Over the next few days, Carrie wasn’t allowed to wash her own dishes, let alone be outside without someone next to her. If Josh was busy, her dad or brother was there.

She thought about fighting it, but to be honest, she felt safer with someone around. Even being locked in her own bathroom alone caused slight anxiety to arise deep in her chest.

So, she sat back and enjoyed the company and the security instead of arguing.

Her friends made a point to always be around as well. They ate lunch or dinner with them almost every mealtime.

By the end of the first week after her kidnapping, she was beginning to wonder if this was going to be the new norm for them.

Since Josh needed to work, she either had someone at the house with her during the days or went into his office with him.

It was the Friday after her kidnapping and she was sitting in his office, bored. A game of solitaire was up on the computer screen as she swiveled the chair back and forth while she gazed out the large windows that overlooked the front of the store.

“How about pizza for lunch?” she asked, when her stomach growled.

“Sounds good,” Mason jumped in.

“I’ll go…” Josh started to get up.

“No.” She jumped up. “You can literally see me from the front window. It’s two doors down and the way the road curves…” She motioned to the front windows where the new pizzeria was clearly visible on the street curve. “I can walk there and be back and you’ll never take your eyes off me.” She grabbed her purse and kissed Josh quickly.

“Cheese?” she asked Mason.

“You know it.” Mason smiled at her.

“Veggie?” She looked over at Josh.

“Extra olives,” he said. She’d known his favorite pizza since they were in grade school.

“I’ll be back.” She waved as she stepped outside.

The warm salty air hit her. God, she loved living near the ocean. If she could see over the buildings in front of them, they’d have a front row view of Pride’s beautiful harbor.

She waved across the street to the old men who had been sitting outside the barber shop since she was young. Even during snowstorms, they could be seen huddled under the awning, watching the people of Pride go about their daily lives.

When she walked through the front door of Baked, she glanced back and waved at Josh, who was standing in the window of his place, watching her. He waved back and smiled at her, then blew a kiss in her direction.

She laughed and caught it, then turned and waited in line to order their pizzas.

“You’re Corey, right?” she asked when she stepped up to the counter.

“Yes.” He smiled. “You’re Carrie. I heard you had quite the scare the other day. My brother and I helped look for you. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Thanks.” She smiled and leaned on the counter. “So, I have a few friends who are dying to know more about the two of you.” Since there wasn’t anyone behind her in the line, she figured she had some time to get some answers.

“Oh?” Corey leaned against the countertop much like she was doing, as if he had plenty of time to chat with her.

“Here are the top ten questions everyone in town wants to know about you two.”

“Shoot.” He smiled, then held up his hand. “But, I’m only answering them because I hear you kicked some serious kidnapping butt and jumped from a moving car and lived to talk about it.”

She chuckled and nodded. “Okay, one, where are you from?”

“Seattle,” he answered with a smile.

“Are you single? Both of you?” His eyebrows shot up. “I’m engaged, so rest assured, this isn’t for me,” she added.

He nodded. “Yes, both unattached.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “And looking.”

She laughed. “Okay, parents?”

“Yes, we have them.”

She sighed. “Still living?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, moving on. Why Pride?”

Here, his smile fell slightly. “We visited here several times and loved it.”

“Visited? Who?”

“Grandparents.” She knew he was sticking to one-word answers when he could.

“Okay, are they still around?”

“No.” He frowned.

Her eyes narrowed, “I’m sorry.” He nodded. “Did they own this building?”

He smiled. “You win the Kewpie doll.”

“Miller?” She frowned. “I thought the Owenses owned this building.” He nodded again. “Okay, so mother’s parents?” Once again, he nodded.

She glanced over at his brother, who was busy working the ovens. “Does your brother talk?”

Corey chuckled. “Some.”

“Shy?”

“You’re out of questions.” He smiled. “Can I ask you one?” He stood up straight.

“Sure. Everyone in Pride knows everything about everyone.”

“Where can I find someone just like you who isn’t engaged?” He winked at her.

“Unlike you”—she glanced over at his brother— “I’m one of a kind.” They laughed.

