Page 98 of Crossroads of Love

“I’d like that too,” I add, my heart swelling as I look between the two of them.

By the time we get the horses back in the stables and head toward the house, I’m still smiling, my hand wrapped in Gavin’s as we walk. Jayla skips ahead of us, humming to herself.

“This has been the best day!” she sings out. “Oooh, you know what would make it perfect? Can we make a bonfire tonight and make smores?”

“That sounds perfect.” Gavin grins. “We used to do that all the time growing up. Do you remember some of those Sunday nights, Lena?”

“I do. Your parents would invite mine over after church for riding and lunch, and it always ended with smores at night.”

“We’d take turns at the other family’s house,” Gavin explains to Jayla. “Some of my favorite memories.”

“Dad always said that you two were high school sweethearts, but I never knew you grew up together like this.”

“Sometimes I don’t think your dad noticed me until my boobs came in.” I laugh.

“Well, he may not have, but I definitely did.”

“You loved to annoy me.”

“Still do,” he teases.

As we get closer to the house, something catches my eye. Something is wrong with the front door. I squint, trying to make sense of it, and my heart drops into my stomach when I see the shattered glass.

“Gavin,” I whisper, tugging on his hand to stop him.

He follows my gaze, his body still beside me. “Stay here,” he says sharply, his voice tense. He lets go of my hand and strides toward the door, his entire posture shifting into something hard and protective.

“Jay!” I call out, motioning for her to come back toward me.

I grab my phone and dial 911 with shaking hands. The operator picks up almost immediately, and I force myself to stay calm as I explain the situation.

“There’s been a break-in,” I say, my voice trembling as I watch Gavin disappear inside. “We need someone out here.”

The operator assures me that officers are on the way, but my mind is racing. Gavin is inside, and I don’t know what he’s found.

I do know that we’re so far out of city limits that it will be at least twenty minutes before any officers arrive.

Just as the thought crosses my mind, I hear Gavin yell.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Gavin

Ipush through the front door, my heart hammering in my chest. The glass is shattered everywhere, crunching under my boots as I step inside. The house feels eerily quiet, too still, like the air is holding its breath. My muscles tense as I take in the wreckage, but nothing looks disturbed, at least not yet.

I take another step, my ears straining for any sound. A faint creak echoes from the back of the house toward the kitchen. My instincts kick in.

I move quickly, heading toward the sound, my pulse spiking as I round the corner. And then I see two figures at the back door, one of them halfway out, the other still inside, standing in the shadows. They’re dressed head to toe in black, ski masks pulled tight over their faces, long-sleeved turtlenecks and pants covering every inch of skin, even their hands are gloved. There’s no way to identify them; not a single detail is exposed.

“Stop!” I shout, but the one inside bolts, pushing through the door as the screen slams shut behind them.

I take off after them, my legs pumping as I dart across the living room, my boots slipping slightly on the hardwood. I burst through the door into the backyard just in time to see the two of them jump onto a four-wheeler waiting by the edge of the trees.

“Stop!” I yell again, but it’s useless.

The engine roars to life, the tires spinning up dirt as they tear off through the woods. I chase them for a few yards, sprinting as hard as I can, but they’re too fast. My legs burn, my breath ragged as I push myself to catch up, but the four-wheeler is already disappearing into the dense trees, swallowed by the thick brush.

I stop running, bent over with my hands on my knees, gasping for air.

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