Quadruple Duty

My arms slid around him. Eventually, his arms went around me.

“Relax. You’re safe.”

I was still crying. Sobbing, even. It was like all the emotions I’d been keeping in check came rushing out at once. I let it all go, crushing myself against his chest. Then I felt something slick and wet soaking into me…

“You’re bleeding!”

Briggs didn’t even react. He just stood there, clutching me to his hard body. “No I’m not.”

I backed away. Everything was red. It was on my arms, in my hair — all over. I looked to him and he shook his head.

“Not my blood.”

I sighed, thankful he was okay. But I was still half-frightened, half-grossed out. The house was still dark and—

“The police!”

I reached for my phone on the other side of the counter, but Briggs stepped in front of me. It happened so quickly it was like he hadn’t moved at all.

“No police,” he said, closing his hand over mine.

His touch jolted me, almost like he was charged with energy. It could’ve been the adrenaline, but I swore I could feel this invisible force. This strange power, pulsating between us.

“But what if he comes ba—”

“He won’t,” Briggs said definitively. “Trust me.”

A dark thought occurred to me suddenly. I hesitated.

“D—Did you kill him?”

“I sure hope not.”

I stared back at him, not sure what to think. His face registered nothing.

“He’ll live, unless he’s stupid enough not to go to a hospital,” Briggs said. “Besides, I didn’t want him dead. I sent him back with a message.”

It was an ominous statement, and one I didn’t want to explore. Not now. Not yet.

“You’re here!” I said, suddenly realizing where we were. “You’re home! B—But how is that possible? I thought you were deployed!”

“I’ve been back a few weeks.”

Weeks?

I blinked. I didn’t know whether to be shocked or offended. Angry or confused or—

“Then why didn’t you—”

“Because I was waiting for him,” Briggs said, nodding toward the broken window. The rain was still pouring in. It was getting everything wet. Pooling all over the floor…

“I had a feeling he’d come tonight,” he went on. “When the rain came and the weather turned, I knew he’d take a chance.” He finished toweling off and dropped his shirt to the floor. “He came, and I was ready for him.”

I had a thousand questions. They spun through my head like a whirlwind, making me dizzy.

Who was that guy? What did he want with me?

A sickening feeling crept through the pit of my stomach.