Page 73 of Since the Day We Kissed

“It. Was. Him.” Mr. Walker’s words cut like ice. “Sarah’s gone, and you have the nerve to show up here? Listen close, boy. Stay away from Kara, from all of us. For your own sake. I’ll mail your last check. We’re done here,” he said, locking the door.

“Wait,” Ethan pleaded, reaching for Mr. Walker’s arm but he yanked it away. “I’m so sorry. I never ... I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I’ll do anything to fix it. Just let me talk to Kara. Please, sir.”

“Anything? Really?”

“Yes, I swear, I’ll do anything. Just tell me. Whatever it is. It’s done.”

“Well, then, if you want to ‘fix’ things, respect my daughter’s wishes. Respect what’s left of our family. If you had a daughter, wouldn’t you want the same?” He turned away. “Now get off my property. Don’t come back. I’ve got ... I’ve got a funeral to plan.”

Ethan staggered backward before stumbling to his truck, heart pounding. As he peeled out of the parking lot, his thoughts were a blur—Kara, Sarah, his dad ...

Arriving home, he screeched to a halt at the sight of a police cruiser blocking his driveway. Ethan’s stomach twisted into knots as he got out of the truck.

Wait. What in the world?

The officer approached and removed his cap. “You’re Ethan Bennett?”

Ethan nodded, his throat tight. “Yeah, that’s me. What happened?”

The officer’s face was grim. “Listen, son. There’s been an accident. Your dad’s okay, but the other driver ...

Hero’s low whine pierced the fog of memory, pulling Ethan back to the present. Ethan shook his head, trying to dispel the haunting images that clung to the corners of his mind. His chest tightened as he blinked, trying to ground himself. With a deep breath to steady himself, he pushed open the door.

The store was quiet as Ethan stepped inside, scanning the empty aisles. He ventured farther, rounding the corner—and froze. His heart pounded at the sight. Whitaker, Charlotte, and Kara stood by the front counter ... with a man holding a gun to Charlotte’s head.

Before Ethan could react, the man swung the gun toward him.

“Don’t move!” the man shouted, now aiming at Ethan’s chest.

Ethan slowly raised his hands, his mind racing as he assessed the situation.

The gunman’s focus snapped to Whitaker. “You—behind the counter, now!” He tossed a duffel bag onto it. “Fill it with Valium, Oxys, Vicodin, and Xanax. All of it.”

With a sharp jerk of his head, he turned to Kara. “You—empty the register. Get all the cash. Move!”

Kara and Whitaker scrambled to comply, their hands trembling as they fumbled through the motions.

“You don’t have to do this,” Ethan reasoned. “You can put the gun down and—”

“Shut up!” the robber barked, slamming the gun against the counter with a deafening crack. Everyone flinched. “Hurry!” he shouted at Kara and Whitaker. “Faster!”

Charlotte whimpered as she watched the scene unfold.

“You two—on the ground. Now!” The robber gestured with his gun toward Ethan and Charlotte.

Ethan edged forward, glancing at Kara and Whitaker, their faces pale. He slowly lowered himself to the floor beside Charlotte, releasing Hero’s leash.

In an instant, Hero erupted into fierce barking.

“Shut up!” the robber yelled, swinging the gun toward the Hero. “Shut that dog up, or I swear I’ll—”

Lying on the floor, Ethan reached out, his hand trembling as he tried to calm Hero. “Easy, boy. Easy,” he whispered.

But Hero’s barks only grew more frantic, each one sharper than the last.

“Shut up! Shut up, shut up!” The robber’s face contorted. “Get that dog to stop, or I will!”

Ethan looked up at the desperate man. “If you just put the gun down, he might stop. You’re making him nervous—”

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