Free Riverbend by Tess Thompson Page B

said Ellie-Rose, pointing at the swing hanging from the large oak in the front yard. Alder put her down and she ran towards it with him behind her. He set her on top of the flat swing. “Hold on tight,” he said, pushing her in a two-foot arc back and forth.
    Drake looked over at Annie. He reached inside his car and pulled a small pistol out of the glove box before stuffing it in the pocket of his pants. “Don't worry,” he said to Annie. “I took shooting lessons for months. I'm perfectly safe.”
    Tommy and Lee both stared at him as he headed towards the house. At the front door, he stopped. “Is it locked?” he called to Annie.
    “Oh, yes, right,” she said, feeling Lee and Tommy's gaze boringa hole through her backside. She sprinted to the porch where she took the key from her purse and opened the door. “I don't think there's any way to get in,” she said to Drake. “The house is fairly secure.”
    “Don't be ridiculous,” said Drake. “We're never safe. Especially not in a house without a security system. You need a locked gate and a system installed in this house. Even then, it's not safe.” He looked at her, his eyes empty of expression. “You stay here. I'll go in and make sure it's clear. Keep your friends and the kids out here, too.”
    He reached for his gun, cocked it and went inside. He almost seemed like a cop the way he handled the gun, she thought. Or some kind of crazy vigilante.
    The screen door slammed. She turned to see Tommy and Lee standing on the steps.
    “What the hell's going on?” asked Lee, her face both scared and angry. “Why does he have a gun?”
    “Sit,” said Annie, pointing to the steps. “I'll tell you everything.” She hesitated when tears threatened to stifle her voice but as succinctly as possible she told them of the phone calls from Marco and Drake Webber's offer.
    “But why would he do this?” asked Lee. “He hardly knows you.”
    “I don't know. But it's safer there with him than anywhere. You should see this house and security system. It's like something a movie star would have. There's no way to get in there.” Annie paused, wanting to bite her nails but keeping herself from it. “You don't know what Marco is capable of. He almost killed me more than once.”
    Tommy was shaking his head, his eyes soft and sympathetic. “I had no idea. Why haven't you ever told us this before?”
    “I thought it was all behind me. I never wanted to think about him ever again.” Her eyes filled. “I've tried so hard to keep all this from Alder. And now here he is again. I'm frightened out of my mind, you guys.”
    Lee put her arm around her. “I'm so sorry. God, I know exactly how you feel, unfortunately.”
    Just then Drake came out the front door. “All clear.”
    They stood. Annie gestured for Alder to bring Ellie-Rose inside with them. “I don't want them outside alone from now on.”
    “But what can be done to catch this guy?” asked Lee.
    Ellie-Rose, running, stumbled in the grass, falling on her hands. She began to cry. Tommy, sprinting, reached her and pulled her up into his arms. “You're okay. Are you my tough girl?” He ran his hands down her arms and legs in the way parents do to ensure nothing was broken. He called over to Lee. “She's fine. Not even a scratch.”
    Lee smiled, rolling her eyes at Annie. “Of course she is. She falls like fifty times a day. Papa bear is still so protective.”
    Drake put his hand on the doorway, as if he might fall over. He was breathing heavily and his face was white. His lips looked almost purple.
    “Drake, what's wrong?” asked Annie, putting her hand on his arm.
    He gasped, like it was hard to breathe. “I'm having an attack.” He put his forehead on the doorframe now. Sweat pooled on his forehead. “In my car.” His chest rose and fell, as if he couldn't get enough air in, like a child with asthma. “My pills.” Another ragged breath, and then, “In the glove box.”
    Annie ran to his car and yanked