Page 75 of See It Through

The loud rumbling of an engine interrupted our peace. Both of us turned to see the source, but the street was relatively empty. Seconds later, the rumbling grew closer, and an oversized dark-colored truck came into view, the beam of bright lights approaching. They were going much too fast.

“Someone needs to—”

What I’d been about to say was cut off when the truck veered toward the sidewalk. Remi yanked me backward, practically throwing me onto my porch steps. A scream lodged in my throat when I landed. Remi stood in front of me, blocking my view, but the truck’s lights spread around him as it continued toward us.

My body locked, and my eyes slammed shut. I needed to see. I had to know. But my eyes refused to open. I braced myself for impact, and when it came, I finally moved, flinging my arms out and screeching in terror.

Except it wasn’t a truck on top of me. Remi cradled me with his body, his cheek against mine, his arms around me.

“Hannah, baby, it’s okay. You’re safe. They’re gone. You’re safe, sweetheart,” he chanted next to my ear.

My eyes finally fluttered open, and Remi was there, above me. “What was that?” I croaked.

“Someone being a dick and trying to scare us. They got close, but if they meant to hit us, they could have.” He stroked my hair away from my face. “Ready to stand up?”

“I think—” I wiggled my toes and bent my legs. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

Remi got me up to my apartment. Once he closed the door and locked it, he had me in his arms again, holding tighter. His breath was heavy in my ear, chest rising and falling in rapid waves against mine.

“Fuck,” he gritted out. “Fuck, fuck, fuck. That was too fucking close.”

“But we’re okay. We’re not hurt. It was probably just some idiot kids entertaining themselves.”

He drew back, a scowl pulling at his features. “What color’s Cleve’s truck?”

My eyes flared in realization. “Navy blue.”

“What color was that truck just now?”

“Dark. It might’ve been navy, but it could’ve been black or gray.”

I didn’t know why I was trying to explain this away, only that Cleve had been quiet since my dad, brothers, and Remi had paid him a visit. I’d been hoping that had been the end of it.

He strode to my windows, peering out as he took his cell from his pocket. “I’m calling it in. We’re not letting this go, Hannah.”

Swallowing hard, I nodded. “Okay. Do what you think is right.”

After everything that had happened today—the mare, missing Graham, making a police report for the third time this summer—sleep eluded me. Remi was crashed out hard beside me, but it was two in the morning, and I was still staring at the ceiling. I considered getting up and doing some exercises in the living room to rid myself of the excess energy, but I knew myself well enough to know that wouldn’t work. Besides, the last thing I wanted was to wake Remi.

So I lay beside him, a ticker tape of endless thoughts scrolling through my brain. That was why I noticed when the nightmare started. Remi twitched and released a deep, guttural groan. His hands flew up beside his face, balled into tight fists.

“No,” he moaned. “Oh no.”

I laid my hand on his heaving chest, rubbing in gentle circles. “Remi,” I said softly. “Wake up, baby.”

He shook his head, thrashing back and forth against his pillow. “No,” he cried. “I can’t—stay. Stay!”

I moved closer, patting his cheek. “Wake up, Remi. You’re having a nightmare. Come back to me.”

With a sharp gasp, his eyes opened. At first, they were unfocused and wild, but the more I stroked his cheek and murmured reassurances, the haze cleared.

“Hannah,” he rasped. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for.”

He reached for me, his fingers threading through the side of my hair. “I woke you up and now you have to deal with my shit in the middle of the night.”

“I wasn’t sleeping.” I rubbed my nose back and forth along his. “I was wide awake, dealing with my own shit.”

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