Keira growled at Daniel over her shoulder, then rolled her eyes when he raised one eyebrow.“Goodbye, Daniel.I’ll call when I get tired.”
Daniel stuck his hands deep into his jeans’ front pockets and smiled.“No, I’ll be checking on you all day, and if by chance I’m not here when you get tired, Layla will call me to come get you.”
Keira glared at her sister.“Traitor.”
Layla shrugged.“So, sue me.”
Daniel left shortly after.The morning went fast with customers after customers coming through the doors, but she was glad to be back doing something constructive.It took her mind off the mess her life was in.
Conner had stopped in, Blane and Logan had been there twice, and Daniel three times already.Keira watched as cop cars traveled slowly back and forth in front of the store or parked across the street.
Layla came up beside her sister as she was straightening up a shelf.“Keira, if you don’t go lie down, I’m calling Daniel to come get you.”
“When did you turn into such a nag, Layla?”Keira softened her insult when she pulled Layla in for a hug.
Layla shrugged.“Since forever.”
Keira raised her hands.“Fine, I’ll lie down, but if you need me, don’t hesitate to wake me.”
“Absolutely.”
A frown pulled at Keira’s brows.She knew that look on Layla’s face, and she didn’t trust it a bit.“I mean it, Lay.”
Layla’s lips twitched.“I know.”
It could have been a minute or an hour of sleep when the nightmare started.He had his hands on her, choking and hurting her as he spoke in her ear, the heat of his breath made her shake in revulsion, and bile slithered up her throat.
Keira started to struggle, but couldn’t seem to get away this time.He kept hurting her, and she couldn’t find the strength she needed to run.Suddenly, her worst fear was happening—her sister was in the nightmare with her, and the man had a hold on her, too.Keira went wild and fought harder.She wasn’t going to let anything happen to Layla.
Pain shot through her arm as it connected with the table by the sofa, waking her abruptly.Keira sat up, disoriented, nervously looking around the small room, and hugged her injured arm to her stomach.
Keira took several calming breaths before she attempted to move.She examined her arm, thankful she didn’t break the skin, but it would definitely swell and leave a bruise.
Her body jerked crazily, and she slapped her hand over her mouth as a scream started fighting to get out.When Keira realized the nightmare was still happening, it hadn’t stopped even though she was awake.A man’s voice, one she will never forget as long as she lived, was talking to Layla in the storage room next to the office.
Keira looked frantically around the room for a weapon.She remembered she still had the Mace in her purse.She pulled it from the bottom of her purse and crept toward the doorway, barely keeping from making a sound as she listened to them talk.Only when she heard about something shipped did she realize who it was.She had seen him just about every day when he dropped off the boxes of supplies they’d ordered and was amazed she hadn’t remembered his voice.
At first, she couldn’t remember his name.Adam.Why would he terrorize and hurt her?She’d never been anything but polite to him.He never acted strangely or weird toward her.How could he terrorize her every day and still face her during the day at the shop?She could remember him asking about Daniel a few times and if she was getting enough rest.But she hadn’t thought anything of it.
Keira wanted to rush in there but was afraid he’d hurt her sister, so she stood quietly, waited, and listened.She took a step out when the back door closed.
Layla turned and caught sight of her sister and rushed to her, concerned.“Keira, what’s wrong?”
“You need to call Daniel.”
Layla gripped her sister’s shoulders when she swayed.“Of course, but if you need to go home, one of us can take you.”
Keira shook her head as tears burned her eyes.“It’s not that.That was him.”
Layla looked confused.“Who’s him?”
“The UPS guy, he’s the one that attacked me.”
“Adam?Are you sure?”
“I couldn’t be more...”
Both women jerked toward the back door as it swung open.“Here are your last two boxes, Lay...”