Page 40 of Storm

Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks.

Anothercall.

Brook picked up her phone. “Hello.”

Nothing but silence on the other end.

Who was this person who kept drop calling her? Was it just a kid pranking her or someone who kept getting the wrong number?

She still hadn’t told Storm she was getting these calls, and she wished she had. As soon as he got home, she was going to tell him.

Home.

He’d been staying her place for the past week, and it was starting to feel like they lived together. And to her utter shock, she didn’t hate it. She actually loved spending all her spare time with him.

It was only a matter of days before his house purchase closed and he got the keys, so she suspected the nights of him sleeping at her house were going to come to an end soon. The thought bugged her. It was too soon to live together, but it felt so right at the same time.

Since he was out on a group ride today and it was the weekend, she didn’t have any plans, she’d stayed at her apartment and decided to curl up with a book and one of her stuffies. She hadn’t gotten to read much lately because while Storm spoiled the heck out of her, he was also strict and madeher go to bed at ten o’clock sharp every night. It helped that he always crawled into bed and snuggled her to sleep.

A knock on her door pulled her attention away from the spicy story she had just started. Sighing, she went to answer it. When were the neighborhood kids going to realize she wasn’t interested in whatever sale they were having for their school? It seemed like every other week one of them came knocking, trying to get her to buy chocolates or wrapping paper or some other overpriced item she didn’t need.

Only, when she swung the door open, she wasn’t greeted by a school kid with cookies. Instead, it was a large man with a red face and a stained shirt. Her mouth went dry, and she took a step back, her tummy coiling with fear.

“Your fucking insurance company is refusing to pay for the damage to my car,” he sneered, his words slightly slurred.

It took her a second to understand what he was saying. Of course they would refuse; the accident was his fault.

“I—” she started as panic surged through her.

“Shut up, bitch. You owe me a thousand bucks for the damage and that’s without the stress and pain I’ve been in, so you better pay up because I’m not leaving until you do.” He was so angry that bits of spittle flew out of his mouth.

She shook her head and moved to close the door so she could shut him out and lock it, but he stuck his foot in front of it, blocking her attempts to keep herself safe.

“I’ve been calling and calling, but you stopped answering, so don’t try to hide from me now,” he snapped, shoving the door open again.

Brook stumbled backward, her grip on the knob the only thing from making her fall.

Before she could figure out what to do next, Storm appeared behind the guy, his face in a deadly scowl. He grabbed the manby the back of his shirt and yanked him away from her, throwing him onto the ground with ease.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Storm shouted as he stood over the guy with clenched fists.

Storm didn’t give him a chance to answer before he punched him several times as the man tried to cover his already bloody face.

“Daddy!” she screamed, those threatened tears now tracking down her face.

He paused his punches and looked back at her, his expression softening just slightly.

“Go call the cops,” he told her. “Go, baby, now.”

She scurried inside on trembling legs and found her phone. Sirens already blared in the distance by the time she ended the call to the 911 operator.

Yet more tears brimmed in Brook’s eyes, blurring her vision as she collapsed onto the couch, her knees too weak to hold herself up any longer.

When Storm's strong arms enveloped her, it was like a dam broke. The sobs she’d been holding back tumbled out as she buried her face in his chest, clinging to him like her life depended on it.

“Shh,” he murmured softly, his lips brushing the crown of her head. “I got you, baby. I’m right here. He’s not going to hurt you. The police are here.”

He held her close, his large hands rubbing circles over her back, his grip firm but gentle, as if silently reminding her that she was safe now that he was here. Storm would always keep her safe.

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