Page 69 of Fragile Sanctuary

“Anson!”

Shep’s voice pulled me from my swirling thoughts, and I jerkedmy hand from Rho’s hold. I didn’t miss the flicker of hurt in her eyes. This was why I stayed away. Because I was already doing damage.

Shep jogged over to us. “You find everything we needed?”

I jerked my head in a nod. I’d been at the only electronics store in a hundred-mile radius that opened at eight. They’d had the kind of equipment that would at least tide us over until Shep could order more of the good stuff his tech-obsessed brain loved.

“They had the basics. You order the rest?” I asked.

“It’ll be here the day after tomorrow. But this’ll let us at least get the core system installed,” he said.

Rho looked back and forth between us. “What are you guys talking about?”

Shep slowly turned toward his sister. “I know you’re not crazy about alarm systems, but?—”

“Shep,” she growled. “You are not putting one of those ridiculous systems in my house. It’s too much. I’ll never remember the code. One of my foster critters or I will trip the sensors you love so much. And one of Trace’s deputies will be out here every few hours. No.”

He pinned her with a stare. “You need a system. It’s this or you move in with one of us.”

Defiance lit in Rho’s eyes, making the gold dance. “Don’t order me around, Shepard Colson.”

He winced. “Rho. Someone set your house on fire last night. They left behind a very clear threat. You need protection, and you need it now.”

All the air went out of her on a whoosh. “Trace is already assigning me to the drive-by route.”

“Which means deputies will be out here every couple of hours. A lot can happen between those visits.”

My gut soured at the thought, but I knew Shep was right. It only took seconds for your whole world to crumble.

Rho worried her bottom lip. “Alarm system, camerasoutside, but no crazy sensors or anything.”

“We have to install sensors on your doors and windows. That’show an alarm works. But I promise, no motion detectors,” Shep vowed.

“Fine. But you’d better make the code numbers easy for me to remember,” she grumbled.

“My birthday, then,” Shep joked.

Rho stuck her tongue out at him. “You’re getting socks for your next birthday and that’s it. And I’m telling Lolli you want another shirtless elf diamond painting for your collection.”

Shep’s jaw went slack. “You wouldn’t.”

Rho just arched a brow in challenge. “That depends on if you keep your security system word. And that includes you not turning my house into some freaky robot home.”

I choked on a half laugh, half cough, and Shep sent me a dirty look. His specialty was building homes with elaborate tech. Speakers built into every room for both stereo systems and intercoms. All appliances, lighting, and locks that you could control with your smartphone. He loved every nerdy detail, but it was clear that Rho did not.

“Some people would appreciate me bringing their homes into the twenty-first century,” Shep groused.

“Then find those people. I do not want some possessed AI taking over my space and murdering me in my sleep.”

Shep just shook his head at her. “You gotta stop going to those horror movies with Fallon.”

Rho pinned him with a stare. “It could happen. You don’t know what all that crud is capable of.”

“It’s capable of whatever I program it to do,” he argued, looking at me for help.

I held up both hands. “I like the security, but I can leave the rest of that stuff. I like turning on the lights with a good old-fashioned switch.”

“See?” Rho asked.

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