Christopher gently took the phone from her nerveless fingers and set it on the counter, then turned her to face him. His hands were warm on her upper arms, steady and sure, and when he pulled her against his chest, shewent without resistance. She could feel the solid strength of him through his shirt, could hear his heartbeat steady and calm where hers raced like a frightened bird.
“I know we’ve only just met, and I have no business asking this,” he said softly, his voice rumbling through his chest where her ear pressed against it. “But Isabella, do you have a stalker? Is that why you were so jumpy this morning in the kitchen?”
The question was gentle, without judgment, and somehow that made it easier to answer. Or maybe it was the safety of his arms around her, the feeling of not being alone for the first time in so long. She nodded against his chest, not trusting her voice, not trusting herself to speak without breaking apart completely.
His arms tightened fractionally around her, not constraining but protective, and Isabella let herself lean into his strength just for a moment, just long enough to remember what it felt like not to carry everything alone.
Christopher held her for another moment, letting her breathe, letting her find her balance against his solid warmth before he spoke again, his voice careful and gentle like he was approaching something that might flee if startled.
“Can you tell me about it?” he asked, not pushing, just offering her the space to speak if she wanted. “Who is this person? How long has this been going on?”
Isabella pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him, though his arms stayed loosely around her waist, anchoring her. The concern in his eyes was genuine, without any of the judgment she’d feared, without any of the doubt she’d expected.
“It started this morning,” Isabella said, her voice steadier than she’d thought it would be. “Early. Around quarter to five, and after that I couldn’t sleep, so I was in the kitchen when you found me.” She swallowed hard, remembering that first moment of recognition, the way her body had gone cold. “It was Todd. Todd Berkley. My ex-husband.”
Christopher’s expression didn’t change, but she felt the subtle tension that ran through his body, the way his hands tightened almost imperceptibly where they rested at her waist.
“Maddy’s father?” he asked, though it wasn’t really a question.
“Yes.” The word came out bitter, sharp-edged with old anger. “Though he’s never been a father to her. He left before she was born, and this morning was the first time I’d heard from him in twelve years.”
Once she started talking, she couldn’t seem to stop. Everything poured out in a rush, like water breaking through a dam that had held too long. She told him about the morning call, about Todd’s threats and implications, about the fear that had crawled up her spine and settled in her chest like a weight. She told him about the suspicious timing of her car trouble that evening, how convenient it had been that she’d needed a ride.
Christopher listened without interrupting, his presence steady and patient, his arms a warm reminder that she wasn’t alone in this. When she finally ran out of words, out of breath, out of the energy it took to hold back twelve years of fear and anger, he was quietfor a moment.
“Do you know what he wants?” Christopher asked finally, his voice calm but with something underneath it, something hard and protective that made her chest tight with an emotion she couldn’t quite name.
“No,” Isabella admitted, then swallowed hard against the fear that rose in her throat. “But whatever it is, he’s trying to leverage my baby girl to get it. That comment about Maddy finding out what kind of person I really am...” She shook her head, unable to finish the thought.
“You’re not going alone tomorrow,” Christopher said, and it wasn’t a suggestion. There was steel in his voice now, the kind of authority that came from years of making decisions in dangerous situations. “I won’t let you walk into whatever trap he’s setting without backup.”
“But he said to come alone,” Isabella protested weakly, though part of her was desperately grateful for his insistence.
“Men like Todd always say that,” Christopher said, and there was experience in his voice, knowledge gained from years of dealing with threats and dangerous people. “They want you isolated, vulnerable. But you’re not alone anymore, Isabella. You have people who care about you. People who won’t let you face this by yourself.”
The words settled around her like a blanket, warm and protective, and Isabella felt tears sting her eyes. When was the last time someone had offered to stand with her against a threat? When was the last time she hadn’t had to face everything alone?
“He’s been watching me,” she said suddenly, the realization hitting her with fresh fear. “He knew you were here. He called you hero boy, the Boy Scout. He saw us arrive.” Her eyes went to the windows Christopher had covered, understanding now why he’d moved through her house with such purpose. “Thank you for closing everything. I should have thought of that.”
“You were in shock,” Christopher said gently. “And you did think of it. You locked the deck door earlier, remember? Your instincts are good, Isabella. You just need to trust them.”
Isabella pulled away from his embrace, needing to move, needing to do something with the nervous energy coursing through her. She picked up her phone and scrolled back through her messages, looking at them with new eyes.
“The car,” she said suddenly, staring at a message from earlier. “He knew my car wouldn’t start. He knew I’d need a ride.” Her hands shook as she showed Christopher the message. “He did something to it. He sabotaged my car to make me vulnerable.”
Christopher took the phone and read through the messages with focused attention, his expression growing darker with each one. “We need a plan,” he said finally, handing the phone back. “First, I’m going with you tomorrow, but not with you. I’ll go into town early, park a few blocks from the diner, and find somewhere I can watch from. A shop nearby, maybe. You’ll go in alone like he demanded, but I’ll be close enough to intervene if needed.”
“What if he sees you?” Isabella asked, fear creeping backinto her voice.
“He won’t,” Christopher said with quiet confidence. “I’ve spent years learning how to be invisible when I need to be. Todd might think he’s smart, but he’s an amateur playing games he doesn’t understand.”
He pulled out his own phone, scrolling through his contacts with purpose. “We need to bring Charlie in on this. She’s an attorney, and she’ll know how to handle the legal aspects. Whatever Todd thinks he has on you, whatever leverage he’s trying to use, Charlie can help.”
“I can’t afford a lawyer,” Isabella said quickly, embarrassment heating her cheeks. “I’m barely managing as it is, and with trying to save for Maddy’s school...”
Christopher looked at her with something soft in his eyes, something that made her chest tight. “Isabella, this is what family does. They help each other. And whether you realize it or not, you’re part of this family now. Charlie won’t charge you anything, and even if she did, I’d cover it.”
Before she could protest, he was already dialing, putting the phone on speaker as it rang.
