Page 23 of Big Enough to Bite
“I need to report this, Mari.” My heart is pounding. If I don’t involve law enforcement, there’s a very good chance I’ll take care of it myself. I’m not opposed to that, but it would require me to be something I prefer to leave to my ancestors.
She must sense the desperation, or smell it, because Mari nods and sits back against the couch again.
“Are you still there, Mr. Reus?” Officer Williamson asks.
“I’m here. Can you come out? I don’t want to talk about it over the phone.”
There’s typing in the background. “I understand. I’m on the desk tonight, but Officer Gant will be there soon. Are you at home?”
“Yes. We’ll wait for him.” The knot in my chest loosens slightly. Though I’m not sure even a Sasquatch police officer can help us. I’m willing to share our story with him and see what he thinks.
“Who’s there with you?” she asks.
“Miss Mari Shepherd. The threat came through my phone, but it was made against her.” The knot tightens.
More typing. “Hang on, and we’ll do what we can to help, Sam.”
We’ve met at least a dozen times. I’m the one who gets called if the police need help with anything rock-related, including rock slides and repairs. I even helped pull a car out of the lake once.
“Thank you, Willa.”
She clears her throat. “Do you think I need to wake the chief? I mean, is there a threat to the community?”
The hair on the back of my neck stands up. If it were up to Mari, no one would know about this. She’d run away in the night as if she were a criminal, and Harmony Glen would never hear from her again. That’s the last thing I want to happen. She’s made a home here, and frankly, so have I. She said she wouldn’t ask me to leave and go with her, but if she goes, I’m following.
“Better be on the safe side.”
Chapter Ten
Mari
The Sasquatch police officer and the Harmony Glen chief of police are standing in Sam’s kitchen, listening carefully to everything each of us has said. They have read the text messages and scolded Sam for responding.
I explained my complicated past with Pierre Brochet and offered to leave town at least three times. Each time, they’ve suggested that Harmony Glen is the safest place for me.
I don’t see how that’s possible. “You realize my being here puts everyone in town in danger?”
Chief Martinez has kind eyes. “You are a part of this town, Mari. If you want to leave, we can’t and won’t stop you, but I advise you to be careful and stay. This is your home. If you run, you’ll always be running. I realize that’s what you’re used to, but I think you came here to find a different kind of life. Am I wrong?”
Damn. “Just because I may want something…” My gaze automatically shifts to Sam. “That doesn’t mean it’s possible to have it.”
Officer Gant’s voice is deep. His hair is thick and covers much of the visible parts of his body, including his lower face. “More things are possible for our kind in Harmony Glen than in other places, Miss Shepherd.” He looks at Sam. “Don’t do anything stupid, Sam. Call and I’ll come.”
“Max, I wish I could promise you that, but I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Mari safe. The best I can do is promise to call if it’s possible.” Sam shakes hands with both of them and sees them to the door.
I call out, “Thank you,” to them as they wave and head for their patrol cars.
Once we’re alone again, I head for the bedroom.
Sam follows.
I should go back to my house and let whatever is going to happen only affect me. Except, I can’t bear the idea of leaving my giant. “Now what? Do we just sit around and wait for an ancient vampire to swoop in and try to kill you?”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but while burning up in sunlight is a myth, asking permission to enter another person’s house is required, is it not? That’s why you wanted the wall, to delineate where your home started.” He pulls me into his arms and holds me. His heartbeat is strong and loud in my ears.
“One must be invited. How did you know that?’
It’s incredible how gentle he is, cradling my head with his huge hands. The idea of leaving him breaks my heart, but it will be worse when Pierre takes him away from me. “I told you. I knew a vampire in Belgium long ago. He was old, older than the Frenchman.”
