She looks at me though, taking in my disheveled appearance, maybe the panicked look on my face, before her eyes drop to the folder, seeing the smear of red.
Are you okay? No offense, Bayleigh, but you look terrified.
I look away, blinking fast, because if I see too much concern in her eyes, I’ll fall apart.
Not really. But I am now. Just shaken. An alpha attacked me on the street.
She jumps from her seat, rushing around her desk, her arms wrapping around me. I fight not to cry, but a tear manages to slip, anyway. She holds me for a couple of minutes before pulling away.
We need to call the cops.
I swallow hard before responding.
No. It’s fine. Someone stepped in and rescued me, and the man ran away. I’m fine, really, just shaken up a bit.
Then we need to call your brother.I can see the adamancy in her face, the way her lips are pursed together and her forehead wrinkles as she frowns.
No.My head is already shaking as I sign. He doesn’t need to know; he’ll just worry. Let’s keep this between the two of us.
Fine. But I don’t like it. Benton should know.
My eyes drop to the folder, and I change the subject.Unfortunately, some of the papers I’m dropping off are dirty. Stained. But they are all there.
Don’t worry about them. Where are you parked?
In the garage around the corner.
Stay right here. I’m going to have Mr. Brigman, our security guard, drive you back to your car.
Thank you.
Some of the fear of having to step back on the street eases away.
Mr. Brigman shows up and leads me out front to his car and drives me back. He doesn’t leave until I’m safely inside my car.
I’ve just barely started it when I feel my phone buzz beside my leg. Looking at the screen, I see a name that sends a wave of warmth rushing through me—Lincoln.
Lincoln: Korbin called me. Told me what happened. Are you okay?
Lincoln: Where are you? If you need me, I can come to you. Just tell me, Bayleigh.
He called Lincoln. I didn’t expect that.
My thumbs fly across the keyboard as I message him back.
Me: I’m fine. Just shaken up still. I should’ve been paying better attention to my surroundings.
Me: In the car now. Safe and sound and getting ready to head home.
Lincoln: What were you doing there? Alone? That’s a bad area.
Alone? Well, that’s kind of my own fault. I should’ve had James with me, but I knew he was busy and, well, I wanted to prove to Benton that I didn’t need a babysitter. I didn’t know the area was that bad. Well, not as terrible as any other place in this town.
Me: Benton needed to turn in some papers from the charity event. He forgot to do it, and they needed them today. He was stuck in practice, so I volunteered to do it.
Lincoln: I don’t care if he forgot them. He shouldn't have sent you there alone.
Me: He didn’t. He told me to take James. But he was busy. I figured I’d be in and out. I didn’t expect anything to happen.
