“I’m proud of you, Nix. You’ve really done the work and grown and healed from all your shit. You give me hope.”
“You will grow and heal too, Drew. You can do this. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Wilbur starts barking as soon as I set down my keys on the entryway table.
“Damn, that dog is loud.”
He runs into the hallway, barks, and runs back to me.
I laugh. “He sees the birds out the window. They’re the only things he barks at.”
“Okay, well, you have fun with that. I’m gonna go. It’s time for dinner.”
“Talk to you tomorrow.”
Wilbur continues barking.
“All right, all right. Calm down, dude.” I bend over to rub his favorite spot behind his ears. “You can’t be friends with them. Birds and dogs don’t mix well.”
My phone buzzes with an alert from one of the Ring cameras.
Indoor motion detected.
I glance down at Wilbur again. The hair on his back stands on end, and his tail sticks out behind him in a rigid line.
Shit, did a bird fly in here?
“What do you see, Wilbur? What’s wrong?”
He barks again, directing his attention toward the hallway.
I shoot out a text to James and let him know I’ll be needing his assistance when he gets out of work if there’s a bird in the house.
“Come on, boy. Let’s go see what you’re barking about.”
I walk down the hall and glance around the kitchen. Then I spin around to head into the living room.
My feet falter.
My mouth goes dry.
Adrenaline spikes in my veins.
A pair of blue eyes are staring back at me in the middle of my living room.
It’s not a bird.
Wilbur stands in front of me, barking at the stranger.
“Shh.” I lean forward slowly, showing the intruder that I’m only moving to soothe my dog. “It’s okay, Wilbur.” I push him until he’s behind me. Protected.
“W-who are you?” I hold up my hands on either side of my head, staring down the barrel of the gun being pointed at me.
“I’m the guy who’s going to kill your boyfriend.”
My stomach roils.
Why would someone want to kill James?