“They’re going to hurt him, aren’t they?” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “Maybe kill him?”
“They’re going to question him,” I correct. “Find out who sent him and why.”
“And then?”
I hold her gaze. “Depends on what he says.”
She closes her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath. When she opens them again, there’s a new wariness there. “Who are you?”
The question hits me harder than her kick did. “You know who I am, Sunshine.”
“Do I?” She shakes her head slightly. “I don’t think I ever did.”
“Someone broke into your house tonight,” I say, my voice low and intense. “We suspect Demon sent him, but we don’t know for sure. We don’t know why you’re being targeted again. Maybe you can yell at me some more after I figure out who’s trying to hurt you.”
That seems to reach her. Some of the fire goes out of her eyes, replaced by a flicker of fear. “Why now? Why this again after two years?
“I wish I knew, Sunshine.”
“You’ve really been watching me?” she asks again, her voice softer now. “For two years?”
“I promised I’d never leave you alone in the dark again,” I say simply.
We stare at each other, the air thick with all the things we’ve left unsaid. I can almost see her sorting through her thoughts, deciding which emotion to land on. Anger wins.
“But you can’t do that. You can’t just stalk me for two years,” she says, her voice rising again.
I shrug, because what else can I do? “I will never stop protecting you.”
“Yeah, you were a great protector when Kit kidnapped me,” she fires back, the words aimed to hurt.
They find their target with deadly accuracy. The guilt that’s been my constant companion for the past two years twists in my gut like a knife. “I failed you then,” I admit. “And I’ll regret it every day for the rest of my life.”
My words seem to catch her off guard. Her expression softens for a fraction of a second before she looks away, crossing her arms over her chest again. Not in anger this time, but almost like she’s hugging herself for comfort.
“This is insane,” she mutters, more to herself than to me.
I don’t say anything in reply because, what can I say? She’s right. None of this is normal. None of the last two years has beennormal. Instead, I walk over to Kayla’s couch and lower myself onto it, stretching my legs out in front of me. I let my gaze roam around the room, taking in the details of her life without me. Plants everywhere; that hasn’t changed. Photographs on the walls, books stacked on end tables, bright colors and soft fabrics. It’s so undeniably Kayla that it sends an ache through me.
Kayla says my name, drawing my attention back to her. She’s standing in front of me, hands on her hips, looking like she’s trying to decide whether to scream or throw something at my head.
“You should go get some sleep,” I tell her, making myself comfortable among the throw pillows. “I’ve got this covered.”
Kayla stares at me as if I’ve just suggested we go skinny-dipping in the Arctic. “What do you think you’re doing?” she asks.
“Making sure you stay alive.” I pat the cushion beside me. “This is a nice couch, by the way. Comfortable.”
“You are not hanging out in my living room all night,”
“You’re absolutely right,” I say, standing up suddenly. The movement makes her take a reflexive step back. “The best way to keep you safe is to be right next to you all night.” I give her my most innocent smile. “Where’s your bedroom?”
For a moment, Kayla seems genuinely speechless. Her mouth opens, then closes, then opens again, but no sound comes out. It’s almost comical, and under different circumstances, I might have laughed. But the reality of the danger she‘s in keeps my amusement in check.
I close the distance between us, dropping the teasing tone. “Someone broke into your house tonight, Sunshine. I promised I’d never leave you unprotected again, and I meant it.” My voice softens. “I’m not leaving you alone tonight.”
She searches my face, her own expression a complicated mix of emotions I can’t quite decipher. There’s anger there, yes,but also confusion, fear, and something that looks almost like longing.
“I should just call the police,” she says finally, but there’s hesitation in her voice.