Page 32 of Rafe: Sins of the Father

Twisting, I see a flash from the light of a cell phone and a dark shadow on the front porch of the big house. Then I spot two other shadows by the vehicle parked up there.

Tori.

Maybe it’s not a party. Maybe she didn’t invite anyone over.

There’s another scream, and I dig in my saddlebag for my pistol then take off as fast as I can up to the house, my lungs burning as I dig deep for every ounce of speed and strength to get up the hill without slowing.

By the time I make it there, the front door is wide open, and no one is outside. I take the porch steps two at a time, and only slow when I step across the threshold. I’ve got my weapon up and scan the darkness, listening for where they are.

A muffled scream comes from the second floor, and I creep up quietly, following the sounds. When I come around a corner, there are three of them, and they’ve got Tori down on a bed. One’s covering her mouth and pinning an arm, and another has the other arm, while a third is struggling to get her jeans off her legs.

I blast a shot through the mirror over the dresser, and it gets their attention. The three men jump back, but none go for a weapon. Bubba and I were working in the dark for hours, so my eyes are well adjusted to the shadowy light.

“Who the fuck are you?” one snaps.

“Your worst nightmare, asshole.”

“This doesn’t concern you, buddy. Unless you want to join in.”

“You’re pretty cocky, considering you’re on the wrong end of this gun,” I growl and motion with my hand for Tori to come to me. “Tori.”

She scrambles off the bed, and I step in front of her.

The three are still standing there—two look petrified, but their leader seems reluctant to take the hint.

“You’ve got three seconds to get out the front door before I start putting holes in you. One. Two.” I don’t get to three before they pound down the stairs and tear out the front door. “Stay here, Tori.”

I don’t trust they’ll all leave, and I follow them out, my gun on them all the way until the vehicle tears off down the drive. When I see them fishtail onto the highway, I return to Tori. She’s shaking and crying when I reenter the bedroom.

Slipping my pistol into the back of my jeans, I take her shoulders in my hands and dip my head to hers. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

She shakes her head, and I pull her against my chest.

“You’re safe now. They’re gone. They won’t be back.”

She cries into my cut, clinging to me for a long time, and I stroke her head.

Finally, she pulls back and looks at me. “I don’t understand. Why are you here?”

“Me and Bubba were working late. I heard the bell and you screaming. You were smart to do that. I grabbed my gun and came running.”

“You saved me, Rafe. Thank you. God, when I think what would have happened if you hadn’t been here… Where’s Bubba?”

“He pulled out right after that transformer blew, before you started screaming. When we saw the car drive past, he said maybe you were having a party.”

“I didn’t invite them. No way. I’m glad you didn’t believe that.”

“What happened?”

“Connor broke the window in the kitchen door and got it open. I ran out the front, but his two friends were waiting.”

“Hang on. You know these guys?”

“From school. They’re bullies. Connor won’t leave me alone. I’ve told him to fuck off a bunch of times.”

“Jesus. That’s some fucking school.”

“I’m done with that place.”

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