Alexis (The Love Family Series Book 6) Read Free Page A

important.
    “You need to pack a bag. You can’t stay here.” He turned and jiggled the lock on her door, as if checking to see how sturdy it might be.
    “I’m not going anywhere, Cole. Tell me what happened.”
    His eyes darkened as he moved to the window and peered outside. He took a deep, calming breath and grabbed her hand, pulling her to sit on the couch. “I’m late because we had a call.”
    “Who?” she asked, afraid to know the answer. “Where?”
    “The other side of the lake, and it wasn’t the first call we’ve had. The others are still under investigation, but the proximity…” His voice trailed off.
    “Cole, you aren’t making sense, and how exactly did you know where I live?”
    He let out a breath and rose to pace the floor. “You should sit down for this. I don’t think you’re going to like my answers.”
    Alexis rose and folded her arms over her chest.
    “I’m your neighbor on the lake, but when I bought the house, I didn’t know you. I didn’t know anything about you at first or...”
    “At first?” she asked. Her throat felt like it was closing.
    “Did anyone tell you about my past?”
    “You lost your wife. Or at least that’s the story I got from Olivia and Sky.”
    “That’s true. What they didn’t know was how I lost her.”
    Alexis moved to the other side of the kitchen island, “How did she die?”
    He held her gaze “Victoria died in a fire. Everything pointed to it being an accident, until the coroner found the stab wound. She was attacked and killed and then someone set our house on fire.”
    “Oh God,” Alexis said on a breath, her heart breaking. She couldn’t imagine losing someone she loved, and to know they’d been murdered. Her heart clenched and she rubbed at the spot. “I’m so sorry.”
    “I moved here for a fresh start and left it all behind me, or so I thought…”
    Ice slithered down her spine, and goosebumps rose on her flesh.
    “Everyone thought it was a random break-in and the killer tried to cover his tracks with a fire. When I moved here, I threw myself into work and firefighting. I lived to battle the blazes, hoping that I could save anyone else from the same fate Victoria had.”
    “I’m sure you do. Cole…I don’t understand.”
    “Your brothers knew I was your neighbor. Jackson helped me install my security system. He asked me to keep an eye on you. They noticed the pattern that no one else had.”
    “What pattern?”
    “The increase in fires. Properties just like yours and mine were going up in flames. They were just concerned about you being out here alone. That’s the only reason they asked me to watch you.”
    Bile rose in her throat. “I was a favor.”
    “Yes…no. I did watch you, and you seemed to be fine. I wasn’t like stalking you or anything like that. Just watching out for a neighbor, in the event you needed me. I was the closest that could help.”
    She gave a small nod of her head, not knowing what else to do or say. Her mind and body went numb as she mulled over his words. Her brothers had asked him to watch her. Why? And why the hell didn’t they tell her. She pressed her lips together as confusion turned into a slowly boiling anger. The fire in her fireplace licked up. The sound and intensity drew Cole’s gaze.
    Alexis inhaled a calming breath, about to demand that he leave.
    “My wife was apparently targeted, and now you have been too.”
    “What!” she asked and shook any feelings out of her head to process his words. “What the hell are you talking about?”
    “Our tryst in the hot springs.” He walked over to the kitchen island. She instinctively clutched the butcher knife lying on the counter. Just the thought of being a target, angered her. His eyes zoomed in on the action, and he made no sudden movements. It seemed he had a brain after all.
    “I’m just going to put this down,” he said, lifting the envelope in the air. He eased it down on the table and moved back into the living room,