Ty called an emergency vet to check on Lola, who was given a clean bill of health and a prescription for as much steak as her heroic wiggle butt wanted. The Dawsons’ delivery driver returned with a dozen pizzas at about the same time that Luke’s foreman, Angry Frank, showed up with a three-man crew to board up the window and door. An hour later, Hannah’s husband, Finn, burst into the house dressed like a mountain man. Luke’s younger brother, James, arrived shortly after that.

Harper declared it to be a sleepover since no one was keen on anyone being left alone. Aldo didn’t leave Gloria’s side. Sometime around 4 a.m., they all collapsed in the living room. She was curled up on the couch, Aldo at her back, his arms wrapped around her as if he couldn’t bear to let her go.

She closed her eyes and checked in. She didn’t feel like a victim of violence tonight. No. She felt a little tiny bit like a hero. Her very own hero. She’d vanquished her own demon. And yeah, it had been terrifying. But she did it anyway.

She snuggled back against Aldo reminding herself that he was there, so solidly there. This was what it felt like to win. She was going to hang on to this feeling for a very long time.

“Psst. Gloria?”

Gloria lifted her head to look at Harper who was sprawled out on the floor with the dogs in the dark.

“Yeah?”

“You were awesome tonight.”

Gloria grinned. “You, too. Thanks for fighting a psychopath for me.”

“Thanks for braining him with a frying pan and saving my life. You’re my hero.”

Aldo squeezed her once around the waist, echoing Harper’s sentiment.

55