The few bites of sandwich I forced down turn into a heavy lump in my stomach.
Cold sweat prickles at the back of my neck.
My heart races.
Alec pats my hand. “It’s alright. This isn’t an inquisition. We’re just going to talk.”
“Exactly,” Enzo adds. “We can get into specifics later, once you’ve gotten some rest. For now, I think we want to focus on your safety moving forward.”
“Maybe it was just an unfortunate coincidence,” I offer weakly, though I don’t really believe it. My brakes failing was one thing, but now the intruder atmy house? I’d like it to be a fluke, but the sick feeling in my stomach tells me otherwise.
Clearly, no one else in the room believes it either, judging from the skepticism on their faces. Alec’s the first one to voice it, turning to me as he says gently, “I really don’t think it was a coincidence. The timing of it…” His jaw works. “If someone were trying to hurt you by tampering with your brakes and failed, they might hurry to make another attempt.”
Ronan leans forward. “I have to agree with Alec. It’s suspicious.”
Enzo gives a grim nod. “I know it’s hard to come to terms with. That someone might actually want to hurt you. But given the evidence so far, we have to consider it.”
“I can’t think of anyone in town who would want to hurt me,” I reply. “I mean… I’m just a waitress. What would they be mad about? Their food arriving too late?”
“You’d be surprised by what can set people off,” Alec says. “Some perceived slight that was really nothing, a rejection…”
“But I don’tdoanything. I work, go to the grocery store once a week, same with helping out at Rory’s shelter…”
“Maybe a date that went badly,” Ronan offers. “Or someone you turned down.”
Heat fills my cheeks. “I don’t date. It’s been ages since anyone even asked.”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, I realize how stupid they are. Can I really guarantee that a chance conversation around town couldn’t have given someone the wrong idea?
“I just… There hasn’t been anyone,” I insist. “If I could think of a time…” My voice wobbles. “But I can’t.”
“We can talk about that more later,” Enzo soothes. “Not when it’s almost midnight and I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
Alec’s hand comes to my back, rubbing in slow circles. “Right now, we need to talk about where you’ll stay. And the investigation?—”
“The investigation?” I ask. “You mean the police?”
“Not just that.” His hand stills. “I’d like to look into it myself. Along with the rest of the team, that is.”
“You mean like a client?”
Alec exchanges a quick look with Enzo before replying, “Yeah. Like a client. Except you’re not just a client. You’re a friend. A friend we want to help.”
“But the money?—”
“We take on pro-bono clients,” Enzo interjects. “We wouldn’t expect you to pay.”
“We’d work alongside the police,” Alec explains. He starts rubbing my back again. “Without the bureaucratic red tape, a lot of times, we can access information they can’t. Plus, we have contacts around the country that can help.”
His eyes search mine. “I just want to make sure you’re safe. We all do. And I think this is the best way, by having GMG take on your case, too.”
Enzo clears his throat. “You can stay here, Hazel. We have cabins set aside for clients, and you’d be safe on the property.”
“You want me to stayhere?” My voice pitches up.
Alec nods. “You already said you can’t go home. And I agree. For you to stay there, we’d need to revamp your security, plus have someone stationed there twenty-four-seven. It just makes more sense for you to stay here.”
“But…”
