Gina
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Lilo’s low growl rumbled through the apartment again, the hair along her little back standing on end. I had owned her long enough to know the difference between her excited bark and the sound she made when something truly unsettled her.
This wasn’t excitement.
This was warning.
Three more knocks echoed through the apartment.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Slow.
Patient.
Whoever stood outside wasn’t trying to break in.
They were waiting.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe.
“Who’s there?” I called, trying to sound far braver than I felt.
Silence.
Not a single answer.
The only sounds were Lilo’s growl and the pounding of my own heartbeat in my ears.
I slowly reached for the lamp sitting on the end table. It wasn’t much of a weapon, but i
