BROKEN HOPE (Broken Redemption Book 2)

Chapter 18

Lucas

Closing the front door, I listen for the telltale beep of the security system as it activates.

"Come on. I'll let you out." I tell Nero as I walk back to the kitchen to let him outside one last time.

It's well after midnight and the guys just left. While there wasn't much in the way of evidence, Owen was able to get a partial image of the drone on one of the cameras. We're hoping it's enough to ID the type that was used, which would help narrow down who might be behind tonight's incident.

Opening the back door, Nero waits for me to give the all-clear before running past me and down to the grassy area beyond the deck.

"Is everything alright?"

Surprised she's still awake, I turn to find her standing by the kitchen island. The subtle tension in her features and the weariness in her tired eyes reveal the toll tonight's events have taken on her. Even so, she's by far the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. With her dark brown wavy hair pulled up in a messy bun, and the barely there tank top that does nothing to hide the creamy swells underneath, it's taking everything in my power to keep my eyes focused on her face.

"Yep, just letting him out. Give me a second."

I turn my attention back to Nero, who's sniffing around the yard like he's on a self-appointed recognizance mission. I can relate to his unease. The fact someone breached the perimeter of the house without tripping any alarms is concerning. And though none of us expected something like this, it still feels like we failed. It's our job to plan and anticipate all the things that could go wrong, and I feel personally responsible for allowing it to happen. With my combat experience, I should have known better, for there is no greater threat than the one that descends unseen from the air, catching you off guard.

I don't even want to imagine what could have happened had Nero not been here to alert me. Always vigilant. Protective. Most of all, intuitive. Twice now that dog has come through for Embree, forever cementing his place in my life. I owe that dog everything and now, more than ever, I vow to give him the life he's worthy of.

"Nero, here," I call him back. When he runs inside, I shut the door and wait for the beep confirming the back door is secure. Nero sits at my feet, panting with excitement, his tongue hanging out with a telltale look that's like a grin. The excitement of the day is still coursing through him, and the glint in his eyes speaks of his eagerness to get back to work.

"We're done for tonight. Good job today." I squat down and stroke his head, taking a moment to give him a good scratch.

"He's amazing." I look at her and nod in agreement. "He's so good with the girls, too."

"Yeah, he can't get enough of them." Standing, I go to her. Wrapping her in my arms, I bring her close and bury my face in her hair. Breathing her in, I close my eyes. The feel of her body against mine loosens some of the lingering anxiety that's like a vise around my chest. We were so damn lucky that whoever piloted that thing was on an intelligence-gathering mission. God knows if they wanted to hurt us, they could have.

"Thank you for keeping us safe. I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't been here." At the crack in her voice, I squeeze her a little tighter.

"Shhh. That's unnecessary. And anyway, your gratitude is wasted on me since it was Nero who noticed what was happening." Sneaking a glance at him, emotion chokes up the back of my throat.

I'll never forget the day I got the call that confirmed my application to adopt him had been accepted. I was at my lowest, fighting my way through depression, desperately clinging to the hope that one day life wouldn't feel so overwhelmingly impossible.