“Ye—yes,” she stuttered. Rainey rushed to the back door and locked it, running through to the front door to arm her security system. “I’m locked in,” she assured.
“I’ll be there before you know it, honey,” Slater promised.
“Hurry,” she sobbed. Rainey ended the call and peeked out the window to the car again, noting that it was still empty. She walked back into the family room and sat down next to Ella. The toddler protested when Rainey pulled her onto her lap, but she didn’t care. She needed to keep her close, even if her daughter wanted her independence to watch her show.
Rainey wasn’t sure if she held her breath the whole time she was waiting for Slater, but it felt that way. And as soon as he walked through her front door and tossed his keys on the entryway table, as he always did, she finally exhaled. Rainey let him pull her and Ella up from the sofa and into his arms.
“You did good,” he assured.
“Who is he?” She asked. “Why is he watching us?” she whispered into his ear.
“I don’t know, but I plan on finding out. I’ve brought a security team over and I think that it might be time to move you and the kids to the penthouse.”
“We can’t move over to my sister’s. She’s about to have a baby and I’m sure that the very last thing she wants is a houseful of unwanted overnight guests,” Rainey said.
“I’m thinking it might be for more than just a night,” he said. He took Ella from her, and the toddler squirmed to get down.
“I watch show,” she insisted. He chuckled and put her down, watching her as she ran back to the sofa to get settled back down to watch her cartoon.
“She seems to be unfazed by all of this,” he said.
“All she knows is that I pulled her in from her swing set,” Rainey said.
Slater smiled. “Yeah—that age is easily distracted though,” he said. “Listen, Rain,” he said. “I know that this sucks, but I can’t leave you and the kids here unprotected. Moving you into Knox and Beck’s place is the only option. Then, I’ll be able to keep an eye on all of you.”
“I can’t uproot my kids, Slater,” she said. “We’ve already been through all of this when Becks was having trouble with Knox’s old assistant. I won’t pull them from the only house that they’ve ever known. If I do that, then whoever is in that dark sedan will win and I won’t let that happen.”
“Fine,” he said. “Then, I’m moving in here with the five of you. I’ll sleep on the sofa if I have to, but I won’t let you and the kids stay here alone, Rainey,” he said. She looked back into the family room where Ella was watching her show still and then back at Slater. He was giving her a compromise and honestly, she knew that she was going to take it. The idea of having to explain to her kids that he was a part of her life now, wasn’t one that she was looking forward to. Her younger two probably wouldn’t have a lot of questions, but her older two would and she wasn’t looking forward to that conversation.
“All right,” she agreed. Slater pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.
“Thank you for that, honey,” he said. “My team is out looking around for the guy now. You’re sure it was just one guy again?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “I was playing with Ella outside and that was when I saw him sitting in his car. It’s the first time I ever saw him in the car. It’s usually empty.”
“Can you give me a description?” Slater asked.
“Not really,” she said. “He was wearing a dark hoodie again and he had it up, hiding part of his face. I didn’t get a good look at him. Heck, for all I know, it could be a woman.”
“I don’t think that it is a woman,” Slater said. “From the look I got from the guy, the other night, he was built like a man—you know, broad shoulders and everything. I’m going out for an update, and I want you to stay with Ella.”
“Okay,” she agreed. “Please be careful.” Rainey knew that he was military trained and all that, but she still worried about Slater putting himself in harm's way for her and the kids again. She hated that her life kept coming to that—her needing his protection.
“Always,” he promised, giving her a quick kiss. He turned and walked back out the front door and she quickly locked up behind him. Rainey stood by the door, watching for any sign of his return and when Slater reappeared on her porch, he didn’t look very happy.
She pulled the door open and let him in. “You didn’t get him, did you?” she asked.
“No,” he said. “No sign of anyone—not a trace. We searched the car and even dusted for prints, but so far, nothing. Whoever it was wiped the car clean and knows what he’s doing. I think you might have a professional stalker on your hands, honey,” he said. “You have anyone who’d want to hurt you or the kids?”
“No,” she said. “No one.”
“What about Jack?” he asked. “Did he have any enemies?”
“I have no idea,” she breathed. “He’s been gone for almost three years now, who’d want to come after us when so much time has passed?” she questioned.
“I’m not sure, but we’ll catch whoever is doing this to you, Rain. This guy’s good, but I’m better. I’ll figure this out, honey, promise,” he said.
“I believe you, Slater,” she assured. “Thank you for coming over and for agreeing to stay here with me and the kids.”