"Why would you need heat, when obviously I have the guns?" He flexes, grinning like a fool.
"Seriously?" I cock my brow. "Put those away before you get hurt."
"Whatever. You're jealous."
"We could get Maisyn and her taser gun, she could go full contact." I shrug, chuckling with him.
"That'll do it." He nods. "Wonder if she's busy?"
I back hand him in the gut. "Watch it, asshole."
"You know, I came over here to help out, not to be abused." He rubs his stomach, grumbling.
The lights in house begin to dim or go off throughout. The doors open on the balcony to the master, Harper's silhouette comes into view. My breath hitches when her hand goes to her face.
She's crying.
Last I spoke to Landon, Harper hadn't showed any emotion. It's as though she's simply going through the motions. I can't say I'm surprised, but concern moved front and center.
I rub the back of my neck, rolling it as I do. "I asked Landon to go about his daily schedule. We can't risk tipping this guy off at all."
"Glad you brought that up... One wants to help; you know they have resources and Lea is amazing with this type of trauma. They can bring some insight to it all." Chord shoves his hands in his pockets.
"What, exactly, is One offering? I mean I understand he wants help, y'all are family but I want to be here at night. It's important for me to keep her safe."
He lays his hand on my shoulder. "Well then, it's a good thing I'm here to protect you both."
"Aren't you supposed to be my friend?"
He slaps my back, hard. "Haven't you ever heard of tough love? I'm just applying some pressure."
"So, what are you thinking for additional security?" I gaze at Harper wandering back into the house. She closes the doors, but her light never goes out. My chest aches at the symbolism of that light, it calls to me, like a beacon in the night to where my love lays her head as she fights the night so full of fright.
Chord meanders to the end of the fence, searching through the moon-lit night for any sign of trouble. "I take it, you're wanting to have the night shift."
"Yeah, since I work days." The clenching of my heart causes me to catch my breath. "Now that she's here, I can't allow him to get to her ever again. I hate not being able to go to her, to tell her everything and to fix it all. I need to make things right for her."
"I hear ya, man. This is a good first step, but you can't be here 24/7 and One knows people that can."
I turn to him. "I'm feeling like y'all have already put some of this into motion."
"She's family, Ridge." He lifts his shoulders, letting them fall easily. "We love and miss her to. We would never want him to get his hands on her again."
"I know, Chord. I wouldn't trust anyone else to take care of her but y'all. She needs her family more than ever right now, even more than she needs me to ease my conscience." I blow out all the stress I've held in since she came home.
Chord treks back over to where I'm standing. "We're thinking he'll watch their homes night and day, so she'll need more protection during the day. Just in case someone slips up, and he's able to pinpoint her whereabouts."
I figured he watches them like a hawk hoping to get a glimpse of her. Honestly, that's why I offered this place up. It's close, so they know she's okay, but if he gets her scent, he'll hunt her down.
"Here, she's out of sight and he hasn't a clue who owns it. I figure she's safest at night, there's a ton of security. The day, he can see people coming and going. He'll follow them. Hell, he might even dog y'all." My face heats as my blood boils with the image of him stalking the hell out of the people I love.
"They'll keep it low key and not draw attention. They're great at what they do, she'll be safe with them around." Chord's shoulders fall as he relaxes after selling me on the extra help.
I shake my head. "Ya know, you didn't have to come all this way to convince me, we need more help."
"But baby, I couldn't gaze into your eyes under the stars, if I hadn't come all the way over here." He waggles his brows. "You gonna let me get to first base?"
"You worry me." I side eye him when he steps closer to me. "You need to tighten up."
"Come on, baby. Just one little kiss." He puckers his lips, moseying toward me.
I rear back, holding my arm out. "Chord, Imma kick your ass."
"You need to get in touch with your feminine side." He reaches for me, making smooching sounds.
I shuffle back, tripping and falling on my ass. "Mother fucker, I'm gonna beat you."
"Now you're talkin'!" He holds his hand out for me, sniggering.
I slap at it. "Get that away from me, I don't know where that's been."
"You wanna find out?"
"You ain't right," I shake my head, taking his hand to get upright. "but I like it."
He nods. "Damn straight you do."
"How'd you do it? How in the hell did you survive everything you and Sarah have been through?" My stomach knots, screaming at me to not get my hopes up. To forget about my hopes and dreams, they're nothing like theirs.
"Time." He kicks at the dirt. "As much as it sucks to hear, I hate saying it. The truth is... it's maddening. You can't help but to think about the time wasted over the years and then you find yourself wasting time trying to get back everything you lost. There's no perfect answer, rhyme, and reason exited stage left, taking all of your good senses with them.
"It's hell on Earth, that's the best description. You live within a time continuum with no hope of getting through with your sanity intact. The hardest thing for me was to know we held on to one another for so long, but in the end, nothing could help us." Even now, in the shade of night, the pain etched on his face is heart wrenching.
I clutch at my shirt, struggling for air because I can not only see how gutted he is, but it hits me deep and I understand it. "Fuck, that's deep as hell."
"Only because you get it, you know it cuts deep." He runs his hand through his hair, looking older than he is, but death does that to a person. I do have that I can be thankful for, she's still here and the love I have for her is one sided. Jaded, but alive.
I drop my head, letting it all sink in. "Don't get me wrong, I know there's a time and place for everything. I can't think of anyone that needs more time than Harper. She has to heal and then learn to love herself."
"But?"
"Again, only you would know there was a but..." I smirk. "I don't have any plans of letting her go this time and although I'm in love with her, I realize I might have to let her go again."
"Wow. That’s the deepest cut of all, but damn if it isn't filled with love." He sighs heavily, saying all the things I need to hear but already know.
I lift my head, I let it lull, staring at the stars in the sky and wishing on all of them. "Why is it darkest before dawn? I've never understood it and for the longest time, considered it a figure of speech."