“Masen, I was really scared, and they have all my stuff. They could be in my house right now waiting for me. If I hadn’t met you and Sniffer, what would happen to me?”

That sobers him up immediately. He grabs my hand. “You’re right, Sophia. I’m sorry.” He squeezes my hand. I still need to talk to him about Roxanne, but it’ll wait until later.

When we get to my condo, Michael is already there waiting. Unfortunately, the shifters have already come and gone. I know they were here because my driver’s license sits on the kitchen counter, effectively telling me they don’t need it anymore. They know where I live and can come back anytime they want. I don’t take the time to see if anything is missing. I grab what I can’t live without, and I get back in the SUV and wait for Masen and Michael to finish up. I don’t think I ever want to come back here. Everything feels tainted. I don’t know what they touched, where they went, or why they even came to my house. What’s the big deal? So, I didn’t fall for their come-ons. What would they be willing to do to me because I rejected them? In one afternoon, they have taken the only real home I had in five years before I found Masen. I won’t even think about what I’d do if I didn’t have him.

CHAPTER 18

Back at Masen’s, I’m in his huge walk-in closet that’s the size of my whole living room. There’s a washer and dryer, a large island like counter full of drawers, even a few chairs. The walls are covered with built-in closet organizers, almost one whole wall is made to not only hold shoes but display them. It is like the holy grail of closets.

I’m sitting in a leather chair holding a small box of what’s left of my parents looking around fighting back tears when Masen finds me. He kneels in front of me as I set the box on the floor. Dropping his head on my lap, he wraps his arms around me. “I’ll find them, Little One. Please don’t be so sad.”

I am having a bit of a pity party. “I’m fine, Masen. I know it could have been much worse. That what happened wasn’t even that big of a deal. I think what bothers me most is knowing they were in my house touching my things, and that they could go back anytime and let themselves right in the front door. They could take my Jeep. It’s just a yucky feeling, ya know? And I can’t stop thinking why they made such a big deal about being rejected. What were they planning to do?” I stroke my finger through his soft dark hair.

I’m ready for a subject change, so I tell him, “I really love this closet. It’s so smart to put the washer and dryer in here.”

He runs his hands up and down my back. “I thought you’d like it. That way when you wash all my clothes, you can iron fold and hang all in one room. I’ll find you a closet in one of the upstairs rooms.”