Page 75 of Misery In Me

“Where are you? Do you have Zoe?” I hear muffled words, then the sound of running.

“I’m in the gear room and I have my gun out. I have Zoe on my back in the carrier.” In the background, I hear Gage yelling at people and then the sound of the truck’s seat belt alert.

“I’m on my way. Close and lock the door. Get behind my desk and stay calm.” I hear a voice other than Gage’s.

“Did she see who it was?”

“Baby, did you recognize them?” Gage asks, and I hear the truck pick up speed and curse as he drives. “Almost there, pretty girl.”

“No, they are wearing a black hoodie and it was pulled up.” The sound of someone ramming against the door makes me yelp. “It sounds like they are trying to break the door down.”

“Fuck, get the fuck out of my way before I run you over, you fucking BMW.” Gage speeds up and I can hear the other voice on the phone talking to someone.

“Gunny’s house is being broken into as we speak, with his pregnant wife and kid at home, sir.”

“Almost there, baby. You doing okay? Talk to me,Hermosa.” I hear the door bang a few more times, and then it stops.

“They… they stopped.” I try to compose myself and catch my breath. “Maybe they’re gone.”

“Stay in that room and don’t open the door until I tell you to.” I stay at the desk and I hold my gun in one hand, phone in the other, listening to him breathe. “Turning onto our street. Morales called the police, so we’ll see how long it takes for them to get here.”

Morales is with him. I should have guessed.

I hear the truck stop, the doors fly open, and the camera alert vibrates my phone. “I’m coming, baby. I’m almost to you.”

The garage opens and I hear the laundry room door open and the sound of thudding boots on the stairs. Then the knock on the door. “Hermosa, open up.”

I’m frozen.

“Ale, it’s me, baby. You’re safe now.” I hear his key slide into the doorknob, and I tense up. I know it’s him, not whoever was trying to break in, but my brain won’t let my body move. The lock turns over and there he is, the only person in the world that I want right now.

I held it together until the moment he looked into my eyes.

The floodgates have opened.

My body shakes violently with the sobs, and my shoulders drop. The phone hits his desk and before I can lose the grip onmy gun, Gage is there, taking it out of my hands. He engages the safety and checks it before setting it on the desk. “Can I touch you, pretty girl? I know you’re scared right now, and I understand if you don’t want to be?—”

I throw myself into his arms and bury my face in his chest and cry. “I—I—” No coherent words form and I just cry. I hate myself for feeling weak and crying right now. I’m a grown woman and it’s not like I’ve never experienced anything bad happening to me like this. When I first moved to San Diego, I was robbed at gunpoint right outside my apartment.

The difference this time is I have a daughter and a life growing inside of me. Two other people that depend on me to protect them.

And I clammed up and called for my husband.

How am I supposed to do this without him? I won’t be able to call him when he’s in Afghanistan.Do I even bother to call the police?They weren’t a big help the last time I called them for help.

“Ale,” Gage shakes me slightly and I look up at him. “Morales said the police are here. Come on, baby. Let’s go talk to them.”

We head into the hallway, and I can hear the voices of three men near the front door.

“Gage,” Morales shouts.

“We’re coming down. Just give us a sec.” Turning to me, he holds out his hand. “Everything is going to be okay, Ale. I’m right here.”

I nod, taking his hand, and we head down the stairs together. The front door is open and on the ground are shards of broken wood.They were so close to getting in.That thought makes me draw in a breath. Gage takes in my reaction and follows my eyes to the floor.

“They didn’t get in,Hermosa.You were brave and got you and our baby girl upstairs.”

I look over at the police at the door and I can tell by the way they are looking at me that either they are annoyed or have something against me. It’s a vibe and I can just feel it.

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