Still Jaded (Jaded #2)

"And," Corrigan pounded his hands on the car from excitement. "He's here! I called him before we left and texted him. He's going to have you do the passcodes and show you how to work it."

As if on cue, three motorcycles turned up my driveway. Hoodum took off his helmet and flashed us a smile. He'd lost weight since the last time I'd seen him, three years ago. He was nearly skin and bones with a black leather vest and ripped jeans on, but his eyes were the dark color they'd always been. Hoodum always had shifty eyes before, but they seemed more grounded now. He had a round face and shaggy black hair, but when he smiled, his face lit up. From what I remembered, he loved to smile when Corrigan was around. "A little birdie told me you're having some problems, Sheldon."

"You heard right." I stood back when he swung a leg over and stood from the cycle. Then he pulled me in for a tight hug. I blinked in surprise. I'd never known Hoodum to be sentimental, but then again who was I to judge? "Thanks…"

He set me back and shook his head. "Anyone who messes with you messes with me. I think people need to learn that lesson."

I glanced at Corrigan with a question in my eyes. He shrugged, but his giddiness couldn't be contained.

"Okay. Let me run through the system with you." He threw an arm around my shoulder, and we walked inside. I glanced around, but didn't have a moment to see the changes before Hoodum turned me towards the kitchen. He pressed on a corner in the wall and a section of it flipped open. Inside monitors for seven security cameras showed up. One was pointed right at us and I looked over my shoulder, but I didn't see a camera.

Hoodum said, "They're hidden. They're super small and programmed to follow movement. If someone walks in here, it'll follow wherever they go. If that person moves out of out sight, camera two will pick it up. Pretty neat, huh?"

"How's that supposed to protect her? I'm glad we'll have video of someone murdering her. Maybe the cops can identify the guy afterwards," Corrigan snapped.

Hoodum shot him a glare. "Chill, buddy. Don't you have more faith? I have a panic button installed in every room. Sheldon just needs to hit it, and my guys will be over here in a jiff."

"Your guys? What if someone knocks her unconscious? She can't hit the panic button then."

"As soon as anyone breaks a window or opens a door after Sheldon's programmed it on, an alarm will sound. Trust me. It'll wake your girl up. There'll be no chance for anyone to sneak up on her."

"And if it's someone she trusts? If someone gets in when she hasn't programmed your system?"

"No offense, but your girl's damn untrusting. That ain't going to be many people." He looked at me. "I wouldn't advise anymore parties."

I shook my head. "No more parties. I should've learned a long time ago."

"So basically you have videos installed and panic buttons?" Corrigan sounded irritated. "I thought you'd have more. You're someone that does this shit, you break into places. Would those things stop you?"

I choked back a laugh when Hoodum stiffened. He turned and glared at Corrigan. "Excuse yourself. This is what would get us: convenient alarms and videos that you can't hide from. What else do you want from me?"

"Pepper spray mounted in the walls," Corrigan bit out sarcastically.

"Like I said, my guys will be here at a moment's notice. Cops take three minutes. My guys would be seconds. We know the short cuts to get here. And whether you believe it or not, most of the guys like Sheldon and you."

"Yeah." I grinned. "They like how bitchy I am."

Corrigan laughed, but quieted right away. He grilled Hoodum, "Are you sure she'll be safe?"

"Yes. Why are you so ripped about this? Where's the other one?"

My grin left and Corrigan stiffened. Hoodum saw our reactions and shut his mouth. He turned to the monitors. "So, is this good enough?"

I swallowed the pain and focused. "What about my gate? Do you have an alarm set there?"

He nodded and made sure not to look at me. He only saw the monitors when he brought up one of the cameras. "I put shocks on the gate. If anyone tries to get through them, under them, or over—they'll be electrocuted. It's simple and to the point. Someone will have to scale it to get over it, but that won't happen now. Your wall is huge. You can't take it in a single bound or anything."

It was why I ordered it built in the first place. "Thanks, Hoodum."

He nodded and then patted my shoulder as if giving me encouragement. When he left, Corrigan followed. I went through the house as they talked and saw the changes everyone had done. It was like no one had trashed my place in the first place. It was eerie, especially when I saw some things were gone. Some bottles that I'd put in a showcase were gone. Either someone had stolen them or they'd been trashed. A ceramic vase that I'd gotten at a garage sale was gone. Other items, such as photographs, weren't on the wall. There'd been a painting that Bryce had bought me. The space seemed so empty where it had been hung before.