Page 88 of Cornered

“So. Many. Regrets.” Daphne groaned.

Lahela laughed as the four of them started for the restaurant entrance and finally felt herself relax. A hostess showedthem to a round table, and Briggs pulled out her chair the same as Nash did for Daphne.

“You look great tonight.” His low rumble whispered over her shoulder. “I like the flower too.”

She absently touched the plumeria flower hairpin she’d added above her right ear. Grateful to focus on anything else. “Thank you.”

His fingers brushed against the side of her arm, sending a delicious chill skirting through her. He sat down on her right, bringing with him the woodsy scent of his cologne that swirled around her, tempting her to inhale. No, she would not sniff the man. This wasn’t the first time she’d been around Briggs and his cologne.

So why was she suddenly too shy to meet his gaze? On her left, Daphne wiggled her brows suggestively, like she had read Lahela’s thoughts.

Thankfully, the waitress arrived with a basket of tortilla chips and bowl of salsa she set in the middle of the table before asking if they wanted their usual. Dinner at Juana’s had become a tradition from the first time Daphne invited her to meet Briggs and Nash, whenever he could make it down from Dallas, and there wasn’t a bad thing on the menu.

“Finn sends his apologies for not being here tonight to celebrate your big day,” Daphne said and pulled an envelope from her purse. “And Fish is running late, so this is from all three of us.”

“Aww, Daphne.” Nash reached for the envelope she slid across the table. “You—”

Daphne’s hand slapped down on the envelope. “If you bring up golden flecks one more time, Nash Martin, I’m not kidding, I’ll keep the gift.”

“You’re so sweet to think of me.” Nash picked up the envelope. “Thank you.”

“My gift goes—” Lahela was cut off by her cell phone. Anxietyslammed back into her like a tidal wave. “S-sorry. Let me just...”

Reaching into her purse, she pulled out her phone just enough to see the screen. Cold dread instantly raced through her. Unknown caller.No.This couldn’t be happening again. Her fingers shook as she hit the ignore button.

“Who was it?”

Lahela met Daphne’s gaze and forced herself to smile, but it must not have been very convincing because her friend’s expression shifted into concern.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.” Lahela licked her lips and dropped her gaze to the table. Daphne was the only person she had confided in when the anonymous calls started coming, and only after nearly a dozen of them interrupted the middle of dinner with Daphne’s family. And that was after a weekend of random calls in the middle of the night. But there was no way to figure out who it was or why it was happening, and it wasn’t worth burdening her friend with something Lahela could easily block and ignore.

“What’s going on?” Briggs said. There was a protective edge in his deep tone that made Lahela want to melt into it. If there was one difference between Briggs and her ex, it was the way Briggs always made her feel safe. Even as just a friend, he watched out for her in ways Trevor never did.

Another shrill ring of her cell phone cut into her thoughts, causing her to jump in her chair. She looked down at the phone ringing and vibrating in her palm. It was another number she didn’t recognize.Don’t answer it. Lahela’s thumb hovered over the screen as her pulse pounded in her ears.Don’t answer it.

“Lahela.”

She jerked when Daphne’s fingers reached for her arm, and both Briggs and Nash were now watching her. The phonegave a half ring and then stopped. Lahela exhaled, but it did nothing to loosen the tight band across her shoulders. She stared at the phone, half expecting it to ring again and praying it wouldn’t.

Her phone chirped with a new text message. Impulse caused her to swipe open the message. Lahela’s breath came out ragged when she saw the photo. It was of her watering her plants on her porch that morning before school.

Another image appeared on the screen, this time a close-up of her arriving at school later that morning. And then another of her at home as she was leaving to come here.

Lahela dropped the phone on the table, and she didn’t even try to stop Daphne from grabbing it. Instead, heart racing, she searched the restaurant around her. Someone was watching her. Maybe watching her now.

“What’s going on?” Briggs said, scooting his chair closer to her side. He looked across the table. “Daphne?”

Knees trembling, Lahela couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was out there, watching her, calling her, and she had no idea who or why they were doing it.

“Lahela.” Daphne’s voice pulled her attention to her friend.

When they’d first met, Lahela was captivated by the color of Daphne’s eyes. They were the same emerald green as the Ko?olau mountainside. And right now, those eyes were brimming with a dark current that was as dangerous as a riptide.

“It’s time to go to the police.”

FOUR

---