Page 26 of Stealthy Seduction
She pressed her hands over her face, fighting the tears she’d managed to hold back through everything. Even when Drysdale’s body had hit the pavement. Even during her panicked flight through the city. But here, surrounded by warmth and safety and people who cared about her, the dam finally burst.
Alyssa was around the counter in an instant, wrapping strong arms around Izzy’s shoulders.
“I messed up this whole thing,” Izzy continued, her words tripping over each other in their desperation to escape. “I should have been more careful, should have seen this coming somehow. I shouldn’t have pushed so hard on the story, shouldn’t have agreed to meet with him, shouldn’t have—” Her voice broke. “I shouldn’t have come here. I’ve compromised everything—your home, your safety, Hudson’s team.”
“Hey,” Alyssa said firmly, her hand rubbing soothing circles on Izzy’s back. “Stop right there.”
“But I—”
“What choice did you have?” Alyssa’s voice cut through her spiral of self-blame with gentle authority, the sound of her friend’s voice taking her back to Syria. Instead of the memory of that day making Izzy’s spiraling even worse, it soothed her.
Izzy looked up through her tears, meeting Alyssa’s steady gaze. The question hung in the air between them, and for a moment, Izzy couldn’t think of an answer.
“I could have gone home,” she said weakly. “Or found a hotel, or—”
“Gone home to your apartment where you’d be completely vulnerable?” Alyssa’s eyebrows rose. “Checked into a hotel where anyone with a credit card scanner could track you down in minutes?”
Sophie moved closer, her voice soft but certain. “She’s right, Izzy. Where else would you have been safe?”
“They found Kennedy.” Alyssa’s statement made Izzy’s skin prickle again. “They found her at a safehouse in the middle of nowhere that was supposed to be completely off the grid, and they got through Dante to reach her.”
She sucked in a breath. She hadn’t heard this story before. In fact, she didn’t know anyone’s story except her own, but it was clear that the women around her were strong as hell.
She could be strong too.
Alyssa’s dark gaze caught hers. “If Cipher can penetrate that kind of protection, what chance would you have had anywhere else?”
Cipher? The terrorist was completely unrelated to this event. Had nothing to do with her.
Guilt still gnawed at Izzy’s chest. “But bringing danger here—”
“You didn’t bring danger here,” Alyssa said with conviction. “I’m not entirely sure what happened to you tonight, but to me it’s clear that danger was already hunting you. At least here, you’re with people who know how to fight back.”
Izzy wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to process the kindness being offered so freely. With the exception of Alyssa, these women hadn’t known her very long, yet they were treating her like family.
“You were right to come here,” Alyssa added softly. “This is where you belong when you’re in trouble.”
The words settled something restless in Izzy’s chest, but underneath the gratitude was a growing urgency. She needed to do something, anything, other than sit here feeling helpless while the people she cared about planned her course of action without her input.
“I need to talk to Hudson,” she said suddenly, the words escaping before she could think them through.
She was up and moving before either woman could react, her bar stool scraping against the floor as she headed for the door. Behind her, she heard Alyssa call her name, but her feet were already carrying her down the hallway toward the sound of voices emanating from the war room.
Her heart hammered against her ribs with each step, but her purpose was clear. Whatever they were discussing in there, sheneeded to be part of it. This was her story, her investigation that had led to a man’s death on the street.
She wouldn’t be shuffled off to hide in a corner while others dealt with the aftermath.
The corridor seemed longer than any others in the mansion, each step echoing. As she neared, male voices grew clearer, so she could make out words from the low rumble about resources and timeframes.
“—safehouse in Virginia,” Con’s voice projected through the partially open door. “Isolated location. Full surveillance capabilities. We can have her relocated by dawn if we move fast.”
The word “safehouse” hit Izzy like a physical blow, and every muscle in her body tensed in rejection. She wouldn’t be hidden away, wouldn’t be made to disappear while the people she cared about fought a battle that had started with her.
She didn’t hesitate. Her hand hit the door with enough force to send it banging against the wall, drawing every eye in the room to her sudden entrance.
“No.”Her voice sounded stronger than she felt. “I’m not going to a safehouse.”
The war room fell into absolute silence. Ten pairs of eyes turned toward her. The pressure of their collective attention should have been intimidating, but Izzy found herself searching for one particular gaze.
