes. Well, maybe. I don’t know. I’m not hurt, if that’s what you mean. Not physically, at least.”

“What the fuck happened out there? What were you doing walking around the streets instead of staying inside to wait for me?”

“Hold it right there! You expected me to just sit there waiting for you to return like a good little girl?! Is that what you expected?”

“No! I wasn’t expecting that, I just was wondering why you left the house when you knew I’d be back shortly.”

“I, uh…”

“What?”

“I wanted to surprise you.”

Shaking his head as he loosened his grip, Zack saw how raw she looked and decided it unwise to provoke an argument right now. There was no point discussing the merits of her leaving when Randall could be anywhere right now, just waiting to get her alone.

“You wanted to surprise me? How?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. You did nothing wrong.”

Tears fell anyway. She had been so determined to show him how much she wanted to be with him that she didn’t realize she could have been taken right under his nose and lost to him forever.

“So why did you leave the house? What were you trying to surprise me with?”

She looked so forlorn that it took him by surprise how vulnerable she still was.

“I wanted to get boxes from the store down the street so I could pack.”

“Pack?”

“Yes, pack. I wanted to surprise you with…”

“With what, honey?”

“With me.”

“With you? I’m confused.”

“I wanted to surprise you with some of my things that could go into the box to make it easier for me to stay with you longer.”

“Just longer, or for a long time?”

As gorgeous as she was, the moment when she was shy was when she was at her most beautiful.

“For a long time.”

She said so softly he nearly missed it as walked into the condo leading her towards the bedroom, but he was paying such close attention to her that he knew he would never miss anything. It was always this way between the two of them. Her shy nature often had her mumbling her true feelings, but he wouldn’t let that bother him.

“Katie, those things could have been taken care of by the security people. You could have been… Well, you know what could have happened.”

He didn’t want to scare her any more than she already was given what had just happened. She knew the consequences firsthand.

“I’m sorry.”

“You need to stop saying that. Why don’t you rest? When you’re up to it, we’ll pack up your place and bring the boxes over here. We could even call your family to help with the move. I’m sure they’d be happy to help us and see that you’re okay at the same time.”

Panic filled her at the mention of her family.

“Don’t tell them.”

“What?”

“Don’t tell them what could have happened—or did happen—today.”

“Why not? They need to know that they’re in danger, too.”

Katie hadn’t thought of that as a possibility. The thought of shattering their lives just when they had settled into them was something that broke her heart. She had cost her family enough; she didn’t want to burden them further.

“I know you don’t want them to be bothered with this, but they are part of the situation whether you want them to be or not. He knows where you are, and where they are.”

“How do we know it was even him? It could have been a pervert, or someone else for that matter.”

Stroking his chin with his finger and thumb, he contemplated her words. Truth be told, he would have moved to her place if he’d thought she was safer there, but no place was safe as long as there was a threat.

“No,” he blurted out without explanation.

“No, what? What are you thinking?”

Katie sat on the bed with her knees under her as she watched him process whatever he was thinking.

“I was just thinking that this place may not be safe for us to stay here anymore.”

“I’m not leaving.”

“Katie, be reasonable.”

“I won’t let him, or anyone else for that matter, chase us from our home.”

Moving to get off the bed, she pulled out of his hold.

“Katie, please.”

“No, Zack! This is our house, unless you changed your mind and decided you don’t want me to live with you anymore.”

“You know that’s not the case. I want you here. With me.”

His eyes pleaded with her to consider her safety, but once she made up her mind, there was no stopping her. He knew this from experience.

“Alright, then we need to step up security.”

“No.”

She shook her head as he patted the space next to him.

“Oh no, I won’t take no for an answer this time, baby. We will step up security, even if I have to purchase an army to do so.”

“Zack, be reasonable.”

“Reason has nothing to do with this. I want you safe, and I want your family safe. In order to do that, we need to make sure he can’t hurt any of you.”

“I won’t be a prisoner. I was one for almost two years when I was married to the bastard.”

“We’ll figure it out, I promise you.”

Taking a moment to just hold her, he let out a shaky breath. She could have been lost to him, and he never would have known what had happened to her. The thought sent shivers down his spine he couldn’t hide, and she squeezed him tighter to herself for comfort.

“Call your family. We need to figure out how to get you moved in as soon as possible.”

 

***

 

Justin usually met Zack at the café for breakfast on Saturdays, but since his sister had started dating him, Zack had been too preoccupied for the past few weeks to get together, so it came as a surprise to hear from him this morning that he wanted to restart their tradition.

“So, you finally got away from the ball and chain to meet me for breakfast.”

Snickering, Justin threw the menu in Zack’s direction just as he sat down in his chair across from him.

“You do realize that ball and chain is your sister, right? Because if she heard you call her that, I’m sure you’d be apologizing on your hands and knees before you knew it.”

Picking the menu up off the table where it fell, Zack never made eye contact as he perused his options.

“Oh, crap.”

The look of sheer terror on Justin’s face was priceless. It almost had him thinking of not telling Katie what he’d said. Almost.

