Page 23 of Depraved Truths

A wave of cold fear washes over me as I recognize that address.Tessa.Shit. I realize a 10-62 is a ‘breaking and entering in progress.’

I burst out the door, ignoring Millie’s startled yelp as I rush past her. Slamming my truck into gear I speed toward Tessa’s house, the tires screeching on the pavement.

Keeping an eye on the clock, each minute drags by until I finally pull into her driveway. I breathe a sigh of relief, noticing the absence of flashing lights and sirens. The police have already left, and the lack of ambulances and body bags only deepens the sense of relief.

Exiting the truck, I hurry to her front door and ring the bell, my impatience growing. As I wait, I glance around, taking in my surroundings. The door swings open, and a gun is pressed to my head.

“Jesus. First a knife, now a gun?” My eyebrows shoot up in disbelief as she yanks me inside, the firearm steady in her grip. “What the hell?”

“You scared the shit out of me. What are you doing here, Eli?”

My eyes sweep over her, searching for any signs of injury. No cuts, no bruises—but something flickers in her gaze. Anger, maybe, but beneath it, I catch the glimmer of something else. Fear.

“I came to check on you, Tess. I was at the station when the sheriff got the call about your break-in. What happened? Are you okay?”

She takes a deep breath, then, with practiced ease, ejects the bullets from the chamber. The gun and ammo disappear into the drawer of the entryway table with a soft click.

“I’m fine,” she says. “Someone broke in while I was gone. My neighbor saw them and called the police. They just left.”

“Shit, Tess.” I run a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply.

“I checked the whole place, but nothing seems missing. I don’t know if my neighbor, Jane, interrupted him before he found whatever he was looking for… or what.” She hesitates, briefly looking away.

“I saw the cameras outside. Did you recognize the guy?”

She shakes her head. “That’s the strange part. The outside cameras caught someone in a hoodie using a key to get inside. He bypassed my security system somehow.” Her voice wavers slightly. She looks up at me, her fierce eyes betraying the fear she fights to suppress.

“Nobody—nobody—has a key to my house. And nobody knows my security code.” She hugs herself, arms crossing tightly over her chest as though to shield herself from an unseen threat. “I feel so violated.”

Seeing Tessa vulnerable is unsettling. She is strong and capable. But now, something twists inside me—an instinct to protect her, to keep her safe. I swallow it down.

I cast a slow glance around the living room and kitchen. Her home is beautiful, a perfect blend of modern updates and warmth. I’ve been here before—long ago, when one of my grade school friends’ parents owned it. They moved away a few years back, and the house eventually went on the market. Renovations breathe new life into the place.

Reaching for her, I invite her into my arms. She hesitates for only a second before stepping forward, surrendering to the embrace.

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” I murmur, my voice low, steady.

“Why?” she says, looking up at me, her eyes searching mine. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know enough,” I reply with a smirk.

She smells incredible—jasmine and the sweet scent of strawberry shampoo. I shift slightly so she won’t feel the growing hardness between us.

“Let me help you get the locks changed. I know a guy.”

Releasing her, I pull out my phone and call Ed, a trusted locksmith I’ve used for years.

“He’ll be here in about an hour,” I tell her after ending the call, brushing a stray lock of blonde hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear.

“Thank you,” she says softly, pressing a gentle kiss to my cheek.

I smile, feeling the warmth of her lips lingering on my skin. “I can think of a few ways you can thank me,” I joke.

She glances at my lips, then back into my eyes, her expression playful yet intense.

“I bet you can,” she replies, her voice low and teasing.

This girl... she’s fiery, and I can’t get enough of it.

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