Page 57 of Finding His Redemption

“No, Mariah and Tate are upstairs with Oliver.”

“Good. Stay inside. Lock everything. I’m on my way.”

“Jax, you don’t have to?—”

“Twenty minutes.” The line went dead.

True to his word, exactly nineteen minutes later, there was a soft knock at her door. She peered through the peephole to see Jax standing on her doorstep, looking grim and alert. Beside him, to her surprise, was X and Ghost.

She unlocked the door with trembling fingers. “That was fast.”

“X drove,” Jax said by way of explanation and stepped inside.

“Took ten years off my life,” Ghost muttered.

“Only ten?” X flashed a smile that was only half the wattage of his usual and scanned the kitchen. “Must be losing my touch.”

Nessie locked the door behind them, her fingers fumbling with the deadbolt. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called. It’s probably nothing.”

“I’m glad you called.” Jax’s eyes swept over her. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.” She looked between the three men, embarrassed now that they were here. “Just spooked.”

“It’s not nothing if it scared you,” Jax said firmly.

Ghost moved past them both without a word, heading straight for the windows. He checked each one methodically, examining the locks and peering out into the darkness.

“Where did you feel it?” he asked so quietly she had to strain to hear him. “The watching.”

“The front door of the bakery. When I was locking up.”

Ghost nodded once and disappeared into the dining room.

“Is he...?” She gestured vaguely.

“Creepy?” X finished for her. “Yes, but we love him anyway. He’s a good one to have in your corner in these situations.”

“He’s checking the perimeter,” Jax said. “If anyone was out there, Ghost will find evidence of them.”

Nessie wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly cold despite the warm night. “This is crazy, right? I’m being paranoid.”

Jax’s gaze was steady. “Trust your instincts. If you felt something was wrong, something probably was.”

Mariah appeared at the top of the stairs, her eyes widening at the sight of Jax and X. “Everything okay?”

“Fine,” Nessie said quickly. “Just a... a precaution.”

Mariah’s gaze flicked between them, her expression skeptical. “Uh-huh. You know I’m not buying that, right?”

No, of course she wasn’t.But she let it slide, which was one of the reasons Nessie adored the woman.

They both had their secrets.

“Okay, well, Oliver and Tate are asleep,” Mariah said. “Finally. After three stories and a lengthy discussion about whether T-Rexes would make good pets.”

Despite her anxiety, Nessie smiled. “Let me guess, he thinks they would?”

“To be decided. I swear Oliver would’ve made a Venn diagram on the subject if I’d let him. Tate was less enthusiastic. I think the shine of dinos is wearing off for him.” She again looked at Jax and X. “You’re really okay?”

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