“Creed is a nickname.”
“Are you a Predator, too?”
“Yes.”
“But you don’t own a motorcycle.” Zoey tried to remember if she had seen him riding one and came up blank.
“I keep it at the club. It pays to be inconspicuous.” Kent gave her a crooked smile.
“It does for you, that’s for damn sure.” Sarcasm poured off Stump in waves.
“I thought you knew each other. You two disliked each other too much not to be acquainted. You didn’t see anyone near my house?”
“No. I would have seen anyone coming from the front. I’ve been keeping an eye out since Stump told me someone has been trying to hurt you.” Kent inclined his head toward the windows that were in the far side of his living room.
“Stump is going to take you outside. They want you to give a statement and do a walk-through of your house to see if anything has been stolen or moved.”
The two men shared stony glances before Stump looked down at her.
“He left you a note and tore up a fur pillow in your closet.”
Zoey frowned in confusion. “I didn’t have a fur pillow.”
As realization dawned, she tore herself from Stump’s arms and took off at a dead run.
“Zoey, slow down! You’re going to hurt your knee!”
She flung the door open, running across her lawn, not caring that Ice, Max, several other bikers, and some police officers had stopped talking at her frantic run to her house.
Shoving a uniformed officer aside, she ran inside, jerking away from a hand that tried to stop her. Involuntary whimpers fell from her lips when she came to a stop at her closet door, and the destruction she saw there.
Falling to her knees, Zoey helplessly cried at the mess on the floor. Stuffing was strewn everywhere. There was nothing left that could be sewed back together.
“Zoey…?” Stump squatted next to her. “What was it?”
“My rabbit… It was the only thing I had from my mother. She gave it to me on my first birthday.” Giving a sobbing breath, she sank down onto the carpet, pushing the scattered remains into a pile.
A hysterical laugh tore from her throat. “He could have destroyed anything in my house and I wouldn’t have cared. I know I’m being silly—”
“I don’t think you’re being silly at all. But quit crying or you’re gonna make me cry, too.” Sitting down next to her, he placed her on his lap, and then rocked her as she cried into his chest. “Where did you keep it?”
“On my bed, under my pillow….” Terror had her lifting her head. “Stump, if you hadn’t stayed… I would have fallen asleep with him in my closet! He would have….” Images of what could have happened made her tremble in fear. “We have to find out who it is!”
“We will.”
His promise fell on deaf ears when she spotted the note. Reaching out, Stump drew her hand back before she could touch it.
“The police are sending for a team to come. They said not to disturb it.”
“What does it say?”
“We’ll talk about it later, once they leave it.”
“Stump, what does it say?”
“It wasn’t for you this time. He left the note for me.”
She had to bite back the hysteria that was quickly working to undermine the calm she was trying to regain with Stump’s support.
“Stay away from her or you’ll be next.”
“Have they all left?” She tiredly looked up at Stump as he came back into the living room. Ice and Max were there, drinking the coffee she made them as the police took fingerprints and tried to figure out how her house had been broken into.
“Yes, they think whoever it was climbed through your bathroom window.” Coming behind the kitchen counter, he placed an arm around her waist.
Leaning against him, she let his strength soak into her drained body. “I opened it to let the steam out when I showered this morning. I must have forgotten to lock it back before I left.”
“He won’t be getting in again so easily. First thing in the morning, Kaden’s security team is installing cameras and alarms,” Ice grimly stated, setting his coffee cup down on the counter.
Zoey took the cup, setting it in the sink. “Let me know how much it is, and I’ll pay him back.”
“I’ve already taken care of it. Pack an overnight bag; you’re coming home with me.”
Zoey shook her head at Ice. “I’m staying here. I’m not letting whoever this is trying to scare me win.”
“I’m going to stay here with her. This time, my gun won’t be in my saddlebag.” Stump went to the coffee pot to pour himself another cup.
“You’re not bringing a gun into my home,” Zoey protested.
“You didn’t mind when I brought one in to search the house.”
“That’s different. I was worried about your safety.”
“That’s why I’ll be packing one from now on. I have a license, and I’m just as worried about your safety.”