I watch him walk up to the house where his brothers and the other two officers are talking, then I drag my eyes off them and fiddle with the heat to turn it up. It’s not that cold tonight, fall is just starting to really creep in, but I feel chilled to the bone and beyond exhausted, like I’ve run a marathon.

The minutes tick by as the guys talk, then the two uniformed officers take off in their squad car, leaving Miles, Tucker, and Clay on the porch. When the three of them disappear inside, a sense of unease washes over me and I look around. Unlike the building I live in, Carly’s apartment complex is open, and her neighbors have already started decorating for Halloween which will be here in just a few weeks. Normally, I’d love the orange and purple glow of lights and spooky decorations, but tonight they do nothing to put my mind at ease.

I swear I see the shadow of a tall figure move behind a tree. I reach over to the keys in the ignition, shut it off, then shove open the door and hop out. I run to the front door of the apartment that is open, the light like a beacon in the dark. Then, just like I did when I was a kid and I thought there was something under my bed, I jump over the threshold into the light of the apartment where nothing bad can get me.

“What happened?” Clay asks as all eyes come to me.

I right myself. “I—I thought I saw someone behind a tree.” My chest heaves and my heart pounds as he walks to me, ducking his head and placing his face close to mine.

“Someone was out there?”

“It was probably my imagination.” I glance between all three men, who don’t look at all convinced—and I know they aren’t when Miles pulls his weapon and heads out the front door with Tucker right behind him. “I really think I just freaked myself out,” I say quietly, meeting Clay’s gaze.

“We’ll let them figure that out.” He wraps his arms around me tucking my face against his chest.

I don’t know how long we stand like that, but soon a throat is cleared, and I turn my head to find Tucker standing in the doorway.

“We didn’t see anyone out there. Miles is grabbing some evidence bags and stuff from the car.”

“You guys believe me?”

“Why wouldn’t we?” Tucker asks.

I shrug. “Those other officers made it seem like Carly leaving her bag and stuff wasn’t a big deal.”

“A woman with no apparent reason to run away from her life is a big deal,” he says.

I relax into Clay’s hold, beyond relieved that they believe me. “Am I going to be arrested?” I ask.

Clay growls. “Why the fuck would you be arrested?” His hold on me becomes almost suffocating.

“Because I broke in here.”

“You had a key.” Tucker tells me, then adds, “Your friend told you about it and said you could use it anytime you needed to get in.”