“These were all in your mailbox?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Westin said. “But none of them had stamps.”
I held in a growl. If she had told someone right away, it would have been easy to set up a camera at the mailbox. I drummed my fingers against the counter. “There’s a chance the letters aren’t connected with the attack.” I’d read the police report this morning, and some things weren’t adding up. “Why would the stalker hire someone to attack you if their motive is to get you for themselves? It doesn’t make sense.”
Westin crossed her arms and took a step away from me. “I’m not making it up.” Her voice was hard, but there was a layer of vulnerability to it.
“I didn’t say that,” I said, voice soft. “I believe you. I just want to think through all possibilities.”
She seemed to deflate at my words, leaning against the kitchen island. “Okay.”
I eyed the way she held herself, as if it was too much work to stand straight.
“Are you in pain?” I asked, eyeing her split lip. Did she have more injuries I couldn’t see?
She shrugged. “Just a bit.”
She and Josie exchanged a look I didn’t understand, but it set me on edge. Was she hiding something?
“Will you have time to set up the security system this afternoon, or is it better for Westin to stay another night?” Theo asked.
I glanced at my watch. “If we leave now, I should be able to set it up in time.”
Westin left to grab her things, and I had to resist trailing after her. I stayed in the living room with the other three. They stared me down, clearly taking the measure of me. I didn’t mind. I was glad Westin had friends who cared about her.
My chest loosened when she came back downstairs, a small tote bag in her hands.
“I’m ready,” she said softly, her beautiful brown eyes on me.
All I could manage was a grunt in response.
Westin and Josie walked behind me as we headed outside. “I told you,” I heard Josie say. “Lives up to the name.” Westin shushed her with a giggle.
When we got to the car, I held open the back door for Westin. “You’ll ride in the back whenever I take you somewhere.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Why? That feels weird, like you’re a hired driver.”
“I’m your hiredbodyguard,” I said. “It’s safer for you in the back.”
Westin hesitated, looking between the car and me. I was tempted to smile as I took in her little rebellion.
“Fine,” she huffed, getting in the backseat. “But you won’t always get your way.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, little omega. I’ll always get my way,” I said, my voice low. I savored how her lips parted and pupils grew large at my words before I closed the door.
Theo eyed me carefully, obviously catching on to the tension between Westin and me. “We’re trusting you with her. Westin is our employee and Josie’s close friend.”
My jaw flexed at the insinuation that I couldn’t protect her or that I would take advantage in any way.
“I know what I’m doing.”
But as I rounded the car and got in the front seat, I wondered if that was remotely true.
24
GRAY
Iwoke up early and went through my usual morning routine: work out, shower, protein shake. What wasn’t normal was how much of my mind was consumed by a tiny, silver-haired omega. I paced around the apartment, furious with myself for how tempted I was to drive over to her house early, even though she didn’t have to be at work until ten.
