Page 29 of Guarded from Sabotage

I don’t know how I’ll pay my bills if I’m not working. But I’ll probably be kicked out of my apartment once the owner sees the damage done to it. Then I’ll be homeless and jobless and I’ll have to move in with my parents. I’ll end up being a financial burden on them. Their comfortable retirement will be ruined.

They don’t know how bad it is yet, and I don’t want to tell them. Earlier today, I texted my mom and told her my accounts had been hacked, but not to worry, I’d get it all worked out. That everything was fine.

Idefinitelydon’t want to tell them about the SWAT team breaking into my apartment and arresting me. I don’t even want to think about it.

Unfortunately, the events of a few hours ago are on a constant loop in my head.

The sounds of the police breaking the windows and knocking down the door.

The shouting. Harsh voices ordering me not to move, to put my hands behind me, reading my rights as I was arrested.

Sitting in the back of the police car, confused and terrified.

Shivering in the interrogation room, while stern-faced officers grilled me about things like bombs and my mental state and why I’d want to hurt innocent people.

It washorrible.

If not for Dante, I’d be a complete mess.

But with his arm around me, the warmth of his body chasing away the lingering chill from the station, his rumbly voice soothing my nerves as he talks, I can keep myself from falling apart.

I can lean against him as we walk through the Blade and Arrow headquarters and focus on the feel of his hand on my waist, instead of the cold metal handcuffs snapping around my wrists.

I can breathe in his comforting scent—pine and citrus and something else I can’t identify that’s uniquely him—and the pressure on my chest eases a little.

A little voice in my head reminds me sternly,he’s only taking care of you because it’s his job. He’s only touching you because he’s worried. Don’t read too much into it. And definitely don’t get used to it.

But I don’t care. Not now. I’ve dealt with enough harsh realities today.

I just want to absorb Dante’s presence for as long as I can and not examine the reasons behind it. Soon enough, I’ll be in the client apartment, forced to face the memories of today and the uncertainties of tomorrow alone.

“The building is extremely secure,” Dante says as he enters a long series of numbers into a keypad beside the front door ofthe Blade and Arrow building. He waits while a camera scans his eyes. When the lock disarms, he pushes the door open and gestures for me to go in ahead of him.

“I don’t want you worrying about anyone getting in,” he continues as we head inside. “They can’t. I promise. All the doors and windows have alarms, we have cameras all around the property, and you saw the fences. The one directly around the ranch is ram-proof and we’ll be alerted if anyone tries to breach it.”

He pauses, like he’s waiting for me to respond. But I can’t. Now that his arm isn’t around me, I’m cold again. My chest feels carved out and aching. The band around my chest tightens.

“Sarah?” He glances at me with a concerned gaze, his brows pulled into a worried V. “Are you okay?”

I give him a jerky nod. Through a narrowing throat, I say quietly, “I’m fine.”

Dante stares at me for a second, his eyes darkening to a midnight blue. Fine lines crease his forehead. Then he wraps his arm around me again, and everything inside me unclenches. In an achingly gentle tone, he says, “I’m sorry. Of course you’re not okay.”

But I feel better now. Sort of. My voice is firmer as I reply, “I’m okay. Really.”

He casts me a skeptical look, but doesn’t push it. “I just want you to know you’re safe here.” As we move through the large living room the team uses for when they want to hang out together, he adds, “You’re welcome to explore any part of the ranch. Use whatever you want. The gym, the sauna, the library… Or if you want to learn how to shoot, we have a range in the basement. Niall’s our sharpshooter, but I can teach you, if you want.”

I can’t imagine myself holding a gun, let alone firing it, but if Dante wants to teach me… “I don’t know. Maybe.”

“It’s okay if you don’t want to.” Dante gives me a little squeeze, hugging me to his side. “I just wanted to offer. Some people feel more comfortable knowing how to shoot. But it’s not for everyone.”

We continue through the living room and down the hallway that leads to the team members’ apartments. Since I’ve been here before, it’s not unfamiliar, but there’s a surreal quality this time.

This time, I’m not leaving. At least not for a while. Not until this disaster that’s taken over my life is resolved.

At least, I hope it can be resolved. Whoever’s behind this can’t bethatgood, can they?

Like he’s reading my mind, Dante says, “We’ll get to the bottom of this, Sarah. I promise.”

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