“No, I can do it,” I repeat. Then I start climbing towards him. “I just… my body didn’t want to work.”
He backs up to give me space. But he keeps one hand outstretched to me. “That’s okay. That’s normal when you’re scared.”
While I wiggle through the small doorway, he never stops touching me. First it’s just my arm. Then my shoulder. And once I’m back into the regular part of the closet, he loops his arm around me and basically carries me the rest of the way out.
As he leads me into the bedroom, I blink at the sudden brightness. Unlike before, when I crept through the darkness to get into the closet, the lights are all on. And in the doorwayleading to the hallway is Max; tall and imposing as he stands guard.
Max’s gaze jumps to me. “You okay, Angel?”
Ronan takes my shoulders in his hands. Then he steps back to inspect me. “She might be hurt,” he tells Max. “In the closet, she cried out.”
“I’m not,” I say. “Hurt, I mean.”
Ronan frowns. “I heard you.”
“I just bumped my head. When you opened the door. It startled me.”
His expression shifts from worried to guilty. “Shit, Angel. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” As the rush of adrenaline subsides, I feel weak all over. My legs wobble.
“Ah, Angel.” Ronan hugs me to his chest, curving his body around mine. His lips come to the top of my head. “I’m so sorry. Shit. I’m so sorry.”
“The house is still clear,” Max reports. “From the sound of the sirens, I’d put them a few blocks out. And Enzo?—”
“Ronan! Max!” Enzo’s deep voice carries into the bedroom. It sounds like it’s coming from downstairs. “Sitrep.”
Ronan doesn’t let me go. He just lifts his head and calls back, “Clear. No sign of the intruder. We’re upstairs. First door on the right. Angel says she’s unhurt.”
“Roger that,” Enzo replies. He sounds like he’s coming closer. “I’m coming up.”
A little shiver jerks my body, and Ronan hugs me even closer. He rubs his hand up and down my back. “It’s okay,” he murmurs. “It’s okay. You’re safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
I want to tell him I believe him.
I want to reassure Ronan that I’m really okay.
I want to tell him that even though I’m mad at him, I’m really,reallyglad he’s here.
But when I try to speak, it gets stuck on the giant lump in my throat. So instead, I just nod against Ronan’s shoulder and try my best not to cry.
“Knox is still downstairs,” Enzo announces as he comes into the room. “He’s watching for the police. And”—his tone shifts from commanding to threatening—“if the intruder gets any ideas about coming back…”
At the very mention of the intruder, I shudder instinctively. “It’s okay,” Ronan soothes. He kisses my head again. Then his voice hardens as he adds darkly, “They’ll be in for a surprise if they do.”
“My guess is they took off when they saw our headlights,” Max says.
“There wasn’t time for stealth,” Ronan retorts. “Not when Angel was inside, hiding?—”
“I know that,” Max replies calmly. “Of course we needed to get inside as quickly as possible. I’m just saying what might have happened.”
“It’s possible,” Enzo says. “But whatever it was, we’ll figure it out.” His tone softens. “Angel. I heard some of it from Max. But can you fill us in? Are you feeling up to it?”
Ronan’s arms tighten around me. “She’s in shock. Give her a second.”
But as reality settles in, I’m realizing I can’t just stay in Ronan’s arms indefinitely. Not when someone just broke into my house, stole who-knows-what, possibly vandalized things… And why were they here? Was it a random burglary, or was I targeted?
Or.
