Page 23 of The Soul that Redeems Me
My heart fluttered at the word family. Josh had not treated me any differently after he’d heard what I’d had to do. I’d been terrified he would hate me, but I think he loves me more for being honest with him. I hated to have to tell him about the attack but he needed to understand the whole story before I explained my actions.
After eating dinner and feeding Jake, I showered off the day and settled into the couch with a blanket and the new Vanessa Fewings book I had been excited to start. I must have been more tired than I thought because once Jake cuddled up next to me, I felt my eyelids getting heavy.
I was startled awake by the pounding at the front door. My grogginess caused me to be confused and I felt lost for a moment. The pounding got louder than the slurred voice came through the door.
“Open up, you stupid bitch! I know you’re in there. Let me in.”Bam. Bam. Bam.
The noise had Jake growling toward the door, his body positioned between me and it. I suddenly remembered the security app that Jason had installed on my phone. I pulled it up, all the while his foul words kept echoing through the door at me, causing my hands to shake.
Bam!“Open up, damn it.”Bam!”You owe me you little slut”Bam! “I’m here to collect!” he snarled through the door as the booming grew louder.
I viewed the camera positioned outside my door and the man standing there had a look of murder in his eyes. He kept kicking and hammering his huge, meaty fists against the door. Jake started barking as the sounds grew louder and louder. Not knowing what else to do, I ran into my bedroom and slid my clothes to the side, my fingers fumbled to put the code into the lock hidden in the crease of the wall.
I finally got the correct combination of numbers and the door swung open. I grabbed a still barking and growling Jake and pulled him into the small space, securing the door behind me. The room was soundproofed so the shouting and banging immediately stopped. I kept stroking Jake’s fur in an attempt to calm him, when in reality, he was pushing his head under my hand, trying to keep me calm.
I allowed my breathing to slow as I dialed Josh’s number and I prayed he would pick up. Sometimes when he worked late, he moved from office to office and forgot his phone on his desk. He answered on the second ring and a fresh round of tears started falling at the sound of his voice.
“Emily, is everything okay?” He asked me. His ability to know when I was freaking out was welcome at the moment.
“J-J-Josh, can you come home? There’s someone trying to get into the apartment and Jake and I locked ourselves into the panic room.”
“Are you okay? I’m leaving now but it will take me a bit to get to you. I’m at the North office finishing up.”
“I don’t know who it is but he started beating on the door and yelling the worst things. I looked at the security camera and I don’t know who he is. He looked crazy Josh and Jake wouldn’t stop barking. I felt this was the safest place in the apartment and we hid.” I admitted, feeling a little silly for locking myself behind what was basically a vault door, knowing that my training couldn’t protect us from a man his size, displaying the amount of anger he was.
“I need you to call Caroline and have her monitor the camera while I’m on the phone with you. I want you to talk to me until I get there. Can you do that, baby?”
“Yes, let me add her to our call. Hold on while I put you on speaker.” After hitting a few buttons, the sound of a ringing phone is heard through our connection.
“Emily! What’s shakin’ bacon?” Caroline cheerfully answered the phone.
“Caroline, it’s Josh. I need for you to pull up the security camera on the apartment and monitor it while I talk to Emily as I drive home. Someone is yelling and banging on the apartment door and she and Jake have secured themselves into the panic room. I need to know what I’m walking into when I get there, and I need for you to call the police also. Can you do that… and not allow Andrew to lose it?”
“I’m on it. I’ll call the police and let building security know as well. I’ve got the app up and it looks like he is still there only it looks like he is sleeping just outside the elevator. He’s not moving except his breathing so I think he may be passed out. I’ll keep an eye on things but you need to call us as soon as you get home… I can only keep Andrew from coming to her for so long, Josh. Hurry.”
The phone disconnected, and I let out the breath I was holding. “I wish I had thought to keep the app open but my only fear was him getting inside the apartment, so I high-tailed it to the panic room. I feel so stupid. I’m sorry for causing all this worry, Josh.”
“Stop! Some asshole was trying to get into the apartment and if Jake was barking, you had reason to be cautious. I’m not too far from you, sweetheart. I’ll be there soon. Just stay on the phone with me. You are safe, baby. I promise.”
We kept small conversation until I heard the keypad beep, him telling me he was unlocking it from his side to ensure I knew I was safe. When I saw his face, I launched myself into his arms and Jake jumped up, needing to be a part of the hug. Josh set me down and we made our way into the living room to speak with the police who were arresting the drunk man who was still asleep outside the elevator.
The police determined the man was an ex-boyfriend of a tenant on the fifth floor. He was extremely drunk and combative and he had made a mistake with the floors, resulting in him trying to break my door down. They arrested him for public drunkenness, trespassing on private property and hauled him away.
Just as they removed him, I heard the elevator ding and when it opened, Andrew, Lucas, and Jason all made their way toward us. I found myself running to Andrew and wrapping my arms around him as we walked back to the apartment and Jason went to talk to the detectives. We sat down on the couch as Josh pulled me into his side and Andrew kept a hold of my hand.
Lucas observed the whole situation and other than a quick hug, he had yet to say anything. The look on his face was one of anger and I was worried it was reflected at me. I felt the need to apologize again to everyone as the police left and Jason joined us in the living room.
“I’m sorry.” I blurted out at the group of men, my protectors.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Emily. You did exactly what you were supposed to do. You made sure you were somewhere safe and called for help. That’s what the system was designed for and I’m glad that you are okay.” Jason explained to me.
I swung my eyes to Andrew and he smiled at me, letting me know it was okay.
“I never want to be a burden to any of you but he was so loud and when Jake started barking, it scared me.”
“Do you want to come and stay with us for a few days?” Andrew asked me, causing Josh to tighten his hold on me.
“I’m safe here with Josh, Andrew. Jason’s right, the system did what it was supposed to do and the guy was a drunk who got off on the wrong floor. I promise, I’m okay but I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to give my fears too much power over me. Tonight was just a huge misunderstanding. Really. I’m safer here behind all these doors and locks than I will be alone in your house out in the suburbs.”
