Page 26 of Love Me Fierce

I kick the toy under the box spring then grip my waist and draw a shaky breath.

My lampshade has been crushed on the floor, like it’s been stepped on, and the bulb is missing.

I glare at it. All this for a fucking light bulb?

Rationally, I know that’s not true. I’m grasping at straws. Trying to make sense of so much… violence. Destruction.

Why?

It’s not like I keep bars of gold in my mattress. I barely have any jewelry.

Oh god. I race to the top of my dresser, where I keep my mother’s jewelry box.

It’s not there.

Frantic, I search the drawers, then the floor, moving clothes and bits of stuffing with my feet, hoping to turn up the one thing I can’t replace. “No!”

My clothes have been pulled off the hangers in my tiny closet and the shoes I stack neatly on the little shelf below are strewn in every direction, but even as I dive to my knees to dig through the layers, I already know the jewelry box is gone.

Why else would someone break in?

When I’ve searched every corner of the closet floor, I cover my face with my hands. My shaky breaths turn sharp in my throat. I curl tighter, folding into a ball.

It’s gone.

The hand-painted box and the simple pieces my mother owned in her short life aren’t worth much, but they mean something to me.

Outside, the approaching hum of an engine alerts me to another vehicle. A car door slams, followed by the crackle of radio chatter. More cops.

I force another full breath and rise to my feet. Letting strangers into my home feels wrong, yet I certainly can’t turn down their help in finding whoever did this. Even though I know my mom’s jewelry box is gone, likely forever.

But turning over my trailer brings up the very real problem of where Mateo and I are supposed to go in the interim.

I need help.

Chapter Eight

VIVIAN

When I step outside,I ignore the white van partially blocking the lane and the cop standing at the back, both doors propped open, and retrieve my phone from my car.

I call Sepp. I know Jesse would help too, but he’s got Skye to think about.

“Hey, Vivian,” Sepp says. “Missed you today. What’s up?”

“Can you come to The Meadows?”

“Uh, sure. You okay?”

“Yeah.” I lean against the side of my car and hug my middle. “Someone broke into my place, and… there’s damage.”

“Did you call 9-1-1 already?”

“My neighbor did. Everett’s here. And some other people.”

“Okay, good. On my way.”

“Thank you.”

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