Two months later

Sunny

I woke with a start and lay there for a few seconds trying to work out why . . .

Someone was coming up the stairs.

Zeke.

He’d come back.

My heart leaped in my chest as I sat up quickly, shoved my hair out of my face, and clicked on the bedside lamp.

The door handle turned . . .

No. This wasn’t right.

I hadn’t seen him in close to two months. He wouldn’t just show up like this. Yes, he’d let himself in once, but he wouldn’t want to scare me, he wouldn’t just . . .

All these thoughts flew through my head as the door opened slowly.

A surge of fear and a good dose of adrenaline pumped through me, firing along my veins, making my limbs weak, and forcing a scream past my lips.

I jerked back in my bed when a man filled the doorway. His eyes glittered down at me in the lamp light, through the balaclava he had on, like some otherworldly demon. My phone was by the bed, but I was frozen with fear, my fingers curled in painful fists in my lap.

He pulled a knife and waved it from side to side. “Do as you’re told, and you won’t get cut. We clear?”

I still couldn’t move.

He took a threatening step toward me. “I said, are we clear?”

A muffled shriek worked its way through my clamped jaw, and somehow I forced myself to nod.

He glanced around my room. “Got any cash?”

I pointed to my purse; the day’s takings from the shop were in it. Please let him be satisfied with that and leave. He grabbed it off my dresser and emptied everything into a red backpack. Fear vibrated through me, making it hard to think. Was he going to hurt me? I couldn’t just sit here and wait for it, I had to do something, I had to try and get away, call for help. He was at my jewelry box, emptying everything into his bag. I looked at my phone. His back was still to me, so I reached for it. I curled my fingers around it, gaze darting back to him. Oh God.

“What the fuck did I say?” he said, then came at me before I could even move, climbing on top of me, backhanding me so hard my ears rang.

“No, please no . . .”

The blade in his other hand was held to my cheek. His eyes seemed to get brighter. “I told you not to move.” He made a tutting sound. “I told you what would happen.”

“No . . . I . . .” A scream tore from me as he slowly drew the knife across my skin. Burning. Stinging pain. It was deep. Oh God.

I felt hot tears sliding down my temples, mixing with the blood and dripping down my face.

He grabbed my head and jolted me. “You have a safe, yes?”

I nodded as best I could with the hold he had on me, and glanced at my bedside table. He was going to kill me. He was going to take my things then plunge that knife into me and kill me. My entire body was shaking so hard as he got down on the floor, opening the cupboard to get to the safe, I thought I might be going into shock.

“Combination,” he barked.

I rattled it off numbly and watched him open it, taking all I had left of my family and shoving it into his backpack. He turned to me and even though I couldn’t see his mouth, I knew he was smiling.

“Wish I had more time with you,” he said, voice lower, deeper.

My skin crawled, like a million ants and spiders, cockroaches were scurrying all over me.

He stood and looked down at me, the knife still in his hand, now stained with my blood. “Maybe . . .”

He took a step toward me . . .

A horn blared outside.

He cursed viciously, glanced at the door then back at me. “Don’t fucking move,” he said, words full of hate, of horrors, then snatched my phone off the bed where it had dropped and shoved it in his pocket. “I’m going to walk out the door, but I’ll know if you leave this room. Don’t make me cut you again.” Then he turned and left.

I heard a crash, the sound of smashing china, then the front door slammed shut. The squeal of tires followed a short time later, and I knew he was gone. It took everything I had in me to move. I knew his parting words were just a threat, that there was no way he would know if I moved, but my fear was a living, breathing thing, trying to suffocate me. Somehow, I forced myself to get out of bed, and stumbled down the stairs, crying out when I cut my feet on the broken vase he’d knocked to the ground. I reached the front door, trailing blood across the floor behind me, and fumbled with the door handle, my bloody fingers making it hard to turn.

I yanked the door open, stumbled down the stairs and over to my neighbors, then banged on the door. It was opened a few seconds later.

“Please . . . please help me. Someone broke in . . . and I’m . . . I’m bleeding.”

The woman standing here, someone that I’d only ever said hello to in passing, paled, then helped me inside. She wrapped me in a blanket and I sat there in shock until I heard sirens, until a police officer was knocking on her door.

* * *

“Oh God!” Julia cried as she rushed into my hospital room and pulled me into a tight hug.

Absently, I thought that this was only the second time we’d ever embraced. The first was the day of my father’s funeral.

I pulled back and shook my head. “I’m okay . . .”

“You’re not.” She actually looked distraught as she gripped my shoulders and took in the damage to my face. “God, look at you, Sunny.”

I pulled free of her hold, hating the pity I saw in her eyes. “How did you know I was here?”

“The hospital called. I must be listed as your next of kin or something.” She moved in closer. “I wish you’d called me. I would’ve come straight away.”

