Page 79 of My Best Friend's Dad

A few days later

I’d put Jenna to bed a short time ago after wearing her out with my tongue for a good long while. She was asleep now, her breathing steady and calm beside me. I watched her for a few moments, feeling a mix of protectiveness and love for her, but there was something else too.

I couldn’t shake the nagging anxiety that gnawed at the back of my mind.

Carlo Ricci was still out there.

I slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to wake her, and pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I needed to clear my head, and the best way to do that was to ensure the property was secure and that my Jenna was safe.

I found Tony in my office, seated at my desk with a cup of coffee, his eyes scanning the security monitors. He looked up as I entered, his expression a mix of alertness and concern.

“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked, setting his cup down.

I shook my head. “Too much on my mind. Let’s patrol the property. I need to get a feel for the place and make sure everything’s secure.”

Tony nodded, putting down his coffee, standing up and stretching his arms high over his head.

“That sounds like a solid plan. Let’s go,” he said, his voice all business.

We stepped outside, the silence enveloping the cool night air. Tony fell into step beside me, his presence a comfort despite the anxiety gnawing at me that night.

As we walked the perimeter, I couldn’t help but voice my concerns.

“This whole situation with Ricci… I’m afraid it’s going to get worse if I don’t do something about it,” I admitted out loud, and Tony nodded once before he replied.

“Ricci’s desperate. He knows you’re a threat, and he’s trying to destabilize you. But he’s making mistakes. The break-in was too obvious. He’s getting sloppy.”

“Still, it’s a mess,” I said, frustration evident in my tone. “I have to keep Jenna safe, but I also need to figure out what his endgame is. He’s not just going to want me behind bars after I take the fall for him. He’s going to want me dead so I can’t speak against him ever again.”

Tony nodded, his eyes scanning the darkened landscape. “We’ll figure it out. But right now, our priority is security. Once we’re sure the place is locked down tight, we can focus on what to do next about Ricci.”

We continued our patrol, checking every corner and shadow. The night was eerily quiet, but my nerves were on high alert. As we approached the edge of the property, something caught my eye.

“Did you see that?” I whispered, pointing toward a shadowy figure skulking along the fence line.

Tony followed my gaze, his body tensing. “Yeah, I see it. Stay close.”

We moved cautiously, keeping to the shadows as we approached the intruder. The figure was dressed in dark clothing, blending into the night, but the way they moved through my property was deliberate and practiced, like they had some sort of training, be it military or private.

This wasn’t a random trespasser. This was someone important.

As we got closer, Tony motioned for me to hang back. He crept forward, silent as a shadow, his Navy SEAL training evident in the way he slunk through the yard. I watched, my heart pounding, as Tony closed the distance. I followed, but I kept my distance. For now.

Just as Tony was about to grab the intruder, the figure spun around, throwing a punch that caught Tony off guard. The two of them crashed to the ground, and I sprinted in their direction.

The trespasser was surprisingly strong and agile, landing several blows before Tony managed to get a solid grip on him.

They grappled in the dirt, a flurry of punches and kicks. The fight was intense, the sounds of grunts and impacts filling the night air.

The intruder managed to break free, pulling a knife from his belt and slashing at Tony. Tony dodged the blade, countering with a swift kick to the man’s chest that sent him sprawling to the ground.

The trespasser managed to get up, scrambling to his feet and lunging at Tony again.

Tony caught the man’s wrist, twisting it until the knife clattered to the ground. With a powerful punch, he sent him reeling, then followed up with a knee to the stomach. The man doubled over, gasping for breath, but still tried to fight back even though he had clearly lost the fight.

With a final, decisive move, Tony pinned the intruder to the ground, his knee pressing into his back.

“Stay down!” he growled, his voice filled with authority.

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