Page 82 of Fragile Hearts

After I recite the details, I ask, “What’s this about?”

“Your monitored home alarm has been tripped,” he now says. “Would you like us to send someone over there or switch the alarm off?”

“Shit,” I mutter, turning back to the table. “Can you switch it off so my dog doesn’t freak out?” I ask. “I’ll head home now and see what’s going on.”

“Can do,” he replies. “Although we advise that you don’t enter the premises if there are signs of a break-in.”

“Okay, I won’t,” I say, making my way back to the table.

“Would you like me to send someone, just as a precaution?”

“Um, I don’t know. No,” I say, having no clue what the right thing to do is. “Let me go check it out, and if it looks sketchy, I’ll call the police,” I suggest.

“Okay, best of luck,” the guy says before disconnecting.

“Hey,” I say as I reach the table. “Gotta go, sorry. The house alarm has just been triggered, and I need to go find out what’s going on. Babe, do you wanna stay, and I’ll come get you when I’ve taken care of this?”

“No, I’ll come with you,” Sloane immediately says, standing.

“You need some help?” Flynn asks, a concerned look on his face.

“Nah, it’s cool, thanks,” I say with a smile. “It’s probably just Mochi, trying out his new dog door with too much enthusiasm,” I suggest, hoping that’s all it really is.

“Oh, he’ll be going crazy with the alarm going off,” Sloane says.

I grab her hand, smiling as I press a kiss to the back of it. “They’ve turned the alarm off. Don’t worry.”

She nods in response, and I can see the concern still on her face. We say our goodbyes to Flynn and Alana before walking back to the car, making the short trip home in silence.

When I pull into the driveway, the house looks completely normal, the silent blue flashing light at the side the only indication that something is wrong.

“What should we do?” Sloane asks from the passenger seat.

“Babe, wait here,” I say, squeezing her hand. “I’ll check it out and see what’s going on. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

Sloane licks her bottom lip before pulling it between her teeth. I squeeze her hand once more before getting out of the car and walking up to the front door. I try it first, only to discover it’s still locked, so I unlock it carefully and then push it open.

“Fuck,” I breathe out when I get a look inside.

Behind me, I hear Sloane open her car door, the slam of it shutting before she walks up to join me, her hand gripping the back of my T-shirt. “Oh my god,” she whispers when she sees the state of the living room.

It’s like a fucking tornado has ripped through it. All the couch cushions are on the floor, a side table overturned, Sloane’s and my books and study notes from the dining table are strewn everywhere.

“Owen,” she whispers, her grip on my shirt tightening, just as Mochi comes running through the house to us, barking his head off.

Sloane lets go of me, crouching to catch him in her arms as she hugs him to her chest. Turning, I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling the two of them close as I drop a kiss to the top of her head. I can see Mochi is trembling, his entire body shaking as he licks at Sloane’s neck.

“I better call the police,” I say, pulling my phone from my pocket.

Sloane looks up at me, her eyes filled with tears as she says, “Do you think...do you think she did this?”

I drop another kiss on her forehead, my eyes closing briefly as I silently hope that it wasn’t her mom. She doesn’t know where we live, I’m sure of it, and we’ve heard nothing from her this past week since Sloane cut her out of her life.

“I’m sure it was just a random break-in,” I tell her, giving her a small smile. “Don’t worry, babe, we’ll get it taken care of,” I add before making the call.

I can’t even begin to describe the feeling of looking into the house I share with Owen and seeing it destroyed. This was the first place I ever called home, and now that security, that sanctuary has been stolen from me. This was an intentional violation, full of hate and wanting only one thing.

Money.

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