The afternoon sunlight felt weak and fleeting, struggling against the thick, oppressive clouds that had rolled in over the neighborhood. Piper stood in the center of her living room, her arms crossed tightly as Gabriel, Jasper, and Noah gathered around the table. The tension in the room was palpable, not just from the looming threat of Anton Reyes but from the web of emotions threading between them.
Jasper leaned against the edge of the couch, his arms crossed and his sharp gaze fixed on Gabriel. “Let me get this straight. You want us to act like one big happy family to deal with this?”
Gabriel didn’t so much as flinch. His tone was measured and steady as he replied, “I want us to act like a team. There’s a difference.”
Noah, who was sitting near the window with his phone in hand, chimed in. “He’s right, Jasper. If we don’t work together, we’re vulnerable. And that’s exactly what Anton wants.”
Jasper scoffed, shaking his head. “Fine. But let’s not pretend this guy knows everything.”
Piper raised her hands, her voice cutting through the tension. “Enough. This isn’t about egos or who knows what. It’s about Lily. It’s about keeping her safe and stopping Anton before he gets too close. Can we focus on that?”
The room fell silent, the weight of her words settling over them. Gabriel broke the quiet first, nodding. “We’ll start with the perimeter,” he said, pulling out a small device from his jacket pocket. “Motion sensors and cameras. I’ve already arranged for a tech team to deliver the equipment, but we’ll need to install it ourselves if we want this done fast.”
Jasper grunted but stepped closer to the table. “I know a contractor who can reinforce the back fence. I’ll call him. That’s the weakest point.”
“Good,” Gabriel said without missing a beat. “And the basement?”
“I’ll handle it,” Noah said, glancing up. “I’ve worked with structural reinforcements before. If we secure the windows and door, it’ll be airtight.”
“Great,” Gabriel said, though his tone lacked warmth. “Piper, you’ll need to—”
“She’s not going anywhere near this,” Jasper interrupted, his voice sharp. “She doesn’t need to be outside, exposed.”
Piper’s patience snapped. “I can take care of myself, Jasper.”
“Not against Anton’s men,” Jasper countered, his tone softer but firm. “They play dirty. You don’t.”
“I’m not sitting this out,” Piper shot back. “This is my home. My family. I’m helping.”
Gabriel held up a hand, cutting through the brewing argument. “Let’s compromise. Piper, you can help from here—coordinate, monitor the setup, make calls. But no unnecessary risks.”
She hated the concession but nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But if I see anything that needs fixing, I’m stepping in.”
Jasper didn’t argue, though his expression suggested he wasn’t thrilled. The group dispersed to their respective tasks, and the house was soon alive with the hum of activity.
Hours passed in a blur of motion. Noah worked meticulously on the basement, installing steel reinforcements on the small windows and adding a lock to the heavy door. Jasper spent most of his time outside, ensuring the back fence would be impossible to climb or cut through. Gabriel oversaw the installation of cameras, positioning them at strategic angles around the house.
Piper, meanwhile, monitored their progress from the living room, her phone buzzing constantly with updates and confirmations from the tech team. Despite their differences, she couldn’t deny that the group worked efficiently when focused.
At one point, she caught a glimpse of Jasper through the window, his jaw set in concentration as he hammered a new post into place along the fence. The sight stirred something in her, a memory of the days when his steady presence had been her anchor. She forced herself to look away, her chest tight.
Gabriel walked in moments later, dusting his hands off as he checked the monitor feeds Piper had set up on the table. “This angle covers the entire front yard,” he said, his tone professional. “But we’ll need a wider lens for the driveway. I’ll grab one from the kit.”
Piper nodded, grateful for the distraction. “Everything else is working?”
“So far,” Gabriel said, glancing at her. “You okay?”
She hesitated, then sighed. “Just trying to keep my head above water.”
Gabriel offered a small, reassuring smile. “You’re doing fine, Piper. Better than fine.”
His words, simple as they were, felt like a lifeline. Before she could respond, Jasper stepped inside, his boots tracking dirt across the floor. His eyes flicked to Gabriel and Piper, his jaw tightening at their proximity.
“We’re ready to test the motion sensors,” Jasper announced, his voice gruff. “Noah’s already outside.”
Gabriel nodded. “Let’s do it.”
The group moved to the porch, where Noah was waiting with a small tablet in hand to monitor the sensors. He glanced at Piper, his expression softening slightly. “You should stand back, just in case.”
Piper crossed her arms but complied, stepping to the side as the men began testing the system. Gabriel triggered the sensors with a quick wave of his hand, and the tablet in Noah’s grip lit up instantly.
“Looks good,” Noah said, nodding in approval. “We’ll need to recalibrate after dusk, but it’s solid for now.”
Jasper turned toward the street, his eyes narrowing. “Quiet today,” he muttered. “Too quiet.”
Piper followed his gaze, unease prickling at the back of her neck. The street was still, save for a few birds flitting between the trees. It should have been comforting, but instead, it felt wrong—like the calm before a storm.
The stillness shattered with a scream. It was high-pitched, desperate, and close.
Piper’s heart leapt into her throat as she turned toward the sound. A woman stumbled into view from the neighboring yard, clutching her arm. Blood stained the sleeve of her blouse, and her face was twisted in pain.
“That’s Mrs. Harper,” Piper said, her voice trembling. “What’s she—”
“Inside,” Gabriel barked, stepping in front of her. “Now.”
Piper didn’t move, her eyes fixed on her neighbor as two dark figures emerged from the side of Mrs. Harper’s house. They were clad in black, their faces obscured by masks. One of them held a crowbar, its metal glinting ominously in the sunlight.
Jasper swore under his breath. “We need to move.”
Noah grabbed Piper’s arm, tugging her back toward the house. “Go!” he said sharply. “Call the police!”
Piper stumbled inside, her hands shaking as she grabbed her phone. She glanced out the window, her stomach churning as the two assailants advanced on Mrs. Harper. Jasper and Gabriel moved in tandem, cutting across the yard toward the chaos.
The call connected, but Piper’s voice felt distant as she gave the dispatcher her address and a rushed explanation of the situation. Her eyes remained glued to the scene outside, fear and adrenaline coursing through her.
Gabriel reached the nearest assailant first, his movements swift and precise as he disarmed the man with a single strike. Jasper tackled the second one, the two of them grappling in the grass as Mrs. Harper stumbled toward the safety of her porch.
The police sirens wailed in the distance, but all Piper could think about was the blood on Mrs. Harper’s blouse—and the chilling realization that the danger was no longer just a distant threat.
It was here.
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