I obviously looked taken back because she flinched.

“Look, I’m sorry,” Julia said, crossing her arms. “I know we haven’t . . . always gotten on, and the way I left . . . I . . . God, I . . .” She bit her lip. “I’m just . . . I’m sorry.”

My eyes stung, heating, filling with tears. “It’s okay,” I choked out and gave her hand a squeeze. “They shouldn’t have bothered you with this.”

“Jesus, Sunny. We’re family.”

Were we? Did she really feel that way? “Julia . . .”

“Let me help. I want to help,” she said.

I blinked at the fierceness in her voice and more tears spilled over. Despite our differences, it was good to have her, to have someone here for me, to not be alone. I wasn’t too proud to admit that right then, I needed her. “I’d like that.”

Her hand lifted, like she was going to touch my face then dropped it. “Your face. How bad is it?”

My fingers automatically went to the thick white bandage taped to my cheek. “They think the nerve damage will be permanent.” They’d operated when I was brought in, but some of the nerves in my right cheek had been severed and they’d been unable to repair them.

She looked shocked. “It’s that bad?”

I squeezed her hand again. I didn’t want to talk about it, didn’t want to think about it, so I changed the subject. “I’m allowed to go home tomorrow. I’d really like someone with me when I go back . . . if you have time?”

She twined her fingers with mine. “Of course.”

The next morning I was discharged, and Julia came through for me, for the first time since I’d known her. She helped me clean up the house and offered to stay with me for the night. I didn’t turn her down. She stayed the next night as well, and I appreciated it more than I could say. I had my security bumped up that first day, the guy I’d hired had installed another lock on the front and back doors, sensors on them both as well, and an outside light, but it didn’t help my nerves. I was barely sleeping and had only managed cat naps on the couch since I got home.

I didn’t know how I was going to handle being on my own, but it looked like I was about to find out.

Julia crossed her arms. “I feel terrible leaving.”

“It’s okay,” I said to her. What else could I say?

She looked down at her phone. “Bobby gets upset if I’m away for too long. You understand, right?”

“It’s fine, really,” I lied. “You can’t put your life on hold for me forever, and it’s time I got on with things and back to the shop. It’s all good. I promise.” My belly squirmed, nerves spiking and clawing at me at just the thought of being alone. But Julia had done more than I ever expected, and I didn’t want to take advantage when the truce between us was still so new.

Bobby showed up a short time later to pick her up. I’d hoped he wouldn’t come in, unfortunately, I was wrong.

His eyes slid over me when he walked in, taking everything in. Bobby was tall and lanky, but also what a lot of women would consider good looking. I knew him, too well, his personality made him ugly in my eyes. He’d also come on to me when we were younger, several times. I’d tried to tell Julia but she accused me of being jealous and trying to steal her boyfriend.

“Babe,” he said to Julia and she rushed to him like she always did, plastering herself to his side.

I’d always hated how she did that.

His gaze slid back to me. “You look like shit, Sunny.” He took in the bandage on my face. “Not so pretty anymore, huh?”

Julia jerked back. “Bobby!”

He smacked her ass and gave her a push toward the door. “Let’s go.”

“I was thinking of maybe staying another night, just to keep Sunny company.”

Bobby shook his head. “I want you at home. Sunny’s a big girl, she can take care of herself.”

“Bobby . . .”

“I said no, Julia, now get in the fucking car.”

She shot me an apologetic look then hustled out the door behind her cretin of a husband.

The door shut behind them, and I was alone for the first time since the break in. The police still didn’t have any leads, which meant the man that had broken into my home, had come into my room, was still out there somewhere . . .

When bedtime finally rolled around, sleep eluded me again. I lay there, phone clutched in my hand, listening for footsteps, every creak and bump making my heart race. In the end, I dragged the quilt off the bed, went downstairs, curled up on the couch, and watched cooking shows until the early hours of the morning, when I finally drifted off.

I was exhausted the next day, but I forced myself to get dressed, to get ready for the day. I did my hair, giving it extra attention, since I couldn’t do a whole lot with my face. The concealer I’d used didn’t do a great job of hiding the bruising, but I didn’t let that deter me and added some lip-gloss, bright pink, in the hopes it would draw the eye away from everything else. Wishful thinking. I couldn’t spend another day at home, though, and definitely not alone, replaying that night over and over in my head. So I headed to the shop and opened up. I needed to work, to keep my mind busy. Customers stared, but no one asked about the bruises or the bandage. So I pretended everything was normal. I also made a call to the Ashwood Retirement Home and told them I couldn’t make it in for a few weeks. It would just upset everyone seeing me like this.

A couple of hours in I was starting to feel a little better, that I was getting on with things. I’d set myself up at my counter, and was working on some beaded necklaces. That helped as well. Being creative gave me joy. I needed as much of that as I could get.

