“Olivia?” I heard Brock ask as I turned and shoved my hand under my pillow to grab my nightie. “Intruders?” Brock enquired as I struggled to get it on under the bedclothes, then, “Where’s Dade?” Pause, then, “Have you called the cops?” Another pause, then, “Yeah, I’m the cops, Olivia, but I’m not available for personalized 24/7 callouts. Call the cops.” He paused while I got the nightgown down then rolled, put a hand to the floor, and stretched an arm out to nab my panties. “You won’t. I will, Olivia. If someone’s there their ETA will be a fuckuva lot shorter than mine. Stay put and I’ll call dispatch.”

I was not having an easy time pulling my panties on under the sheets as I heard Brock snap the cell closed, then, “Wait here, buddy, I’ll be right back.”

I got my panties up and watched Brock prowl, face set in stone, to the nightstand. He turned on the light, grabbed his cell off the nightstand, and I rolled off the bed.

Then I went to the door.

I got to it and opened it farther to see a pale-faced, scared-looking Joel standing in the hall. The bad news was, Joey looked scared. The good news was, Joey didn’t look psychologically damaged at possibly hearing his father having sex with his girlfriend.

Immediately, I put my hand to his neck and whispered, “It’s gonna be all right, baby. Come on in,” and I guided him in as Brock spoke.

“Yeah, this is Detective Lucas, homicide. My ex-wife just called, worried there’s an intruder at her home. Can you send a unit…?”

He gave the address as I guided Joel to the bed and sat him on the edge of it, me sitting close to his side and wrapping an arm around his waist.

His eyes were glued to his dad.

“Appreciate it,” Brock stated. “Can you give me a callback? Let me know the state of play?” He nodded. “Thanks.”

He flipped his phone shut, opened it again, hit buttons, and put it to his ear.

Then he said, “Just called dispatch, a unit is gonna swing by. Hold tight. They should be there in around five.”

He didn’t wait for an answer and flipped his phone closed.

Finally, his eyes went to his son, “Everything’s gonna be all right, Joey. Unit will be there soon.”

Joel nodded.

“Your brother sleepin’?” Brock asked.

Joel shrugged. “I guess.”

“Well, if he is, don’t wake him but go down, be quiet, find his cell, and bring it up to me, yeah?”

Joel nodded again, then jumped from the bed and took off.

The minute he left, the room filled with the harsh sandpaper of Brock’s extremely pissed-off mood.

“Cells?” I asked cautiously.