I clutched his hand in mine. “Did you, um, you know, do your thing to him?”
Vie turned to face me, his expression determined. “Vengeance helped identify and hunt down two of the three men who destroyed your apartment. We haven’t found the third one yet, and he’s the one I sense here. It matches what I felt in your bedroom.”
I shivered. Someone hated me so much that they were willing to destroy my life, and they were still out there.
Before, I’d been upset, angry, and devastated, but now I was feeling an entirely different emotion.
I was scared.
Vie grabbed me in a fierce hug. “I’ll find him.”
The implication was clear. Vie was going to hunt him down and eat him. I didn’t argue about the sanctity of human life. Whoever had done this didn’t deserve my sympathy.
“Not right now,” I said, fisting my hands in his hoodie. “Don’t leave me yet.”
Someone cleared their throat. We separated to find Millie standing there, looking uncomfortable but determined.
“I didn’t want to leave before asking if you wanted to report Murphy for harassment,” she explained.
“Murphy won’t be a problem for long,” Vie said, making Millie’s eyes go a little wide.
“I didn’t hear that,” she said. Someone called her name, and she shouted for them to wait a minute before meeting my gaze. “Look, if you want to go through official channels, call me. Otherwise, I don’t know anything.”
“Thank you,” I said, holding out a hand. She did an amazing job of not showing how uncomfortable Vie made her.
“I’m glad you’ve got some support,” she said, nodding her chin at Vie. “But if he doesn’t work out, I can get you someplace safe.”
“What are you implying?”
His voice made Millie step back despite herself. I didn’t want my new friend to feel uncomfortable when she was only trying to keep me safe. Yes, she was my friend now. Anyone who stood up to bullies was a friend!
“Vie would never hurt me,” I assured her. “But thanks for the offer. I bet you’ve helped a lot of women.” I paused for a second as something occurred to me. “You know, if someone’s in real danger, and you can’t get anyone to help her, maybe give me a call. Vie and I might be able to help.”
Millie grinned. “This is the first time I’ve tried to protect someone, and they’ve turned around and offered to protect others.”
I grinned back. “I’ve been having a lot of firsts recently. Welcome to my club.”
“I’m sorry we met this way, but I’m glad I met you, Willow.” She managed to make herself meet Vie’s eyes. “I’m not your friend, but if you protect Willow, then we’re good. Yeah?”
Vie grunted and pulled me close. Someone called Millie’s name again, and she gave me a last smile before turning and walking away.
My phone rang. It was Jina.
“Hey, is it time for dinner?” I asked, forcing my voice to be cheerful. She didn’t need to know about the shop yet.
“I ordered pizza. After it gets here, I’m watching whatever Jane Austen movie I can find,” she said. “I don’t want to leave the room right now. Is that okay?”
Relief that I wouldn’t have to face her yet made me go weak at the knees. “Totally fine. We’ll reconnoiter at 0900 tomorrow.”
Jina snorted. “Don’t talk like that, you sound like bad movie dialogue.”
“Fine,” I said, feeling a little better after hearing her teasing words. “Call me when you wake up, and we’ll come get you. We can go to that breakfast place in Poway you like so much.”
“Yasss!” Jina said with a happy sigh. “Wait, don’t you need to open the shop tomorrow?”
A spike of pain made my eyes tear up. It was hard to keep my voice from betraying my emotions.
“I think I’m going to take a few days off,” I said. “I need it.”
