Page 51 of Ravish

“No need,” Aunt Tammy said.

“Every need,” Colby said. He guided Lara over to the sofa. “Sit down, and I’ll be right back.”

Anger simmered beneath Colby’s skin as he escorted Tammy home and made sure no one had entered her home. It was clear.

“Take care of my girl, Colby,” Aunt Tammy said.

“I intend to.” Colby jogged down the steps and back up to Lara’s place. She was sitting where he left her, gazing into space.

“I feel so violated,” she said softly.

“Sweetheart.” Colby closed the door and crossed over to her. He pulled her into his arms the second he sat down.

“Why would anyone break in and not take anything?”

Colby wondered about that too. “Are you sure nothing is missing?”

She nodded. “My TV is still here, my laptop is on the desk. Nothing looks out of place, yet I can’t shake that something is off.”

Colby didn’t blame her. “Do you want me to check around?”

“I know the police did, but yes, please.”

The tremor in her voice hit him hard in the gut. Colby let her go and stood. He checked her bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and family room. Her place wasn’t big. He frowned when he noticed the door in the kitchen to her garage was open. Her garage was on a lower level.

Quietly, he made his way over to her and leaned down. “Did you leave the kitchen door to your garage door open?” he whispered.

She shook her head. “I parked my car outside.” Her eyes went wide.

“Go to your Aunt’s,” he ordered.

“Colby,” she whispered.

“I can take care of myself, but not if you’re here.”

She shook her head. “There’s no way out of the garage. We’d hear the door open, unless he comes up the stairs into here.”

“What about the back yard?”

“There is that, but there’s no way out. The fencing is too high.”

“Go,” he ordered as he heard a squeak.

Lara stood and went to the door. Colby turned and went into the kitchen, but he had a view of the garage door and waited.

He didn’t have long; the door slowly pushed open and a person dressed in black and wearing a mask slipped out.

Two steps into the kitchen and Colby was on him, taking him to the floor. It wasn’t much of a tussle. Colby had surprised the man.

“Here.” Lara held out some rope.

“I told you to leave.” He used the rope to tie the man up.

“I didn’t listen.” There was anger in her voice. “I also called the police.”

“Which I thank you for.” Colby looked up to see Logan and another officer. “Let him go. We’ll take care of him.”

Colby didn’t like it, but he got up, and Logan reached down and hauled the man up to his feet.

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