Chapter 10 - Midnight Intruder
A week had passed since the hearing.
The stifling August heat had broken, giving way to a cool, breezy Friday evening. Inside Evan’s house, peace had finally settled into the walls. The constant presence of the private security guards had been reduced to just one night-watchman parked at the end of the street, giving them the illusion of normalcy.
In the kitchen, Evan was attempting to cook dinner. It was a chaotic process involving flour on the countertops and a slightly burnt smell coming from the oven, but the sound of Ellie’s giggles filling the room made it the best meal he had ever prepared.
"Daddy, you're making a mess," Ellie announced from her perch on the kitchen island, swinging her small legs.
Evan wiped his forehead, accidentally leaving a streak of flour across his brow. "I'll have you know, Bug, that the best chefs in the world are messy. It's a sign of creative genius."
Leah sat at the dining table, nursing a glass of iced tea, her right arm still securely strapped to her chest. The dark circles under her eyes had finally faded, replaced by a radiant, relaxed glow.
"I think it's a sign that we're ordering pizza," Leah teased, a bright smile lighting up her face.
Evan walked over to the table, leaning down until he was eye-level with her. He reached out, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You wound me, Walker. I was making you my famous chicken parmesan."
"You bought frozen chicken tenders and a jar of marinara sauce," Leah pointed out, though she leaned into his touch, her breath hitching slightly at his proximity.
"It's the thought that counts," Evan murmured, his gaze dropping to her lips.
Over the past week, their relationship had shifted rapidly. The shared trauma had burned away the awkwardness of getting to know each other. They were living together, co-parenting their daughter, and every passing day felt like the most natural thing in the world.
"Pizza does sound good, though," Evan whispered, closing the distance and pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her lips.
"Ew! Kissing!" Ellie shrieked from the kitchen island, covering her eyes with dramatic flair.
Evan laughed, pulling back but keeping his hand on Leah's neck. "Alright, pizza it is. I'll go call it in. Keep an eye on the little monster."
Evan walked into his home office down the hall to find his phone. The house was quiet, the only sound being the distant hum of the air conditioner.
He picked up his phone from the desk, unlocking it. He had a missed call from Marcus.
Frowning, Evan hit redial. Marcus picked up on the first ring, and he didn't sound like his usual cocky self. He sounded breathless. Panicked.
"Evan. Where are you?" Marcus demanded, the background noise on his end sounding like a chaotic police precinct.
"At home. In my office," Evan said, his heart rate instantly spiking. "Marcus, what's wrong?"
"It's Sabrina," Marcus said, the words hitting Evan like a physical blow. "She made bail an hour ago. The judge signed off on a massive cash bond posted by some shell company her father set up. But she never showed up to her house for house arrest. She cut her ankle monitor."
Evan froze. The blood roared in his ears. "Where is she?"
"Nobody knows. The police are scrambling, but Evan, she's gone off the deep end. Her father said she emptied a safe containing a registered firearm before she vanished. Evan, she might be heading—"
A sudden, deafening crash shattered the peace of the house.
It came from the kitchen. The sound of breaking glass.
Then, a scream. Leah’s scream.
"Leah!" Evan dropped the phone.
He sprinted out of the office, his heavy footsteps pounding on the hardwood floor. He rounded the corner into the kitchen, his heart stopping in his chest.
The sliding glass patio door in the back of the kitchen had been shattered. Glass covered the floor like ice.
Standing in the center of the kitchen, her clothes disheveled and her eyes wide with a manic, terrifying madness, was Sabrina.
In her trembling hand, she held a black, compact 9mm handgun.
Leah had thrown herself over Ellie, pushing the little girl behind the kitchen island, using her own body as a shield despite her broken shoulder.
"Sabrina," Evan said, throwing his hands up in a placating gesture, his voice steady despite the sheer terror gripping his soul. "Put the gun down. You don't want to do this."
"You ruined my life!" Sabrina screamed, pointing the gun directly at Evan's chest. Her hand was shaking violently. "You humiliated me! You took everything from me! If I can't have my life back, none of you get to have one either!"
She shifted her aim, pointing the barrel of the gun squarely at Leah and the crying child huddled beneath her.
"Say goodbye, Evan," Sabrina whispered, her finger tightening on the trigger.
May you like
Evan didn't think. He didn't hesitate.
With a primal roar, Evan lunged forward across the glass-covered floor, throwing his body directly into the line of fire just as the gunshot tore through the silent night.
