Page 8 of Guarded from Sabotage

“But Blade and Arrow?” Nervous energy makes me jump up from the couch again. “I’m just not sure… I mean, they help people who are in actual danger. Like you were. Like Elle when she was nearly abducted. Like Georgia with her stalkers. My situation is different.”

I make another loop of the living room, stopping to rearrange the pillows on my couch for the umpteenth time and debating whether I should try doing that little choppy-thing I see all the people do on HGTV.

“I know, you say it’s fine,” I continue, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. “But I just don’t want Dante showing up, feeling resentful that he has to be here just because his old friend asked him to. Or for the entire team to think I’m wasting their time.”

“Sarah. You are not wasting anyone’s time. Blade and Arrow helps people with problems they can’t solve on their own that the police won’t or can’t help with. Being in physical danger doesn’t need to be a part of it. Finn’s team has helped with custody cases, blackmail, deepfake videos… what you’re going through definitely qualifies.”

As I start another rotation around the room—who needs a treadmill when nervous energy does the trick—I reply, “I guess you’re right. I just…”

Great. Now my nose is prickling, and I can feel tears burning behind my eyes.

After I’m silent for a few seconds, Hanna asks, “You just what?”

“I just… think I’ve started getting used to no one believing me,” I admit quietly. The lump in my throat gets bigger. “I’m scared I’ll get my hopes up and then Dante will come and he won’t believe me, either.”

“Oh, Sarah.” There’s a long pause. Then my best friend of more than a decade says gently, “That’s not going to happen.They believe you already. I understand why you’re worried, but you don’t need to be.”

Those stupid tears threaten, and I blink hard to keep them from escaping. The last thing I want is for Dante to show up when my eyes are all swollen and bloodshot.

“Sar?” Now Hanna sounds worried. “Are you crying?”

“No,” I sniff. “Not yet, at least.”

“You know you’re welcome here,” she offers. “If you want to come to New York, get away from everything… Leo is out of town with Georgia for their babymoon for another week, but when he comes back, he can work his computer magic for you. Try to figure this out.”

While part of me wants to escape, to hide out in the Blade and Arrow headquarters in Sleepy Hollow, far from where all my troubles started, I know it’s not the right solution.

“I know. But my job is here. Not only do I need to work, but I don’t want to walk away from the kids. I’m helping them, and if I just leave…”

“I get it. But you know the invitation is always open. Okay?”

My lips curve into a tiny smile. “I know.” My chest squeezes. “Thanks. For listening, and trying to help, and just… everything.”

“Of course. You’re my best friend.” She sniffles. “Great. Now you’re makingmecry!”

“Sorry!” A small laugh bursts out, and some of the pressure on my chest eases. “But you started it.”

Thank goodness for best friends. Even halfway across the country, Hanna can still make me laugh.

Hanna giggles, and in the background I hear Finn asking in confusion, “Are you okay? You’re crying and laughing? What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine,” Hanna says to him. “Just best friend stuff.” Then to me, she asks, “When is Dante supposed to get there?”

As I glance at the time, I make a small sound of alarm. “In five minutes! Crap! How did I lose track of time? I’ve been up?—”

Nevermind. Hanna doesn’t need to know I’ve been up since four A.M., stressing over my meeting with Dante and researching identity theft for hours.

“It’s fine,” Hanna soothes. “Everything will be okay. And you’re meeting with Dante, who you already know from the wedding. He’s really nice. He’ll listen to you, help come up with a plan, and everything is going to be okay.”

While I’m not quite as confident as Hanna, the least I can do is pretend. So I reply brightly, “You’re right. It’s going to be fine.”

But once I’m off the phone and surrounded by silence again, the doubts come creeping back in. What if Dantedoesn’tbelieve me? What if he says there’s nothing they can do? Or what if he does agree to help me, but then I end up taking their attention away from someone who really needs it? Someone who’s in dire trouble and needs protection?

Ugh. I’m not usually this negative about things. Usually, I try to focus on the positive. It’s like I tell my clients—when you’re feeling stressed or down, think about the things you’re grateful for. Think about the things you’re good at. Tell yourself you can do anything you set your mind to.

If the kids I work with can do it, so can I. Even if my life feels like it’s imploding right before my eyes.

As I do one final check of the living room—still looks immaculate, down to the vacuum lines in the carpet and the HGTV-worthy pillow arrangement on the couch—I run through the things I can be grateful for.

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