The doorbell jerked Sush out of her shock and a deep sense of protectiveness took over Greg, who instructed, “Get your gun loaded and ready. Don’t come out until I say otherwise.”

Head whirled to him, she protested, “What? N—”

“Don’t come out until I say otherwise,” Greg repeated, his deepened voice and partially onyx eyes cut her off sternly, though as gently as he could.

Greg strode away before she could argue, and was relieved to hear her releasing the safety off her weapon. The moment Greg disappeared from the kitchen, Sush hopped off her seat and moved swiftly to the wall partitioning the kitchen from the living room,...