Once he parked in the parking lot by the apartment, he ushered Sawyer and me out, then quickly inside. He kept his eyes peeled, his hand ready to pull out his weapon if needed. I kept my head down, as instructed, until we were safely inside the building.
Nothing was different outside, or on the way to the apartment building. People on the streets went about their business. No one knew the panic that was starting to grow in my chest with every inch as we got closer and closer to where I was living these days. I could feel my chest caving in with each passing second.
When we got to the apartment, Wyatt entered first and checked every corner to make sure no one was in there, hiding. When he deemed it safe, I took slow, steady breaths as I followed him in. I went to the couch, sitting on the edge, hoping that my panic would just go away.
Sawyer sat beside me I set my head in my hands, elbows on my knees as I fought the all-consuming blackness. I could feel it seeping up through my veins. Each beat of my heart rushed through my ears like a drum.
“It’s okay,” she whispered.
“No, it’s not,” I breathed out, my breaths beginning to thicken. “Out there, I can pretend to be okay. But in here,” I tapped the side of my head, “is a whole different story. He will always haunt me.”
“You’ll be fine,” Sawyer went on. “You’re strong. It’s all mind over matter. You got this. Youcando this, Scarlett.”
“Right. I can do this,” I said, my panic ebbing away bit by bit.
I repeated the words in my mind over and over, and slowly the panic eased off. It was still there, and would be until this issue passed. But itwouldpass. I had to keep my mind sane. After it was over, then I could panic.
Yeah, right. I was sure that wouldn’t work like I wanted.
“There ya go,” Sawyer coaxed. “See, nothing to worry about right now.”
“I’m gonna step out in the hallway and make a phone call,” Wyatt said. “Yell if you need me.”
“We’ll be fine,” Sawyer said.
“Told you they’re all a bit protective over me,” I joked, trying to shake my anxiety off. “Just wait till you meet my brother. He’ll make you answer a thousand questions.”
“And you’ll be right there and chew him out for me. So we’re all good,” she replied without a beat. “But I bet we won’t hit it off, because I’m me, and you are, well, you. No one’s gonna like me because I’m happy.”
“Really?” I asked, raising a brow at her, but a small smile creeped on my face.
“Actually, your entire family kinda scares me. They care way too much about you, and I know they’ll want to know every little detail about me. I’m prepared for that time to come, but I’m totally fine with it not happening anytime soon.”
“If I like you, they will all love you,” I said.
Wyatt came back in, plopping down in the chair as if the entire world was about to blow up. For all that mattered, it could.
“Alan sent someone to track you down. Not sure how they found you, but he knows close enough what vicinity you’re in.” I gathered as much, but the news still didn’t sit well. “Caesar found out who the guy is, and it sounds like he hasn’t laid eyes on you just yet. I am planning to keep it that way. If he does happen to set eyes on you, then you need to be relocated as soon as possible.”
“Sorry, Wyatt,” I sighed, dropping my chin. “I just want to live a life without this stuff happening. I don’t want to keep looking over my shoulder. And I don’t want my friends and family in the way of danger.”
“I know, Scarlett. And my mood isn’t the best right now, either.”
“Because of me, I bet?” Sawyer grumbled.
“Because I know the company you keep, little sis,” Wyatt said, “and I don’t want you near her. But I guess it’s too late.”
“Geez. We live next door to each other. What do you expect?”
“Didn’t expect you two to be all buddy buddy,” Wyatt stated with heat. “Scarlett isn’t the type to make friends well.”
“You’re the one who told me to figure out what I wanted. I want friends who will have my back,” I said, leaning forward on the table. Fury was beginning to grow in my veins. “So don’t you dare take this out on your sister.”
“You’re right,” Wyatt said after a moment. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have acted like I did. It’s been a long few days.”
“You know better than to take it out on me,” Sawyer said. “The last time you did that…”
“Yes, I know,” he sighed.
