Stars spilled across the inky sky that chilly fall night, and as Lani climbed out of her Mini Cooper, bitter wind nipped at her cheeks. It whipped her crimson hair in all directions as she hurried up to the porch. Wind chimes greeted her as she produced her house key from her clutch bag and stepped inside her house.

The warm, familial smell lured her into the living room after she kicked her shoes off at the door. Millions of thoughts raced through her head, about how she would confront her dad. She didn’t want him to be upset with her. What if he lashed out? What if she chickened out again and couldn’t ask the questions she desired?

Lani couldn’t imagine how painful it must’ve been for Casey to confront his ex, Veronica. Nobody wanted their loved ones to suffer alone. But what if he wouldn’t listen to her or to Casey? It wasn’t like they could do much else, aside from getting law enforcement involved, and that was the last thing she’d ever consider. Lani couldn’t bear to have her dad behind bars. It certainly wouldn’t earn her anymore brownie points with Emmett either.

As she made her way into the kitchen, Lani rummaged through the fridge to heat up some leftover chili. Dad should be home soon. Part of her had wished she’d stayed behind and followed him, just to see if he tried to go on another drug run. But she didn’t want her dad getting suspicious when she stayed behind after he told her she could head on home.

While warming her chili on the stove, Lani tried to prepare herself mentally for the conversation she’d have with her dad. She didn’t want to make it feel like a confrontation. More than anything, she just wanted him to know how much she loved him and how she’d fight alongside him to kick any nasty drug habits he might have.

It all sounded so swell in her head, but she knew reality would be a harsh slap in the face when she asked him about it. Maybe he would deny it. Maybe he would come clean and make up excuses, promise to never touch the stuff ever again, only to keep going behind their backs.

A pounding fist at the door startled her. Lani froze, dropping her stirring spoon into the pot of heating chili as she craned her head outward to the living room. She’d locked the door behind her. Thank goodness. Nobody could peek in at her through the dark closed curtains either.

Dad and Casey had their own house key, so she knew it couldn’t be either of them. Curiosity urged her toward the front door, but nerves forced her back into the kitchen. She hurried to turn the stove off, then quietly crept into the dimly lit living room, crouching down like a cat in attack mode. It reminded her of all the times she and Casey used to crawl around like little spies as kids when someone knocked on their door while their folks weren’t home.

This was different. More frightening.

Nobody announced themself. The knocks soon faded, but Lani waited, listening closely for a car to start. She hadn’t noticed anyone pull up, but she admittedly wasn’t paying much attention, either. Time melted away as she remained frozen in place, wondering if paranoia was just getting the best of her.

Maybe someone had the wrong address? Or maybe they were just lost and going door to door to borrow a phone or ask for directions. That had to be it, she tried to convince herself. It wasn’t like murderers knocked politely on the door before killing their victims, right? Goosebumps broke out along her arms at such a heinous thought.

Just when she thought she was safe, a tumultuous sound echoed from out in the garage. Lani backed away toward the dining room table, eyeing the door that led out into the garage. Before she had a chance to plan her next moves, the lights cut out.

Lani bit back a yelp, fumbling for her phone in her pocket to help guide her around the furniture. Moonlight poured in from the tops of the windows. Barely enough to help her navigate. She pulled up her dad’s contact, sending a brisk message about an intruder.

So far, she hadn’t heard them force any doors open or break any locks. She waited with bated breath for her father to respond. What the hell was going on? It couldn’t be gang members, could it?

Memories from last year resurfaced, but she tried to shake those frightful thoughts aside. Emmett’s protection should’ve warded off their foe. Unless it was someone from the Voiceless Rebels trying to mess with her. It wouldn’t be that blond devil himself, would it?

Her father had yet to answer. So she considered dialing 911, but what help could they really provide? Send a marked car after they located her dead body? Lani inhaled a sharp breath, then made the dreaded phone call to the police.

Hearing the dispatch woman reminded her of last year, when she’d called to report poor little Wyatt’s kidnapping. Her calm, reassuring voice echoed over the sound of Lani’s heart pounding in her ears. She relayed everything that happened to the patient lady, listening on the other end, insisting someone was trying to break in from the garage.

The garage door knob rattled. Lani let out a small squeal as she hurried toward the stove, yanking a sharp knife from the block near the toaster. She put the phone with the operator in her pocket, gripping tightly to the handle of her sharp kitchen knife. If someone barged in, she’d stab them if she couldn’t escape.

Police sirens blared in the distance, and suddenly, the knob ceased rattling. However, Lani didn’t let herself relax. She grabbed her phone again, listening closely to the 911 operator’s instructions. More knocks on the front door came, with an announcement from the police officers themselves. She checked out the window first, and after spotting their squad car, she opened the door.

Lani disconnected her call with the operator once ensuring the police arrived. “Thank you for coming. I think someone broke into our garage. It started off with him pounding his fist on the front door, then moved to trying to open the door that leads in from our garage.” Lani gestured outside. “I can show you.”

“Of course. Stay close, just in case the intruder’s still around.” The younger officer flanked her side while his older partner walked ahead to the garage. The door had been shifted up slightly, just enough for someone to wriggle underneath.

“Do you leave it cracked like this?” Officer Jackson asked.

“No.” Lani shook her head. “I have the opener on my keys.” She fished through her pocket, then with a click, reopened the garage door.

Nothing seemed out of place. She peeked into her car, ensuring the doors were still locked. The younger officer kept her close by his side while they checked the area. Lani’s heartbeat roared like thunder in her ears as she crossed her arms over her chest, shivering. She couldn’t believe this was actually happening to her. While the older officer went to check in the backyard, his friendly partner tried his best to comfort her.

“I know it can be scary for a young lady like yourself at nighttime around here. If you need someone to stick around, I don’t mind.” He cleared his voice. “I can park my car right across the street.”

Lani pretended to be busy texting when she responded, “I’ll be okay. My dad’s on his way here now.”

However, she didn’t recognize the dark pickup truck that pulled up to the mailbox. When the driver climbed out and moonlight illuminated his blond head, dread sunk in her chest. What the hell was that blond devil doing there?