Our girlfriend inhales with a shuddering sigh and then looks at us.
“I got an obscene note at school,” she whispers. “It was really horrifying.”
Gray and I sit up.
“What?” I growl. “From whom? Where did it come from?”
My buddy is just as incensed. “What did it say?”
Emma looks down, tears dropping off her chin now to splatter on the bedsheet.
“It’s not what it said so much. It’s what they drew. It was a cartoon of two dicks and me, being impaled on both ends. They named you,” she stammers, bawling now. “Whoever this person is, they know our secret and we’re going to be exposed!”
Gray snarls with rage then, his forearms popping with veins.
“Show me the note,” he commands in a harsh voice. “I’ll kill this ass-wipe. What a stupid dumbfuck.”
But Emma shakes her head.
“I didn’t bring it,” she says in a limp voice. “I can’t even bear to touch it, to be honest.”
Then she bursts into fresh tears, and grimacing, I pull her tight against my chest as she breaks down. Gray meets my eyes, his jaw locked tight, and I get it. It’s one thing to come after grown men who are powerful politicians, but who the fuck harasses sweet, gentle young women? Goddamn them.
“We’re so sorry, baby,” Gray growls, gently swiping at the tears on her cheeks. “We’ll take care of this, don’t worry.”
“Whoever is, they’re going to get it,” I vow in a harsh whisper while nuzzling her soft curls. “What a fucking loser.”
Gray nods, already tapping on his phone. “You know what? I know a private investigator who can find anything or anyone if you put him on the scent. I just shot him a text, and he’s probably going to want to see the original note. You still have it, right?”
Emma nods. “Yes, it should be in my desk drawer,” she says limply. “But do we really need a P.I.?” she asks. “I mean, that sounds like a lot.” My heart aches hearing the pain in her voice.
Gray nods.
“It isn’t unusual to use a private investigator to take care of things like this,” he rasps. “Trust me, we’re in politics. We’re plenty well-versed with the dark arts when it comes to rooting out secret identities.”
I snort. “After all, we deal with trolls all the time trying to ruin our campaigns while destroying our credibility. It’s actually pretty normal when coping with threats, and it’s sad, kind of, how people feel so protected under a cloak of anonymity. What they don’t realize are there are ways to pull back the mask, especially if you’re using a professional experienced in this area.”
Emma looks startled now, and my friend leans in to kiss her cheek.
“Don’t worry, baby,” he rumbles. “We’ll have this taken care of in a sec. In the meantime, do you want to stay here? Don’t even bother to go back to your dorm room because it’s not safe. In fact, maybe SVA will let you do your courses online so you don’t even have to set foot on campus.”
Emma nods, looking down.
“I don’t think it’ll be a problem to learn remotely because everything’s online now. But are you sure you want me to live here? I mean, I know I’m here most nights already, but what if someone sees me go in or out? One photograph and your careers could be over.”
I shake my head.
“It’s fine honey. We would tell them the truth – that one of my daughter’s friends is being threatened by a stalker, and we decided it was best for you to stay here because of my enhanced security.”
Emma looks conflicted.
“Do you think they’ll buy it?”
Gray nods. “Absolutely. Both of our apartments are wired with top-notch security systems, and hell, sometimes we even have police parked out front as an added safety measure. It’s totally believable, and honestly, baby girl? I’ll feel a lot better knowing you’re protected.”
Emma shoots us a wobbly smile. “Thanks.”
I nod. “You’re always welcome here, sweetheart,” I reply, kissing her softly. “You know that.”
She looks from me to Gray while taking another shuddering inhale. “I’m just so sorry,” she says in a low voice while looking down. “It’s crazy that any of this has happened.”
Gray and I both immediately shake our heads.
“No baby,” he rasps. “None of this is your fault.”
But Emma won’t be dissuaded and tears spring to her eyes again.
“This has to be my fault because I know both of you are too smart to have done anything to make someone aware of our relationship. I must have been careless somehow, and now I’ve put your careers and lives at risk. I’m so sorry,” she repeats in a broken tone.
My heart turning over, I cup her cheeks in my hands. “Listen to me, Emma. What this person is doing is not your fault. Not in the slightest, and I want you to know that. Besides, Gray and I are grown men. We’re the ones who brought you into this relationship, and not the other way around. As a result, any fault lies with us, and you should have a clear mind, heart, and conscience. This is not on you even one iota, sweetheart.”