Page 49 of Fish out of Water
Just in case swans could climb stairs.
This place was going to fucking kill me. Between Julia and the swan it was clear I had to do what needed to be done. Get out before I lost something important. Like my identity.
Or an ass cheek.
“Oh no.” Julia came to an abrupt stop in front of me, causing my body to bump hers.
I grabbed her around the waist, pulling her away from the partially-open door to her apartment. The deadbolt was destroyed and a foot-sized dent was punched into the metal just beside the knob.
Didn’t look like they had a key to get in this time.
Chapter Eleven
Julia
GRANT SHOVED ME behind him, his broad body blocking my view as we crept closer to the door to my apartment.
I held the back of his shirt, sticking close as he pushed the door wide.
“Is it bad?” I’d seen what they did to Mr. Frazier’s place when they didn’t find what they wanted. I knew chances were good my place looked a lot like his did.
Grant tipped his head my way, holding one finger to his lips.
My stomach dropped.
It hadn’t occurred to me they might still be there.
And I didn’t have a back window they could jump out of.
Not if they wanted all their ankle bones intact.
Grant turned back toward my apartment, slowly moving inside.
I held my breath, trying to listen for any sign whoever was responsible for this might still be there, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heart.
This was not what I expected when I moved to Florida.
I’d lived a sheltered life. One filled with modest clothes and homeschooling that focused on what a woman’s true purpose was.
Hint: It was breeding.
And cooking.
As I got older, I started to realize it was all bullshit and decided to take control of my life.
Of who I was.
I wanted to branch out. Explore the world.
I never expected that would eventually include whatever this mess was.
Grant slowly stood straighter. “No one’s here.”
I leaned to look around him.
My work bag was emptied out, its contents dumped across the floor and rifled through.
My purse looked the same way, wallet open, receipts flung to the side, pens and business cards everywhere.
