Page 15 of Bit's Bliss
“Where specifically?”
“In my dad’s study. It’s on the first floor, across from the stairs.”
“Does the house have an alarm system?”
“Yes, but it isn’t on.” I felt like such an idiot. Why hadn’t I set it? I knew better.
“Can you arm it from where you’re at?”
“N-n-no,” I stammered.
“I’m going to put you on hold and call law enforcement. Don’t hang up, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Eberly? You still there?” he asked less than a minute later.
“Yes.”
“I’m on my way, and so is the sheriff. He said he has the emergency code to let himself in the gate. I’ll stay on the line with you, though.”
“Okay,” I repeated.
The landline rang twice more, but when I could hear sirens in the distance, it abruptly stopped.
“Hang tight. I’m on your road and can see the squad cars arriving now. Stay where you are. I’ll come to you.”
I could hear multiple vehicles pulling in and saw flashing red and blue lights. “The, um, door you came in earlier is unlocked.”
His voice was muffled as though he’d put his hand over the mic, but I could still hear him cursing as he entered.
“Eberly? Are you in here?” he asked from the hallway outside the study.
“Yes, by the desk, but be careful. There’s broken glass.”
In what felt like less than a heartbeat, he lifted me in his arms and carried me out of the room and straight to his truck.
“We’ve got this, Trev. Get Eberly out of here,” one of the deputies hollered when we rushed past him.
Without responding, he opened the driver’s door, set me on the bench seat, and climbed in after me. When I scooted to the passenger side, he pulled me back next to him.
“Thank you for coming. I didn’t know who else to call.” I put my head in my hands. “Although I guess I could’ve called the sheriff myself.”
“You did the right thing by calling me first,” he said as he turned the truck around and drove out the open gate. “Tomorrow—not tonight—we’re gonna talk about how much trouble you’re in. For now, you’re safe and you’re with me, and that’s what matters.”
My eyes opened wide. I was introuble?
“I’m sorry. I’m worried about my dad. Before he left, I heard him on the phone, shouting at whoeverhe was talking to. Then I found a letter from the bank threatening foreclosure.”
His eyes scrunched, but he didn’t appear surprised.
“Did you know?”
“I heard a rumor earlier today, and to put your mind at ease, you don’t have to worry about the auction bid. I took care of it.”
My cheeks flamed. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”
He drove through the Los Caballeros’ gate, pulled up in front of his cottage, and parked. “As I said, we’ll talk more tomorrow. For now, we both need some rest.”
