Page 14 of Saving Sophia

I shuddered again.

“Does anyone else live here?” Detective Valero looked through the hall at Callie’s open bedroom and the messy explosion of clothes and shopping bags inside.

“My roommate, Callie.”

“Callie Greene? From the club?” He jotted something on the paper when I nodded. His eyes settled on my necklace, reading its inscription. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

My hand reached up to clutch the locket. “N-no.” I glanced at Ethan. He was listening to my every word.

He doesn’t care if you have a boyfriend, don’t be a weirdo.

Detective Valero looked at me impassively. “Anyone who thinks he’s your boyfriend?”

I pulled my eyes from Ethan, guilty and embarrassed. He didn’t think I thought Ethan was my boyfriend, did he? “No … I … what … what do you mean?”

“Stalker types? Guys from the club? Anyone who might want to hurt you?” As he said it, my brain untangled his words, and my mistake became clear.

“I d-don’t think so?” My cheeks burned and I wondered if a blush could become permanent if used too much.

“Did they catch this guy, Hayden, or is he still out there?” Ethan’s question came out in a low growl.

“He hasn’t been apprehended yet,” Detective Valero said stiffly, giving his brother a careful glance and running a thumb along his beard.

I put a hand up to my mouth. The moon-faced man was still out there. He knew where I lived. And I couldn’t tell the cops anything about him.

“Do you have somewhere to stay?” Ethan asked.

I blinked. Where was I going to go? What could I do?

“Get the fuck out of my way! I live here.” Callie’s loud voice boomed out at the front door.

Detective Valero turned toward the commotion. “Ahh, sounds like Miss Greene has arrived. I’m going to go talk to her.”

Ethan gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. “You doing okay?” His voice was warm and soothing.

“I don’t know what to do.” It was the truth, and I was too overwhelmed to hide it.

“You can’t stay here. Not with that guy still on the loose.”

I looked at my closet door, still hanging open from when the moon-faced man found me. My nightstand lay half tipped over against my bed. I’d smacked into it when he pulled me out by my hair. My little glass unicorn, a gift from Mrs. Helmsley, the one teacher who encouraged me and inspired my love of reading, lay broken on the floor. Maybe that was how I’d cut my thigh.

“Are your parents close by?” He asked.

“No.” My parents were … not an option.

He frowned, then looked toward Callie’s room.

“What about your roommate? Do you guys have a friend’s place you could?—”

“Soap? Where are you?” Callie’s voice bellowed down the hallway, using the nickname she gave me years ago. “Jesus, Soap. You okay?”

She blasted into the room and swooped me into a glittery, perfumed hug. “I can’t believe this. I’ve been saying security in this place is shit forever. Did he hurt you?” She jerked back and held me at arm’s length, her emerald eyes scanning me. “He didn’t rape you, did he?”

“What? No.” My cheeks flamed hot while my eyes darted to Ethan before I could stop them.

Callie caught it and turned her attention to him. Her gaze was suspicious at first, till she registered his supportive stance and then how handsome he was. She turned on a sly grin. “Who is this? Are you the hero who busted down our door and rescued my best friend?”

“I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.” He stuck his hand out to shake hers. “Ethan Abbott. Nice to meet you.”

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