Page 51 of Comeback
Bam, bam! Bam bam bam!
The pounding at the door left no doubt in my mind.It’s him,I thought, having flashbacks to Mackenzie’s birthday party.It has to be.
I was sure of it. Mackenzie had mistakenly called JackDaddy.And now, who was angrily banging on Jack’s door? Trevor. Herrealfather. It made perfect sense in my panic-addled mind. I was sure Nicole would agree—she’d say something about how intent can manifest reality.
In an instant, the sense of security I’d worked so hard to build over the past couple of months was smashed to pieces. My small town getaway was a sham—there wasn’t anywhere I could go that he couldn’t find me. I wish I’d taken Jack up on his offer to get away—like,now.
Fuck,I thought,what do I do?
Jack told us to wait. But I grabbed his arm and stopped him from leaving.
“Don’t answer the door,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.
“Why not?”
“Just don’t,” I croaked. “Let’s leave. Right now. We can go anywhere, Jack, just like you said. I’m ready—but you can’t answer that door and we have to go rightnow.”
An eyebrow arched as he looked at me. “Who exactly do you think it is?”
I gulped. “You know who.”
“That’s impossible. You’ve got a restraining order.”
“You really think that’d stop him?”
“Listen. I know you’re scared.” I could see it in his eye, he thought I was panicking and acting crazy. “But there’s no way that could be him. And even if itwashim, do you really think I’d cower in my own house while he tries to intimidate you like that?”
“He’s dangerous,” I mumbled. “He was in the Army, Jack.”
“I know. But it’snothim, Emma. It can’t be.”
“Jack …!” I clung to Jack’s shirt but the material slipped through my fingers as he stepped away.
“I’ll be right back,” he said. “Just hang tight. Everything’s gonna be fine.”
I held my breath and quietly listened as Jack’s footsteps led him to the door.Why didn’t he listen to me?!
I gnashed my teeth and waited, expecting to hear a fight break out the second Jack opened that door. I winced as I heard the door creak as Jack opened it. Thankfully, a big commotion didn’t follow.
Instead, I heard the deep, gravelly rumble of men’s voices. Jack’s voice and one—no, two—others. I couldn’t hear their words, but I could tell it wasn’t Trevor, and no one was shouting.
I let out a breath of relief.Thank God.
I waited for Jack to wrap up his business. But moments passed and his guests weren’t going anywhere. Jack apparently invited them in because I heard the heavy patter of their feet on the tile floor.
“Who’s here?” Mackenzie asked me.
“I don’t know,” I said with a sigh. It was getting late—we had to get home. “Let’s go see.”
I took Mackenzie’s hand and we walked to the main room.
Jack stood talking with two men, his voice hushed as he passionately explained something to them. The two men were both built from the same mold as Jack—tall, fit, broad-shouldered, athletic—but in slightly different ways. Jack looked leaner and faster than both men.
Are these guys hockey players, too?I wondered.
They didn’t hear me as I approached, and I caught the tail end of their conversation.
“A private investigator?” Jack huffed, rubbing his chin. “IknewI was being followed …”
