Page 76 of Desolation

Why was the gate unlocked?

Why would he think I am in danger?

My breathing picks up as my heart nearly beats out of my chest.

I can’t hear anything except for the thrum of my heart. I try to take deep breaths but all I can do is breathe shallow.

There is nothing but silence outside.

I don’t know how much time passes.

Eventually I hear Landon knock on the door. “Mari.”

I slowly ease up from my crouched position and move to the bathroom door.

“It’s me, Mar. Open up.”

My hand shakes as I go for the door. I open it slowly and find an unharmed Landon on the other side.

“Thank God.” I sigh as I wrap my arms around him. That’s when I notice Dax behind him, a gun dangling from his hand.

“Are you okay?” Dax asks me.

“What happened?”

Landon pulls away from me and that’s when I notice a gun in his hand. “I was searching the property when Dax pulled in. There was no one here. We checked the video on his security cameras. Might have been some kid trying to break in. Probably scared him off.”

I breathe a sigh of relief even though my hands are still shaking.

“Did you talk to anyone today?” Dax askes me.

“Just Rebecca.”

Dax sets his gun down on the dresser. I didn’t even know he knew how to use a gun much less had one.

“What did you tell her?”

I shrug. “I just gave her some names. Had her look into things. She has all the financial records.”

“You trust her?”

I scrunch my brow. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Landon steps closer to me. “We thought maybe it had something to do with that file.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

I don’t miss it when they both give each other a look.

“Probably some kid,” Landon says.

“Right,” Dax answers back, “Everything is secure now. I’ll leave you two alone.”

I watch as Dax grabs the gun off the dresser then leaves the room. The click of the door to the pool house has me turning toward Landon.

“We thought it was something, it’s not.”

“You think someone found me here?”

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