“Hey, Tom.” I get up and head around the couch. I look up at Cobi when it seems he’s blocking me from the door, and explain quietly, “Tom’s my landlord.” Jerking up his chin, he lets me by and I shake my head.

“Got the note you left in my mailbox,” Tom says shortly when I reach the door. “The answer is yes, just as long as you clean up any and all shit and pay the three hundred dollar deposit.”

“Thank you,” I say softly, and he grunts in response.

He turns and walks away without another word, I watch him go wondering exactly what he did for the Mob, then I smile.

“What was that about?” Cobi asks, seeing the smile on my face.

“I’m getting a dog, or maybe a cat. Either way, I’m getting an animal.” I look up at him while he closes the door.

“You want a dog?”

“Well I’ve never owned a dog before, but I have a fenced in backyard. I owned a cat once; I miss her.” His face softens. “I haven’t decided what kind of animal I want. I just know I want another soul in the house so it’s not so quiet when I’m home alone.”

“Are you afraid of dogs?” he asks as we both go back to the couch and sit down.

“No.”

“Big dogs?” he pushes.

“No, or not that I know of.” My brows pull together. “Why?”

“My bullmastiff Maxim has been staying with my parents, since I’ve been working so much. He’s housebroken and protective. You’d love him. You could keep him here with you while you decide if you want a dog or another cat.”

“You have a dog?” I don’t know why I’m stunned by this piece of information.

“Yeah, had him for six years now. Got him as a pup when I was still in the military.”

“He’s staying with your parents?”

“I haven’t been home much the last few days,” he says, not saying out loud that he hasn’t been home much because he’s been basically taking care of me since I was released from the hospital. “As good as Maxim is being on his own, I don’t like him to be alone, not for long periods of time. He does better when he’s around people who don’t mind giving him attention.”

“He can stay with me,” I say immediately, and he grins. “The small yard in the back of the house is fenced in, so he has a place to roam, and I can come home during the day to let him out if I need to.”

“He’s housebroken; he can hold it.” His eyes smile. “I will warn you—he sleeps in my bed when he’s with me, and from what my mom and dad have said, he sleeps with them too. He’s not a small dog. He hogs the covers and he snores.”

“I don’t mind. I sleep with light and a sound machine, so his snoring will be like a new form of white noise.”

“All right, I’ll get him from my parents tomorrow and bring him over so you two can meet. If things work out, he can stay with you for the time being. I’ll also give your landlord the deposit, since you’ll actually be helping me out.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I deny with a shake of my head. “I would end up paying the deposit anyway, and plus, having him around will give me an idea of if I’m cut out to be a dog owner.”

“Now that Maxim is an adult, he’s easy. When he was a pup it was a different story. He was into everything and had no idea of his size or the damage he could do. I can’t even tell you the number of times I came home when he was a puppy to find that he somehow escaped from his kennel and mauled the garbage, dragging it all over the house.”

“Maybe I’m not cut out for owning a dog,” I murmur, and he grins.

“He doesn’t do that kind of thing anymore, but still, if you do decide to get a puppy, that kind of thing is unavoidable until they are older and trained.”

“Good to know,” I say, and he tugs me over then kisses me softly with a smile on his lips. Just as the kiss is starting to get heated, the doorbell rings, announcing our food has arrived.

We eat watching TV in comfortable silence, and when we’ve both finished, we clean up then head for my room without a word of where he’s sleeping. Like we have been doing it for years, we work in sync, each of us using the bathroom to change and brush our teeth before getting into bed.

“Thanks for dinner,” I tell him as he pulls me into his side.

“Anytime.”

“Also, thanks for being here for me these last few days.” He doesn’t say a word to that, but his arm around my shoulders tightens, forcing me closer to his chest, then he places a kiss to the top of my head. “Night, Cobi.”

“Sweet dreams, baby.” My eyes close, and before I know it, I fall asleep, having nothing but sweet dreams.

Chapter 8

Cobi

MY EYES OPEN AND I turn to look at the clock on the side of the bed. It’s not even three in the morning, way too early for me to be awake. Not sure what woke me, I tip my head down to look at Hadley. She’s sleeping soundly with her head on my chest, one thigh cocked and resting over the top of mine, and her arm across my stomach. I start to close my eyes then hear a noise that seems out of place. I lie still and wait to see if I hear the sound again.

When wood creeks and what sounds like soft footsteps registers, I carefully dislodge Hadley and get out of bed. I feel for my gun on the nightstand and close my eyes when I remember leaving it locked in my truck in the gun safe under my seat. I didn’t want to scare Hadley by bringing it into the house; I didn’t want the visual of my weapon to bring up memories for her.

I make it to the bedroom door and open it slowly. The living room and kitchen are dark, the only light coming from the clock on the microwave. I scan the room then pause when I see a dark shadow shift slightly. Adrenalin starts to pump through my veins as I wait, holding my breath. When the shadow doesn’t move again, I open the door and move toward the light switch just off the kitchen. As soon as I flip the light on, a dark figure wearing a hoodie rushes past me toward the front door. I give chase, but before I can catch up, the person opens the door and disappears outside.

When I get to the door, I stop. No way in hell am I leaving Hadley unprotected. I watch them run down the block, keeping to the shadows. I close and lock the door then go to the bedroom and grab my cell. I call dispatch and inform them of the break-in. During the call, Hadley wakes up and stares at me with wide eyes as I relay into the phone that someone was in the house and that they got away before I could apprehend them.

“Get dressed, baby,” I tell her once I hang up and turn on the light. “Officers are on their way.”

“Someone was in the house?” she asks, pulling the blankets up over her lap and looking toward the living room with fear in her eyes.

I get closer to her and place my hand against her cheek, dragging her attention to me. “They’re gone. You’re safe.”

“Someone was in the house?” she repeats, staring into my eyes. “Did you see who it was?”

“No.” My jaw clenches.

Her eyes close and she drops her head forward. “He wouldn’t,” she whispers, catching me off guard, and I frown.

“What?”

“Was anything taken?” She looks up at me.

“I haven’t had a chance to look around. If they did take something, it was small enough for them to carry without me noticing.”

She nods then tosses back the blankets and gets up off the bed. I start to open my mouth to ask what she’s doing, but stop when I see she’s on a mission. I follow behind her then freeze as she picks up her purse and dumps the contents out on the top of the island. “My wallet.” She looks at me. “My wallet is gone.”

“Anything else?” I look around and she does the same, leaving the island and walking around the room. Nothing seems out of place, but I haven’t been here enough to know exactly where everything is.

“I don’t think anything else is gone.” She shakes her head. “I… I think I know who did this.”

“Who?” I growl, and she bites her bottom lip while wrapping her arms around her waist.

“My dad.”