His low chuckle echoes through the small space we’re in.
“Noah Thomas. Twenty-five years old. I’ve lived in Whatcom County for almost three years and before that, I lived in DC. I’m a Crime Scene Investigator. I spent most of my time here in Washington working with the Bellingham Police Department. Anything else you want to know, just ask. I may not know you well either but I do know you deserve to feel safe. I’ll make sure you never feel unsafe again. I promise you that.”
My mouth falls open at his candor. Our eyes meet and I feel something bloom inside of me.
Something I haven’t felt since my mom died.
Hope.
He takes a small step towards me, his eyes full of heat and promise but before he can do anything, the elevator dings and the doors open to my floor.
I shake myself out of the trance and lead him to the end of the hallway and my door.
I unlock it, letting him in. I’m about to shut the door behind him when he stops me.
“Go ahead and change. Shower if you want to or whatever you usually do after work to unwind. Let me take care of the locks.”
He gently peels the plastic bag full of tools and the new lock from my fingers, shooing me away. He gets down on his knees by the door and starts taking the stuff out. I remain standing there, paralyzed for a few moments as he gets to work unscrewing the old lock from the hatch.
When he raises his head to smile at me, I return it and head to my room to shower and change, feeling safer than I have ever felt in my life.
I’mfresh out of the shower and wrapping my cardigan tight around my body when I hear a loud knock coming from the front door that quickly turns into erratic pounding. I run to the living room and find Noah leaning on the back of the couch, glaring at the door with his legs crossed by the ankles. He tips his head to the door and motions for me to stand next to him.
“I’m going to open the door but just follow my lead, okay?”
Just as I open my mouth to ask him what he means, I hear CJ’s voice booming from the other side of the door.
“ALESSANDRIA. OPEN UP. IT'S ME.”
Unwittingly, I take a step back. My arms fold themselves at my waist and a shiver runs through me. It was only a theory that he would come back, knowing Penelope would be gone.
He actually showed up.
“Ria.”
Noah’s eyes come into focus, and I realize he’s bending down to meet my eyes. His hand gently cups my face. “Don’t be scared, sweetheart. I got you. Just follow my lead, okay?”
I nod then jump in surprise when CJ goes from pounding to kicking the door.
Noah’s eyes turn murderous, a dark storm clouding his blue eyes. Straightening, he heads to the door, yanking it open but keeping his body aligned with mine in a clear protective stance as he shields me from the intruder.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Noah doesn’t yell. His voice is even but it’s the clear, no-nonsense tone that he uses that shows he is not one to be trifled with.
“WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?”
CJ’s head moves around to see behind Noah. His eyes flick around the room until he spots me. He tries to force himself inside the room, thinking Noah will balk and let him but Noah stays fixed.
“I believe Iasked you first. What are you doing trying to break in?”
“BREAK IN?” CJ starts to laugh but something in Noah’s eyes makes the laughter die in his throat. “I have a key,” he says through clenched teeth.
Noah laughs. “If you did, you wouldn’t be pounding, kicking and yelling for the door to be opened. So my question is, once again, what are you doing?”
CJ openly stares at me, daring me to disagree. “I’m Ria’s friend. I came by to see her."
“Is that true, baby?”
It takes me a split second to realize Noah is addressing me.