The door opened and two women walked in. They’d been in quite a few times before. From watching them, it was easy to see they were best friends. I tried not to be obvious, but they kind of fascinated me, the way they teased and joked with each other.

They always bought something as well. It was easy to say they were my favorite customers. The striking redhead usually had an adorable little boy with her, not today, though. The brunette, also gorgeous, had a stripe of blue in her hair, the color seemed to change a lot, and she was wearing black framed reading glasses. She had an edge, all these stunning tattoos. I liked her style, it looked good on her. It didn’t surprise me that she was drawn to my leather work. That line was on the edgier side. She’d bough a few pieces, including a couple of tooled leather and silver cuffs the last time she and her friend came in. She was wearing one now. The redhead went for pieces that weren’t quite so out there. I’d sold her an amazing green and silver beaded necklace last time she was here that looked fantastic with her hair.

I liked talking to them.

What would it be like to have a friend like that?

My lips curled up, but I quickly stopped trying to smile when my stitches started to pull uncomfortably.

The redhead glanced over at me, a warm grin on her face. “Hi . . .” Her words trailed off.

Her friend turned as well, and her eyes widened when she saw me. They put down the items of jewelry they were holding and came over to me.

“Are you okay?” The dark-haired woman asked.

“Oh . . . yes . . . it’s just . . .” My hands lifted to the bandage and I fought a wince. “It’s nothing.”

“Sorry,” the redhead said quickly. “My friend here is extremely nosey.”

“Hey!” the brunette said. “I am not.”

“Are too,” her friend fired back then turned to me, hand extended. “I’m Lulu. I don’t know if you recognize us? We come in here all the time, we love your stuff.”

“Yes, of course, I remember you.” I took her hand. “I’m Sunny.”

“Ruby,” Lulu’s friend said, also offering me her hand.

“Nice to meet you . . . properly.” I wasn’t sure what was going on . . . why they were suddenly . . .

“Now that we all know each other,” Ruby said, a gentle smile lifting her lips, eyes softening. “Are you . . . okay, I mean?” She motioned to my face.

I don’t know what came over me, they were so nice, and I felt so damn alone, and there was just something about them both that had me sharing more than I usually would. “I’m . . . well, no, not really. My home was broken into a few days ago. The guy took my grandmother’s jewelry and left me with this.” I pointed at my face.

“Jesus,” Lulu said, her hand coming down on mine and squeezing gently. “That must have been terrifying.”

Ruby’s eyes hardened. “Do the cops have any leads? Who’s the detective on your case?”

I stared across at her. She looked all business all of a sudden. “Oh . . . I, um . . .”

“It’s okay.” She waved a hand. “I’m a P.I. and Lulu here is a shacked up with one . . . well, we both are, but anyway, that’s beside the point, what I’m saying is, I might be able to help. We have contacts on the force. We’re also incredibly good at tracking things down and getting them back.”

Lulu nodded. “It’s not an empty offer. I know you don’t know us, but believe me when I say, Ruby and I, we know what it’s like to be scared, to feel helpless. The guys and Ruby at the agency are good, they’d be able to help you.”

A warmth curled in the center of my chest. These women didn’t know me, or my situation, but they were offering support, real help if I needed it. “That’s really nice of you.” I shook my head. “But I’ll be fine. I’ve had my security beefed up. I’m not sure I’ll ever sleep through the night again, but I’ll be okay, I have to be.”

“You’re on your own?” Lulu asked.

My face heated, I don’t know why. There was nothing wrong with living alone. “Yes.”

“I was on my own, well me and my son Josh, for a long time. I know how tough that can be.”

“Maybe you could get a friend to come and stay for a bit,” Ruby said.

Now my face was on fire. I didn’t want these women to know I didn’t have any friends—that besides my stepsister, who had already done her time staying with me, the only other friends I had were a few residents at the retirement home. I hesitated answering and they noticed, because Lulu started talking again. I knew she did it so I didn’t have to answer. They weren’t only friendly and nice, they were kind, too.

“Please consider it,” Lulu was saying when Ruby pulled something out of her bag and handed it to me.

“This is my card. If the cops don’t come through, or you just need someone to talk to, drop me a line.”

Lulu slid it from my fingers before I had a chance to look at it, grabbed a pen from her bag, and wrote something on the back. “My number as well. We should hang out sometime.”

I just stood there, not sure what to say, more than a little stunned by their generosity.

They stayed a little longer, chatting. They also both bought something. Then before they left, they reminded me to call.

And I wanted to, but I wouldn’t. They were just being kind. They couldn’t mean it, not really. And even if they did . . .

I slipped the card in my purse instead of throwing it in the trash.

Then I put the conversation to the back of my mind and carried on with the necklace I was making.