---

Josh watched Carrie talk to the new owner of the pizza place. She was right, the main street curved around towards the city building. His eyes scanned the streets, unworried about her conversation with the good-looking newcomer.

The owners of Baked weren’t on the radar for her kidnapping, since they had both been there to look for her. So, he kept his eyes open for anyone in town who would be.

“Bummer,” Mason said, getting Josh’ attention.

“What?” He glanced over at Mason.

“Sophia just messaged me that she won’t be back this weekend.” Mason frowned.

“You’re really serious about this one?” He walked over and sat back down beside Mason. He could see Carrie from his desk, he just liked to watch her more closely from the window as she walked down the street.

“Yeah,” Mason said, picking up his phone. “I mean, just look at her. Wouldn’t you be?” He turned his phone around.

Josh hadn’t met the woman yet. It seemed every time she came into the office to hang out with Mason, he was away on business or at home with Carrie.

Josh vaguely glanced up at a picture of Mason and a blonde woman. He was about to give his friend a quick answer, but then his heart jumped in his chest and he reached for the phone.

“This?” He narrowed his eyes at the woman, who was looking, unsmiling, into the camera. “This is Sophia?”

“Yeah,” Mason answered, prideful. “Beautiful, huh?”

He set the phone down and clicked a few buttons on his computer until an image popped up on his screen. Holding the phone next to the image on the monitor, he frowned.

“Why do you have a picture of Sophia?” Mason moved over and was silent as he read the caption under the image.

“Who is Camilla Kincaid?” he asked.

Josh picked up Mason’s phone and showed him the screen. “This is.”

Setting down the phone, he glanced up as Carrie walked in holding two large pizzas. He stood up to help her with the pizzas. Taking them from her, he set them down on the table.

“Call your dad,” he said to her. “I think I know who’s been messing with us.”

Carrie frowned up at him. “Who?” Just as she asked, Josh heard tires squealing outside. He glanced up in time to see a dark sedan slowing down in front of the building. The passenger windows were rolled down all the way.

He saw a flash of blonde hair and a glint of silver. He had time to shield Carrie behind him before the first shots rang out.

The computer screen next to them exploded in a million pieces. Before he could pull Carrie to the ground, a bullet ripped through his side, throwing him off balance. He took Carrie down with him, then rolled until she was underneath him.

Carrie screamed as glass and plastic shards flew around them.

It seemed like hours before silence filled the room again.

“Mason?” he called out.

“Yo,” his employee said, “I’m alive. I think. You?”

“Yes,” he answered. “Stay down until we know it’s safe.”

“I’m not moving,” Mason called back. “Carrie?”

He looked down at her. “Are you okay?” he asked, worried.

“I’m fine.” She was blinking fast and looking up at him.

He glanced down and checked her out. When he noticed blood on her shirt, he panicked.

“You’re hit.” He knelt beside her.

“Shit, Carrie’s hit?” Mason asked.

“No, I’m not.” She shook her head. Then her eyes grew wide. “You’ve been shot,” she cried and covered his side. “Mason, call my dad. Josh has been hit.”

“The hell I have.” He frowned down at the blood flowing from his side. Her hands were covered in the red stuff now and his mind still refused to acknowledge the pain or the fact that the blood was his.

She pushed him until he was laying on his back on the floor, looking up at the ceiling. “Hell.” He sighed.

“Does it hurt?” she asked, tears flowing from her eyes.

“No, I can’t feel a thing.” His eyes moved to her and he smiled. “God, I’m one lucky son-of-a-bitch.”

“Shh,” she said, holding him still. “Don’t move. Mason?” she called out.

“Your dad was already on his way. Several other people called it in.”

“We need an ambulance,” she said.

“Yes, one’s on the way.”

Robert rushed into the room and saw his daughter covered in blood. Josh felt guilty and started to explain.

“I tried… I tried to keep her safe,” he tried to say but felt a lump in his throat.

“Daddy, he’s hit,” Carrie cried.

“Aaron’s on his way,” Robert said, moving over to cover Josh’s side. The town doctor was only a few doors down at the clinic he ran.

As Robert pushed on the wound, Josh felt the first licks of pain and winced.

“Okay, I guess I am shot,” he said, before passing out.