Precious Embrace (Embrace Series) by Dana Mason Page B

to mention this wasn’t how she wanted people to find out about her and Johnny. Then again, she never wanted people to find out about her and Johnny.
    “Is someone changing the locks?” Brian said looking from Shane to Johnny.
    Shane nodded. “Yeah, I already have the stuff to do it.”
    “Shane, will everything be secure with a new knob and lock? Any structural damage to the door?”
    “Nope, it’s sound.”
    “Ali, write down Carl’s address. I want to talk to him.” Brian handed her his notepad and a pen. “I also want you to call Seth and change your passwords and codes again and have him reset your system.”
    She nodded and jotted down Carl’s parents address then handed the notepad back to him. “You don’t really think Carl tried to break in?”
    “Does he have a reason, is there something here he wants?”
    “No, I had to deliver his stuff to him. He wouldn’t even make the trip to pick it up. He didn’t care at all.”
    “An old key…an old alarm code…seems like they were hoping you didn’t change anything after Carl left.”
    “We didn’t argue over any possessions. Why would he try to sneak-in in the middle of the night? He hasn’t even wanted to see Micah.”
    “Maybe he didn’t, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t give the code and key to someone else to do it for him.”
    “But why?” she asked again. “There is no longer anything here for him.”
    “I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I could be way off here, but it won’t hurt for me to have a conversation with him,” Brian said. “Keep the alarm set, Al, even when you’re home in the middle of the day.”
    Ali nodded. “Thanks.”
    “Call me for anything—even if it’s an insignificant noise.” He held her gaze. “Promise me, Al.”
    She held up her palm. “I will…promise.”
    “Bennett, walk me out,” Brian said motioning for Johnny to follow him.
    Ali waited until they were outside to sneak into the bathroom. Once she got a look at herself in the mirror she gasped. “Oh hell!” She rubbed at the small bite size bruises along her chin, jaw and neck. “No wonder they were looking at me funny,” she whispered, rolling her eyes. “Hell…I’m a marked woman.”

Chapter Nine

    When Johnny and Brian were outside, Brian stopped at his car and tugged on the handle, then turned. “What are you playing at, Bennett?”
    “I’m not playing at anything. What are you talking about?”
    “She’s got a lot going on and she doesn’t need any more heartache right now.”
    Johnny squared his shoulders. “Fuck you, I care about her.”
    “You better, because that lady in there is like a sister to me. If you fuck with her—you fuck with me—you got that?”
    “Yeah, I got it, but you’re mistakin’ my intentions here, Brian.”
    “Prove it. Don’t let anything happen to her before I figure out what the hell is going on with her bastard ex-husband.”
    “Ain’t nothing gonna happen to her. I promise you that.” And he meant it too. If he had to park his ass on her porch, he’d make sure nobody hurt her.
    Brian nodded and climbed into the car. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
    “Then you better keep me updated. I want to know what you find out from Carl.”
    “We’ll see, Bennett.” Brian pulled the door closed and drove away from the curb, leaving Johnny standing in the street.
    Johnny came back inside to find Shane working on the locks and Ali curled on the couch staring at the cold fireplace. He went to her and sat down. “Why don’t you go back to bed, I’ll stay up until he’s finished.”
    “No, this isn’t your responsibility. I’ll stay up until I know the house is secure.”
    Ouch. The dismissal stung. “Are you pissed at me?”
    Ali rubbed her face with her hands and shook her head. “No, I’m mad at myself. You shouldn’t be here,” she whispered. “These guys already consider me the slut of the neighborhood, now I’ve proved them right.”
    “That’s ridiculous.” He