The Next Day (Foothills Book 2) by Carrie Thorne (christmas read aloud TXT) 📕

he caught his waver and lengthened his arm, then took a testing squeeze at the trigger.

Dashing down the steps, Craig hollered and ran for his son. Susan stood and held her hands over her face. Zane held up his hand to still his dad and whispered something Freya couldn’t hear. Craig froze.

Zane stood stone still, his arms relaxed at his sides. If it weren’t for the tension in his jaw, Freya would have thought he wasn’t even fazed.

Sienna’s ancient sedan flew down the driveway, the chassis rocking, gravel flying as she came to an abrupt stop. “Toby, let her go,” she cried as she slammed out of the car. Her left eye was sealed shut from swelling, shiny with dark purple. She held an arm braced around her ribs, wincing with each movement as she hobbled closer.

Toby glanced to Sienna.

Freya sprinted full out into the carport and dove to the ground next to Zane’s truck. From her post, she pulled out her phone and called 911.

Taking advantage of the interruption, Zane was on the move as she was.

Closing the distance in a flash, Zane didn’t hesitate.

Toby turned back and realized his aim had shifted.

Movements swift and calculated, Zane knocked Toby’s wrist with one hand, ejecting the gun with his other.

Disarmed, Toby swung with a brick-like fist.

Dodging the blow by no more than a whisper, Zane twisted his arm around Toby’s and tugged him closer while his other hand balled into a fist. Throwing a solid punch, he cracked Toby’s nose, the crunch audible from Freya’s hiding spot.

Recoiling as he held his broken nose, Toby threw rapid, wild punches at Zane.

Juking, Zane dodged another hit and nailed him with an uppercut in the beer belly. Solid steel underneath, Toby doubled over but didn’t fall.

Toby shook it off and barreled into Zane’s middle.

Holding steady like the rock he was, Zane didn’t even falter. Driving his elbow into the guy’s back, Toby squealed and dropped to the ground.

Struggling to stand, Toby called out, “Sienna, get your ass home.”

Rising to his hands and knees, his limbs shuddered beneath him. He looked up at Zane and sneered. Blood-stained saliva dripped down his chin and landing in the dust, sharp gravel digging into his palms and knees. Struggling to get to his feet, his limbs shook beneath him. “Sienna. Get in the truck. Let’s go,” he muttered.

She shook her head, not daring to come closer. “Not today.”

Zane stood with his hands on his hips. “Cops are on the way. I suggest you stay on the ground.”

“Fuck you,” he muttered and grabbed the open truck door to pull himself to his feet.

Grabbing Toby’s arm and twisting it behind his back, Zane asked again, “Not kidding.” Wrenching his shoulder nearly out of its socket, Zane growled, “I said down.”

Squealing as his shoulder bent beyond what should be possible, just shy of shattering, Toby dropped to his knees.

Shaking his head, Zane sighed. “I didn’t sleep with your wife you fucking moron. I was trying to offer to kick your ass before you killed her with your stupidity.”

Not giving an inch, Zane pinned him to the ground, his foot unmoving from Toby’s shoulder. Plastered to the ground, Toby grumbled.

Freya rose from behind the truck and took in the scene.

Sienna cried out, repeating, “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.” She flipped her head back and forth, her gaze landing on Toby, her feet locked in place across the drive.

Craig and Susan stood shellshocked, unsure whether to run out or stay put.

Freya rubbed some life back into her arm after tucking her phone back into her pocket and came out from behind Zane’s truck. “Cops should be here…” she heard the sirens in the distance, exhaling a heavy sigh of relief. “Any second.”

Toby writhed, but whimpered and quit when he realized he was only making it worse. Zane wasn't giving him an inch.

Shaking her head, she crossed to Zane. Still unmoving, Zane granted Freya a sly grin.

Leaving him to stand guard over his prisoner, she turned to check on Sienna. Craig and Susan were now at the foot of the stairs together, arm in arm and watching their son’s every movement, both a little red-eyed.

Freya stopped a few feet from Sienna. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. What about you?” Sienna winced as she took a deep breath and motioned to Freya’s arm, the hand-shaped bruise already starting to shine.

“I’m okay.” She wanted to wrap her arms around the overly calm woman and tell her it was okay to stomp and scream and maybe even kick her lousy husband.

“Do you have someplace you can go?”

She nodded. “Yeah. I have a few friends that have been offering.”

“Good. If you need anything, don’t be a stranger.”

Despite the bruised eye that was rapidly spreading to her entire cheek, Sienna smiled and nodded.

A cluster of police cars filed in. The officers took in the scene as they stepped out of their cars.

Zane nodded from his post, “All clear.”

Chief Larson came straight to Sienna. “Are you okay?” he asked while the other officers ran toward Zane and Toby.

She nodded. “I’m fine.”

More lights flashed down the driveway. Jonah rested his hands on his hips, “I’m glad. I’ll let the paramedics check you out. Then, would you mind chatting with me about what happened?”

“Yes. I know I should have listened sooner, I just…”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s over now. Right?”

She nodded, “I’m done.”

He gave Sienna a polite nod, then to Freya, “I’d heard you were back in town. This is your grandpa’s old place, right?”

“Yeah, I’m staying in the apartment over the garage.” Why did she say that? She was living in the house, for the moment.

He nodded to Zane, “Friend of yours?”

She smiled, “Yes. Zane is a SEAL buddy of