Ben starts tapping on his keyboard as boxes start showing up on all three monitors, indicating he’s running multiple searches through their system.
Gabe hands me a pen and paper.
I write down what I know about them, which isn’t much.
“Ria?” Noah props his hands on the desk beside me, leaning close and whispering. “Can you write down information about your mom too? I think we need to determine that connection too.”
I nod, swallowing through the tears that are now running down my cheeks.
Noah is breathing hard, his hands gripping the desk, and I know he’s doing everything he can to stop from grabbing me and taking me out of this room.
Ben looks over his shoulder as Gabe hands him the notes I just finished writing.
“Get some sleep, Ria. You too, Noah. It’s going to take a few hours. We’ll go through all of this in the morning. Gabe can help me out here.”
Noah nods at Gabe as he grabs the baby monitor, holding his hand out for me to take.
“Thank you,” I whisper to the men who are helping keep me and my family safe.
I’m grateful for them, but also terrified of what they might find.
They both give me nods. Ben goes back to his computer as Gabe goes through the files on the desk.
As soon as Noah gets me out of the basement and into the living room, he stops. His arm comes around my legs as he lifts me. He holds me close to his chest as sob after sob wracks through me.
Before I know it, we’re back in our room. Caught up in the whirlwind of my emotions, I miss the part where Mina leaves the room. Noah lays me down on the bed gently, kissing the top of my head.
“Let me check on the little guy real quick. Lay down, baby.”
I shut my eyes, unable to grasp reality.
I’ve lived my whole life in fear, and now my life isactuallyin danger. And not just as a byproduct of Noah’s job.
I cover my face with both of my hands as I curl up into a ball, unable to keep the tears from flowing. They’re hot on my skin and salty on my open mouth as I try my best to keep from screaming out loud.
My son. My poor son. What’s going to happen to him?
Does Sotnas know about him? Does he want him too?
Does he still want to kill Noah to get to me? Will he?
Adrian. I can’t lose him. I can’t.
I will do anything to keep my son safe and away from this horrible man who has stalked me.
Strong arms come around me and before I can blink, Noah has turned me in his arms. He’s sitting with his back on the pillows, holding me and rocking me in his lap. One of his hands goes through the strands of my hair while the other rubs my back. I try to focus on the sensations they evoke, but a single thought keeps me in this limbo of fear.
My husband has always been overprotective of me, a result of only having each other for years.
But now, we have Adrian to consider.
“N-n-noah?”
He hums, but I can feel his chest beating fast and hard under my cheek.
I place a trembling hand on it. “Promise me something?”
I manage to calm down enough to get the words out.