Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 73(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 73(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
“No. I didn’t want any stairs for Jeremy to trip or fall when he started walking. There’s a garage out back with some ATVs and landscaping equipment, but the front and back doors are the only ways to get in and out of here.”
“And the windows,” I tell him, thinking like someone who could break into this home. “Are there motion sensors?”
“There’s lighting around the fence that’s attached to motion sensors. The alarm keeps the house secure, but we don’t like motion sensors on the actual property to disrupt wildlife.”
Aiden continues to show me around the home. There are a few things I’d change, but for the most part, it’s secure. The tour ends abruptly when Aiden’s phone rings. Sounds of panic come from the phone’s speaker.
“Someone’s following us. I’m already in my garage. Aiden! What are we supposed to do?” Mrs. Archer shouts.
Aiden glances at me and points toward the front door. We’re going to get them.
6
AIDEN
My pulse intensifies, and my chest tightens with fear and rage. Lana’s right on my heels as we race out of the house. She grabs a tactical duffel bag out of her car before hopping into the passenger seat of mine.
My parents don’t live too far from me, but my father’s out of town on business. He can’t do anything to help. I don’t think the police can get to their property in time to do anything, either. I’m trying my best to keep my composure, but this is insane. I need to get to the bottom of what’s going on.
When my phone rings, I answer it immediately as we drive full speed to my parents’ home.
“Where are you?” I ask with a side glance at Lana, who’s changing out of her skirt.
My mother’s voice comes in just above a whisper. “We’re in the pantry inside the garage.”
“How’s Jeremy doing?”
“Jer-Bear is doing fine. He’s looking for snacks to keep our minds off what’s happening until the police get here.”
“How long ago did you call them?” I ask her.
“I called them right before I called you. They told me to hide if I couldn’t get back into my car. There aren’t any officers available to check on us right now because, technically, following me isn’t enough evidence of a crime being committed. Oh, Aiden, I don’t know what else to do.”
The panic in her voice sends shots of adrenaline through my body. I speed up.
“Sit tight, Mom. Barricade that door shut, and I’ll be there with help in a few minutes.”
We arrive at the house to see a van on the street, a few yards in front of the driveway. The road is empty, and farmland on both sides of the house keeps neighbors at least ten minutes away in both directions.
“Keep driving,” Lana commands as she adjusts her clothes. She’s in black cargo pants, a shirt, and a tactical belt looping around her waist like a tool belt. She puts on a shoulder holster and loads a gun into each side. The way she moves is mechanical, without an ounce of fear coming from her. She’s perfect.
As soon as she’s done, she peers over at me. “Let me out here. I’m going to get a look at what we’re dealing with. Keep this car out of sight. Do you have any weapons?”
“I have a gun safe in the trunk. There’s some other equipment in there that might come in handy.”
Lana nods. “Arm yourself. I’m going to flatten those tires so whoever’s here doesn’t have the chance to get away. We’re going to get to the bottom of this.”
“Yes. We are,” I agree as she slips out of the car and scurries back toward the sloped driveway of my parents’ home.
While Lana stabs the tires of the van blocking the garage, I grab two Glocks out of my gun safe and some zip ties. A gun safe doesn’t seem like the smartest purchase in a small city like Avonia. However, owning as many acres as my family does, keeping wildlife at bay is the main reason for my mini arsenal.
The guns in my car were never brought to deter crime or to stop anyone from trying to kidnap my son.
Armed and ready for whatever’s waiting for us, I catch up to Lana.
“Let’s circle the house,” she whispers. “How many ways can you get inside the garage?”
“There’s only one door that leads inside the house. We can get in through a side door along that path leading to the backyard.”
Lana scans our surroundings as we crouch down to sneak around the perimeter of the house. There’s a pane of glass missing in the back door that leads into the kitchen. I twist the knob gently to let us inside. I can hear whispers.
Lana holds up two fingers, signaling that there are two people in the house so far. It’s a one-floor ranch-style home like mine. I can see the reflection of one intruder through a mirror hanging in the living room. The open floor plan between the two rooms doesn’t give these guys much room to hide.