Page 53 of Live for Me

“Abbie? Are you alright?” he called.

The woman beside him looked over to Denver, Mason, and me, her eyes cautious.

Abbie twisted her neck, saying something to the man and then greeting the woman. The couple looked at each other in horror, and suddenly, they were crossing their driveway and wrapping her in a warm, welcoming embrace. As I drew closer, I listened in on their conversation and looked to the front porch, tipping my hat to the officers and who I assumed was Dave’s partner.

“We just got back from New York,” the woman said. “Our plane landed this morning. Goodness, Abbie, I’m so sorry.”

Abbie said nothing, and I didn’t have to look at her to know she was probably nodding through her tears.

“Were your security cameras on last night?” Dave asked them. “Do you think—”

“Abbie has her own security system,” I cut in, stepping forward and tipping my hat to the couple. “Though if your cameras could give a better angle, it would be appreciated if we could take a look.”

All four pairs of eyes landed on me, and I felt the Langston brothers coming up behind me.

“I don’t have any cameras, Beau,” Abbie said, her voice thick as her brows came together in confusion.

“You’ve had cameras since yesterday morning,” I returned, looking to the couple and holding my hand out. “Beau Marks.”

The man took my hand. “Marcus Jackson,” he introduced, giving my hand a shake. “This is my wife, Alisha.”

I tipped my hat to her as Abbie asked, “How did you—what do you mean I have cameras?”

“Red Snake Investigations installed them,” I told her.

She looked up, studying me as if I’d grown two heads. “I didn’t hire them.”

“I did.”

Those pretty pink lips of hers parted as her face softened in disbelief, but I didn’t have the patience to enjoy it. I was moving then, Denver and Mason flanking me as we made our way up the steps. I held my hand out to the man in suit. “Beau Marks. I assume you’re Harris, Dave’s partner.”

Harris was a few inches shorter than Dave and had a round face. He also looked like he’d seen a ghost. “I, uh, y—you’re Beau?TheBeau?”

I raised an eyebrow, and Denver muttered something underneath his breath. “Yes,” I answered, not knowing how to feel about this stranger knowing who I was.

Did he have the answers I didn’t?

Did he know why Abbie left my heart in pieces with a ring in my hand?

Did she tell her friends the truth? Or did she paint me in a different light?

“Are you the owner of the residence, sir?”

I peeled my gaze from Harris, focusing on the officers. Abbie appeared beside me then. “No, he’s not. That’s me,” she answered.

The officer on the left stepped to the side, revealing the damaged front door. “We’ll need you to make a statement once you’re done. Try to make a note of everything that’s been damaged, for insurance purposes,” he instructed in a monotone.

Dave was standing beside Harris now, murmuring something to him in a low voice. I looked at Abbie. She was staring into her house, trembling. I moved then, getting in front of her and hooking my finger under her chin. “Look at me,” I murmured roughly. Those brown eyes met mine, shining with tears. “You want me and the boys to go in first? You can stay out here with Dave and Harris.”

She blinked, swallowing. “I have to see it,” she rasped.

I tilted my head slowly. “I can see it for you, Abbie. You don’t have to go in there if you don’t want to.”

“We can take a look, assess the damage, and go from there,” Denver said, his voice soft.

Abbie looked over at him, and the next words out of her mouth rocked me to my core, down to the bottom of my broken soul. “Why are you here if you hate me?” she whispered.

I stiffened.

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