Page 28 of Beneficial Misfortune

Why would someone do this?

Back in the hall, I look at the other units around me, curious if I was the only one broken into, but find the rest of them seem to be untouched.

Who would do something like this, and why to me? It’s not as if I have anything worth taking, and I don’t talk to anyone. Nobody but Nathaniel knows where I live.

I’d like to say it’s random, a chance break-in that I happen to be the victim of, but I’m fourteen floors up. What are the odds someone would decide to climb all of those stairs just to break into my flat?

My hands shake as I dig into my purse, searching for my phone. I back up until I hit the wall opposite my door. I should leave, go back downstairs, and call…

Nobody.

I have nobody to call.

With my back against the wall, I slide down it until I’m seated on the floor staring at what's left of my front door, and I feel the first tear roll down my cheek. Another follows, and I make no move to wipe them away.

I don’t have friends or family in the city. Hell, even in the state. I know I need to call the police and report this, but I can’t. For the first time since coming here, I feel well and truly alone. Before, it had felt freeing, but now…

With trembling fingers, I pull up the contact of the one person I think might care and press the call button.

“Hello,” his voice carries through the phone, and something about it is calming, even if he’s not here. “Kat?”

A choked sob works its way out of my mouth, but no words come out.

“Kat, what's wrong?” he demands, and I can hear the sharp edge in his tone. It should piss me off. Who is he to demandanything from me? But it doesn’t; instead, it gives me enough push to speak.

“I’m sorry,” I cry, gasping for air with each word. “I need help, and I didn’t know who else to call.”

I’m not sure how long it took Nathaniel to get to me, but it felt like I hung up, and he was there. One second, I was staring at my broken door, and the next, he was there, crouched down on the floor in front of me, blocking it from my view.

I don’t remember calling the police—hell, I don’t know if he did it or I did—but they arrived not long after. Nathaniel tucked me into his side as they asked me questions, but I didn’t have anything useful to offer them.

I have no idea who would do this, if anything was missing, or when it could have happened since I’d been gone since the early morning.

Nathaniel gave them his card so they could call should they need anything else before he ushered me down the stairs and back into the car. Only it’s not the same limo that Vincent usually shuttles them around in.

He walks me to the passenger side, opens the door for me and waits for me to climb in before closing it and moving around to the driver's side.

It’s not until he pulls away from the curb that I realize I’d just been so close to him. I’d been too dazed before, but it was probably for the best.

“Where’s Addison?” My voice is quiet, hardly more than a whisper, and I hate that this has shaken me so much.

“At the house with Vince. We’d just arrived when you called, and I wasn’t sure what I was going to find when I got here. I thought it best to leave her there.”

I nod because that makes sense. It’s not like I gave him much information. Bringing her could have put her in danger, and she didn’t need to see me like this. She’s only five. She doesn’t need to know what a dark place the world can be; she deserves all the happiness.

“I’ll have movers come tomorrow and bring your things back to the house.”

“What? No, that’s not necessary. Really, you’ve done enough already,” I rush to say, but he’s shaking his head even before I’ve finished.

“Nonsense, you're not coming back here alone.” He cuts his gaze to me, and I see that he won’t take no for an answer. Not that I can argue now. I hadn’t even thought about that, but now that I have…

I don’t want to ever go back there, let alone by myself.

“None of my stuff is packed.”

“They can take care of it.”

Well, I guess that settles it then. I’d been unsure if moving in was my best bet, but now I’m happy for the option. Unsure what else to say, I remain quiet as he drives us back to his house, where I’ll now live and work.

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