Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 264(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 264(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Me, I was teaching history at the community college. Ancient Greece was my specialty, though I also taught European history, too, to boost our income. God knew we’d need every dime to do this project.
Leo’s hazel eyes flickered with conflict.
I took his other hand. “Leo, I believe in you. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“I have a new job with a great salary. Giving it all up to go into construction and remodeling is a huge risk.”
“Which is why you’ve done your homework and planned everything out.” Leo was taking the exam for his contractor’s license next month. With his background in architecture and his deep love of historical buildings, he’d have clients coming out of the woodwork.
“Okay.” He nodded with quick jerking motions. “You’re right. You’re always right.” He pecked my lips. “I’m going to take another look at the attic and basement.”
“Good thinking.” I snapped my fingers. “Let’s submit photos of all the crap that needs fixing with our insanely low offer.”
Leo gave me a stern look. “You’re absolutely sure you want this house?”
“I’m sure about you, Leo.” And whether or not we bought this place wasn’t going to change that. I was thirty-one and knew what I wanted in life. Leo was it for me. The safe harbor, the planner, and the thinker I needed to keep me balanced. We also enjoyed the same coffee, music, and books: dark, lively, and deep in the weeds, filled with facts. We even had the same pet peeves when it came to organization. Never dishes in the sink. Spices alphabetized. Laundry folded the minute it was dry. Neither of us could relax if there were messes around the house, which would make this project all the more challenging. But I believed in us and in Leo.
Leo left the kitchen, and I wandered out to the patio, where piles of rotting weeds, plastic bottles, and tainted syringes littered the space. We were going to need a biohazard team to make this yard safe.
“It’s going to be worth it,” I sighed to myself. In six months, we’d see our dream rise from the ashes of neglect, and everything would be perfect.
Unexpectedly, the sky went dark and filled with black clouds.
I buttoned the front of my gray cardigan. “That’s weird.” I’d never seen a storm roll in so fast.
A sudden movement caught my attention. I turned my head and spotted a shirtless man with strong arms standing in the tall weeds across the yard. He lifted his hand, revealing a shiny Minoan labrys. It was the same kind of double-headed ax I’d seen in history books, with the elaborate, geometrical patterns.
What the…? Before I could register what was happening, he charged.
I screamed, turning to go back inside. I made it three steps before he had the back of my sweater. How had he reached me so fast?
“Help!” I yelled out to Leo.
The man jerked me to the ground, onto my back, and I felt my head crack as I hit the brick patio. My vision flickered with stars, and when it returned, the man was hovering over me, his cold gray eyes narrowed.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Spittle flew from his mouth as he snarled his words. “If you run from me again, I will kill you.” He sandwiched my face in his hand and smashed his mouth against mine. His other hand slid beneath my sweater, savagely cupping my breast.
I had no fucking clue what was happening, but I wasn’t about to let some crazy asshole assault me.
I raised my knee, hitting him in the gut, though I’d been aiming for his groin.
He fell back, quickly getting to his feet. “You fucking cunt, I’m going to hurt you for that.” He began removing his leather belt.
I scrambled to my feet. “Help! Help!” I ran inside to the kitchen, colliding with Leo.
“What’s going on?” Leo grabbed my shoulders to steady me.
“There’s a man. He has an ax!” I looked over my shoulder, but there was no one there.
Leo rushed to the back door and slammed it shut, locking it.
That wasn’t going to help. It was a French door with glass panels.
Maurice came into the kitchen, panting. He was a thin man with gray hair, probably about my dad’s age. “What happened?”
“There’s a man.” I pointed to the back door, trying to catch my breath. “He attacked me.”
Maurice’s face contorted. “I was upstairs looking out the window.”
“Did you see where the guy went?” Leo asked.
“All I saw was you, Piper,” Maurice said. “You were running toward the house and fell, but there was no one else.”
I rubbed the fresh, tender spot on my skull and glanced toward the French door, noticing the sun was out again. I don’t understand.
“Let’s get you to the ER,” Leo said.
“No. I’m fine,” I lied. Of course I wasn’t fine. I felt disoriented and embarrassed. I’d made a big stink for nothing.