Blood for Blood

I look outside. It’s completely black. I glance at my clock with blurry eyes. It’s almost 2 in the morning. Who could be calling me this late?

My Phone vibrates and the ringtone gets louder this time.

I reach over to my nightstand and see Rory’s sweet face smiling back at me.

I wake up instantly. She wouldn’t be calling me if it isn’t important.

“Hey, baby. What’s up? I ask.

“Justin,” she whispers my name and it sends a chill down my spine. It’s not a happy chill either. This one is sheer panic.

“Honey, what’s wrong?”

“There’s someone in my house,” her voice comes out strangled and high.

“I’ll be right there, baby. Don’t move!” I demand into the phone and promptly hang up.

I jump out of my bed and grab my keys, grateful I slept in my sweats tonight. I don’t even bother with my shoes in my rush to my truck. I hit reverse, spinning out of my driveway. I throw it in drive and slam the gas and take off.

I make it to her house in less than 5 minutes.

I’ve never had such a tense drive in my life. It seems like the road was stretching out forever, farther and farther from Aurora the more I floored it, always keeping me out of reach. I felt like I was in a sick nightmare. Everything is pulling me backwards.

I finally reach her home and park my truck in her drive. I notice her parent’s cars aren’t out in the driveway like normal. Sometimes they did that, leaving her home on her own. She’s 18, after all.

I don’t bother knocking. I just slam the door open.

“Aurora!” I shout.

I hear a muffled cry coming from her room and I run to her.

I pull her into my arms. Her whole body shudders as I rock her back and forth. She sobs into my shoulder as I rub her back and make soothing noises.

How could this have happened to my sweet Aurora? And I still don't even know what it was that has her so upset... Not that it matters. I'll take care of it either way. But first I need to calm her down so she can tell me what the hell is going on!

Whatever happened upset her more than normal. It takes me 20 minutes to calm her down enough for her to talk to me.

“Baby, what happened?” I try again.

“Someone has been following me around all day. I’ve felt them. Like a dark shadow, ever since you dropped me off this afternoon…” she chokes. “Then I heard my window open!”

Anger and a strong protective urge fills me. Someone could have hurt her! She was alone, in her own home. And someone was following her! I don’t know what they had intended to do once they had her, but I’m positive it wasn’t anything good. And I wasn’t here to take care of her!

We should probably call her parents. They definitely need to know about this! The security of their home is at stake! But we will deal with that later. Right now she needs me.

“I heard someone walking around my house, and I could feel them lurking in the shadows of my room! I didn’t know what to do,” she shudders again.

I kiss the top of her head and lay my cheek against her hair. I make a vow to myself right there that nothing will happen to my Sunshine! I will keep her safe!

“I’m not leaving you tonight,” I state.

She looks at me with questions in her eyes. I’ve never stayed over at her house before.

I sit on the bed and pull her down with me as we lay back down. I pull the covers over us and snuggle into her. For some reason, it just feels right to just hold her. To comfort her. She snuggles up to me even tighter, like she is trying to make sure there is no space between us. She needs the physical contact to reassure her that she is alright. I pull her tight to my chest and I breathe her in. Her warm body comforts me. Things could have gone so much worse tonight. I could have showed up and she might have been kidnapped, bruised and bloody, or even dead. I try to push the last thought far from my mind. Because I refuse to let that happen. So, I hold her tightly and try to ease her anxiety.

She isn't the only anxious. I am too. I am furious that someone was scaring my precious Sunshine. I need to settle my nerves or I'll be wound up tighter than a spring. That won't help Aurora!

Eventually, her breathing stabilizes and slows. I can hear her soft snores and know she is asleep. But even in her sleep, I refuse to let her go.

At some point I must have drifted off, because I wake to find the morning sunshine hitting Aurora’s golden hair. Her eyes flutter open and she beams her beautiful smile at me. My heartbeat quickens and my breath catches. Desire sets my whole body on fire.

“Good morning, Sunshine,” I whisper in her ear and kiss her neck.

I could get used to this!