“You won’t tell her I said that, will you?”

Justin’s hand pulled the menu down, so Zack had no other choice but to look directly at him when he pleaded his case.

“Ha! You should see your face! Priceless. I don’t think in the three years we’ve been friends that I’ve ever seen you look so terrified.”

“Laugh it up, buddy. Just wait until you’re in the doghouse, and I don’t come to your aide.”

Trying to suppress his grin by covering his mouth with his hand, Zack put on his diplomatic façade before this conversation got out of hand any more than it already had.

“Seriously, though, you won’t tell Katie, will you?”

“No, Justin, I won’t tell Katie.”

“Asshole. I can’t tell if you’re just placating me, or if you’re serious. Stop doing that before you give me a heart attack.”

Zack busted out laughing. He just couldn’t keep up appearances in front of Justin.

“Sorry, it was just too good to pass up. I had to let it play out.”

“Shut up and order so we can eat. I’m starving.”

“Long night?”

The hospital was lucky to have a trained emergency room doctor that wanted to be in this town for the long term. Zack knew Justin wasn’t going anywhere after he’d finished his first year. He was just too involved in all the community affairs to get up and go. It made him more comfortable around him, and from there a friendship had developed into a full-fledged bromance.

“Yeah, but I love every minute of it, even if I’m so tired, I will probably pass out on my pancakes.”

Zack could picture it. It had almost happened after a seventy-two-hour shift once. Justin had met Zack at the café, and while Zack had taken a call from the town commissioner, Justin’s head had bobbed down into his pancakes, leaving a piece on his chin as the syrup stuck to his face.

“Oh, my God, you have to do that again. I missed the photo op the last time.”

“Wow, you’re a real charmer this morning. I can’t imagine what my sister sees in you.”

Flipping him the bird so the nearby children didn’t hear him swear, Justin narrowed his eyes when Zack flipped him right back without skipping a beat.

“You two done playing around so I can take your order?”

Mrs. Turner owned and operated the café. With her long hair tied into a bun and a pencil sticking out of it, she looked more like a principal than a waitress as she scolded the two of them.

“Sorry, Mrs. Turner,” they both said in unison.

Laughing and shaking her head, she just pulled out her pencil and retrieved her notepad. “You boys sure you’re old enough to go out alone?”

“I can’t say for that one, but I certainly am, even though I’m so tired I can barely keep my eyes open.”

“Let’s not have another pancake incident, please, Justin.”

Now Zack couldn’t contain it any longer. Unfortunately, he had tried to swallow down some water when she had said this, which was now spewed across the table, completely covering Justin.

“Boys!”

Mrs. Turner pulled at the towel attached to her apron and started cleaning up the mess.

“Oh, my God! Water just went through my nose! That was most certainly your fault this time, Mrs. Turner.”

“I swear, Zackary Collins, there are times I cannot believe you are our mayor.”

“Isn’t it cool, ma’am?”

“How about you two order so I can get on with my day already?”

“Yes, ma’am,” they both said with their heads down.

After ordering, Zack began to tell Justin about the incident that had occurred just the day before. He still couldn’t believe it himself. He had been so sure that Katie would be safe with his security personnel all around, but when she was almost taken in broad daylight, he suddenly knew the extent of what they were up against.

“That brazen son of a…”

“Justin!” Mrs. Turner yelled from the other side of the room.

“Is she okay?”

“Yes, just shaken up.”

“What happened to your security people? Why weren’t they watching her?”

“They were supposed to be. I think they didn’t realized how severe the situation was. They sure as hell get it now, though.”

“But it could have been too late! Do you think it was Randall that tried to snatch her?”

“Who else could it have been? You said it yourself it was weird that we had that isolated encounter a few months back. I can’t believe it took him this long to do something, though.”

“If just he’s trying to get her now, something must have happened to cause him to snap.”

“I was wondering the same thing. Something must have caused him to come after her all of a sudden after so long, but what?”

“You realize we may never know the answer to that question, right? It’s pointless to think about it. We have enough to worry about without figuring out the reason behind his actions now.”

“I don’t think that’s the case. If we know why he is coming for her now, then we can figure out how to stop him before he gets her.”

Justin stopped with his fork midair to consider what Zack had said.

“Shit. How in the hell do we figure that out?”

“I thought about this last night while Katie slept. My men have been keeping tabs on Randall since I found out he was Katie’s ex-husband.”

“What’s the plan then? I assume you called me here for some sort of plan you came up with.”

Knowing Zack as well as he did, he knew he couldn’t let anything rest, especially anything that would result in the people he loved getting hurt. He would have to find a way to fix it. That’s what Justin admired most about the man. He threw himself into his life with everything he had. There was no denying Zack’s passion for those he loved and those he helped. It was all-consuming, and right now Randall was on the opposite side, which meant he would soon realize that the person he poked as he was trying to snatch Katie was the wrong person to cross.

“Oh, I have a plan. I have a big plan. Hopefully your family wouldn’t mind being part of it, though.”

He looked so determined that Justin couldn’t wait to hear all about it.