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The sound of Demitri's heart beating against his chest calmed me as we were intertwined in each other. While I stared at the clear water before us, his soft snores indicated that he was fast asleep. Weird how he can just fall asleep anywhere like that.

Shaking my head in amusement, the sudden sound of ringing caused me to jump to my feet and look around in confusion. Once I realized the noise was Demitri's phone, I dug into his jeans that were on the ground and pulled his cell out.

Raising my brow, I answered the call hesitantly. "Hello?"
Demitri stirred at my voice, but continued to sleep.

"Riah, can you get home?" Nora's voice was a bit shaky, fully waking me up as I widened my eyes.

"What's wrong? Is everything okay?" I began panicking as my mind went through every possible situation.

Grabbing onto Demitri's shoulder, I pushed him a few times until he fluttered his eyes open and smiled up at me. When he realized I was on his phone, he sat up and gave me a curious look.

"Yeah, but something happened and I really think you guys need to come check it out." Nora answered with a cautious tone.

Sighing, I told her we'll be on our way and hung up. Demitri stood up beside me and followed my lead as we put our clothes back on.
I cringed at the feeling of sand scratching at my skin, but I ignored it as I quickly climbed the ladder onto the patio and made my way up the stairs.

"What's going on?" Demitri's voice was tired and strained as we got into his truck.

I shook my head and buckled into the seat, "I'm not sure, but Nora sounded worried."
Nodding, he turned the ignition over and sped out of the gate towards my house.

My stomach fluttered around as we got closer and closer, I'm worried as hell at what might have happened. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to Alyssa. I made a promise to my aunt that I would protect her with my life, I can't let her down again.

I didn't even let Demitri stop completely before I was out of the vehicle and running through the front yard and into the house.

Nora and Alec were in their pajamas in the living room, sitting at the couch talking. Nora's head turned to me with a worried look spread across her face as I reached them.

"What happened?" My voice was more hoarse than I had realized. I was glad to see that Alyssa wasn't awake.

"Someone tried breaking in, but that's not the problem. Obviously we can hold it down, especially against a human. But when we checked the security cameras to see who it was..." Her voice trailed off as she glanced to Alec. "I think we should just show you."

I chewed on my bottom lip as I sat beside them. Once I got comfortable, Demitri waltzed through the door and slammed it behind him. The look on his face was concerned with a bit of anger, the usual mixture of emotions he shows when someone he loves is in potential danger.

While he sat down on the arm of the couch beside me, Nora opened the laptop that was on the coffee table and clicked play on the video across the screen.

It was the security footage from the front door, and a hooded figure was trying to pick the lock. A shiver ran through my body as a feeling of familiarity spread throughout my chest. As if in slow motion, the person turned and looked up at the camera.
My eyes widened once I realized who I was seeing.

"How?" My voice came out in a whisper. I clenched my jaw as I watched my step father, Scott, in the video walk away and get back into the dark car parked across the street.

Demitri's body stiffened as he felt the anxiety radiate off of me, onto him.

Nora cleared her throat, "I didn't know what to think when I saw him, so I knew I had to show you. Why do you think he is here?"

I shook my head, "More importantly, how does he know where I live?"

I know I shouldn't be scared or even worried that he showed up, but it all seems so suspicious. Why now, after all this time, show up at my house and try to break in? What the hell could he want with me?

Demitri set his hand on my shoulder, sending a wave of comfort through my skin. I just sat still, staring at the now paused video on the laptop, contemplating on what I should do. I'm probably overthinking this, but I can't help it. He never cared like this when I lived in America.

"I think we should get some sleep, love. We can figure this out tomorrow." Demitri rose to his feet and stretched his arms out over his head.

I nodded and glanced to Nora and Alec, "You guys good if we get some sleep?"

They both gave me a reassuring smile, "Yeah. Alec and I are going back to bed soon too, Alec has some training he has to do pretty early in the morning. The security alarm is set so we'll know if he comes back"

When I turned to leave the room, Nora cleared her throat. "Riah, we will figure this out. He can't do anything to you that you haven't already been through."

Nodding slowly, I said goodnight and climbed the staircase, made my way through the hallway and into my large room.
Taking a deep breath, I stripped out of my clothes.

"He can't do anything, Riah. She's safe."

I shrugged, knowing he means Alyssa. "I know. I just can't help but think there's something bigger to the situation that I'm not seeing."
Once I stepped in some pajama shorts and a large t shirt, I climbed into the bed and placed my head upon Demitri's naked chest.

As Demitri ran his hand through my hair, my eyes slowly got tired as everything went dark and sleep finally took over. But my step fathers face still stained my dreams.

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S/N: Apologies for short chapter :(