She wanted a break from her life. A time out where she could just set everything aside for a little while, pretend like none of it ever happened. But instead, her life was just getting worse. Now someone was stalking her, threatening to hurt the people she cared about. And not idle threats, he had already followed through when he killed Nicole. She didn’t know who he would go after next, and she didn’t know who he was.
Sam was right. What if he went after one of her sisters next?
That would kill her. She couldn’t risk it.
Giving herself up to this guy seemed like the only option she had.
It wasn't like it would be any great loss. So he’d kill her, so what? Sure, her sisters would miss her, but they’d get over it, and at least they’d be alive.
Really, it wouldn’t be a big deal.
Tears welled up in her eyes. Since she was alone, she didn’t bother to brush them away. Naomi never cried in front of people. Ever. She didn’t even really like to cry when she was alone, it still made her feel uncomfortable like she was weak and pathetic. Attributing the sudden bout of crying to the concussion, she climbed from her bed and walked to the window.
She wasn't surprised to find that Sam had drawn the blinds, but she threw them open, the window too, so she could breathe in the crisp early morning air. The cold cleared away the last of the cobwebs in her head. She had to pull it together. She needed to be sharp, she needed to be able to help Jonathon and Allina figure this out before anyone else got hurt.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Sam was suddenly beside her, shoving her aside and slamming the window closed, then snapping the curtains back together. Embarrassed for Sam to see that she had been crying, Naomi quickly turned her back and wiped at her eyes, praying they weren’t going to betray her by being too red and puffy.
“You know better than to be standing at an open window. He could be out there, watching you. The blinds stay closed at all times.”
Too busy trying to compose herself to complain about Sam issuing orders again, Naomi just tried to unobtrusively draw in a deep breath and brush away the last of her tears. Knowing she wasn't going to get any more sleep, she may as well get some clothes and go have a shower.
Grabbing her arm, Sam held her in place, turning her around and examining her in such a manner that she knew he knew she’d been crying. “Are you okay? How’s your head?”
For some reason she felt like an argument. She didn’t want Sam to think of her as weak and fragile, she wanted him to see her as tough and strong. That’s how she wanted everyone to see her. “You shouldn’t have given me sleeping pills without telling me,” she snapped.
“It’s over and done with. You needed sleep and you got it. I'm not sorry I did it, and I'm not saying that I won't do it again.”
Shooting her fiercest glare at him as if she’d be stupid enough to take pills from him a second time. From now on she’d be taking them from the bottle herself,ifshe even took any at all. “You havenoright to make decisions for me. I'm not a child, and I'm not some helpless victim who needs someone to take care of me.”
“Right now, you are my responsibility.”
“I amno one’sresponsibility,” she protested immediately, aghast at the very suggestion.
Unfazed by her obvious frustration, he just shrugged. “You are so long as I’m watching over you.”
“I'm not arguing the bodyguard thing right now, at least until I’m fully recovered, but it doesn’t have to beyouwho looks after me,” she ventured carefully. Having Sam stay here in her home with her was just too difficult.
Sam went completely still at her suggestion. “Are you saying that you don’t want me here? That you want me to bring in someone else to be your bodyguard?”
Naomi hesitated, thatwasn'twhat she wanted. That was the problem. Shedidwant Sam to be here with her, she just knew it wasn't a smart idea.
His dark eyes were intense as he stared at her. “I thought you knew that I would risk my life to keep you safe.”
“It's not that,” she assured him quickly. She didn’t want to hurt Sam’s feelings, she just wasn't comfortable with being around him twenty-four-seven for who knew how long.
Understanding flooded his face. “Is it because you know I'm interested in you?”
She was not having a conversation with Sam about that now. Or ever. What was with him bringing it up? Sam never liked having conversations about personal stuff, that was one of the things she liked best about hanging out with him. He never pushed her to talk about anything beyond simple superficial things. Her emotions were jumbled up enough as it was at the moment.
“Naomi?” Sam was watching her closely.
“I'm sorry, but I can't do this now.” Without looking back, she grabbed jeans and a sweater from her closet, walked into her bathroom, and shut the door. Then, as fresh tears started their journey down her cheeks, she quickly turned on the shower so the sound of the water spray would drown out the sound of her crying.
* * * * *
7:28 A.M.