* * * * *
9:23 A.M.
Naomi was standing at the window in the living room. The blinds were still drawn as per Sam’s instructions, but she was standing there anyway, imagining she was looking out on the snow-dusted landscape. It wasn't the same as being in her own home looking out at the woods, Sam’s house just looked out onto other houses, but it was better than nothing and she wished she could pull back the drapes and see the outdoors. She liked open spaces, it helped to calm her, and being cooped up indoors she was really missing it. Maybe she could convince Sam to take her for a run later.
“Hey.” He came up behind her, his large hands rested on her shoulders and tugged her gently back, urging her to rest against his strong chest.
“Hey.” When he wrapped an arm loosely around her waist, she felt her insides go all gooey. Sleeping in Sam’s arms last night had been so good. Waking up still in his arms had been even better. Turning around, she laid her head above his heart, the rhythmic thumping soothed her, and she struggled to remember why it was that she had resisted her feelings for him for so long.
“How are you doing?”
“I just want this to be over.” Naomi wished that someone could wave a magic wand and put an end to this nightmare.
“Jonathon and Allina are on their way here. They have something to ask you about.”
Reluctantly she lifted her head. “Do you know what?”
“He didn’t say.”
A sick feeling washed over her. She didn’t like the sound of that, it gave her a bad feeling, and she trusted her instincts, they were usually correct.
“Hey.” Sam took hold of her chin and tilted it up so he could see her face more clearly. “You’ll do fine. I'm here.”
Sam’s confidence and borderline arrogance made her smile. He was wrong, of course. Even with him here none of this was easy, but he was also a little bit right, having him beside her did help. That he was making such an effort to be attentive to her feelings was so sweet, he was such a good guy. More than she deserved. She was going to tell him so when the doorbell rang. Panic almost had her fleeing, but she refused to let her feet move. She didn’t run from anything. No matter how horrible it was.
Kissing the top of her head, Sam gave her a squeeze then nudged her in the direction of the sofa. “I’ll go let them in.”
By the time she sat down her hands were shaking, and she shoved them between her knees, forcing them to be still.
“Hi, Naomi.” Jonathon entered the room a moment later, followed by his partner and Sam.
“Hi,” she returned listlessly, she didn’t want to make small talk, she just wanted this over and done with.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better,” she assured him, although the idea of telling Sam she no longer needed a bodyguard now that she was mostly back on her feet never occurred to her.
Her eyes narrowed when she caught sight of Allina’s face. There were dark bruises under her eyes, and the bridge of her nose looked swollen. “What happened to you?”
“Broken nose,” Allina replied.
“Work?”
“The mugger didn’t want to do as he was asked.”
“The man who shot me?” Her brow crinkled as her still slightly muddled brain tried to figure things out. “But that was two days ago. I saw you after the fire and I don’t remember your nose being broken.”
“You were in shock,” Allina reminded her.
“I guess.” No wonder she couldn’t figure out who was stalking her, her brain was one gigantic mess right now. Sam sat on one side of her, Jonathon on the other. She felt boxed in, trapped, but she resisted the urge to stand and pace. “So, what’s up? Do you know something?”
“We might have a lead,” Jonathon told her.
She would have smiled at that, felt enormously relieved, only Jonathon wasn't smiling, and neither was Allina. The sick feeling in her stomach grew. She resolved to answer all their questions as though this whole thing had nothing to do with her. If she just made it about the facts, she could get through this. “Yeah?”
“Do you know someone with the name Harry Caucchi?” Jonathon asked.
“Yes,” she answered immediately. “His family lived across the street from mine before the fire. You think it’s him? What reason would he have for coming after me?”