Demonstrating possible superhero powers, even after waiting for Ethan to pull himself in and close the door behind him, Merry still got around to my side and had his hand to my door by the time I’d hauled my ass to my seat.

“Lock,” he growled, slammed the door and jogged to his truck parked behind us.

I locked the doors and put the key in the ignition, eyes to the rearview mirror, asking, “You okay, kid?”

“Merry and Colt and Sul and Mike’ll get ’im,” Ethan declared casually.

I glanced at him.

The cab was filled with the light from Merry’s headlights.

“Go, Mom. Merry needs to get out there,” Ethan ordered.

Shit, exactly when did my little man grow up?

I put the car in gear and went.

There was a repeat of what happened at Mom’s when we got to my place, including Merry taking my hand as he rushed me and Ethan to the house.

Ethan and I checked the windows. Merry walked around, turning on lights, inside and all the ones I had out, and he did this also checking windows and doors.

This didn’t take long before he was at the front door, ready to roll.

“Gotta go,” he stated and ordered, “Lights on all night, Cher.”

I nodded but moved quick when it seemed he was going to take off.

I caught his hand.

He looked down at me.

I repeated Mom’s words quietly, but mine were shaking.

“Be careful, Garrett.”

He held my eyes, looking like he was going to say something or do something.

He checked it and whispered, “I will, baby.”

He gave my hand a squeeze.

Then he was gone.

Chapter Six

Eternity

Cher

I sat curled up on my couch.

The front light was on. The side light was on. The back light was on. The kitchen lights were blazing. And I’d left a lamp on in my bedroom.

The first time I’d checked, Ethan was in bed but awake. Same for the second and third.

The last, he was out.

So it was late, just me on my couch, the gun I’d bought the day after I hightailed my and Ethan’s asses to Ohio when I found out who Lowe actually was was on the seat of the couch by my toes.

My phone was in my hand.

Obviously, I’d unblocked Merry.

And I’d opened my curtains, just a couple of inches, so I could see out.

As I watched, to occupy my mind, I found it fascinating in a vague way that our street went dead after midnight on a weeknight. Completely dead. No cars at all.

I also thought on the fact that I was lucky to have the next day off, since right then I was wide awake and in it for the long haul.

I hoped Merry would think of me and text or phone to tell me things were okay, they got the guy, he and all the boys and girls who worked at the station were all good.