“You’ve been giving tours for five days straight?” Trace challenged.
Ben’s feet shifted this time. “Had to get the apartment ready.”
Trace scoffed. “Sure, you did. Good thing we’re here to escort you to your meeting now.”
Panic streaked across Ben’s face, and then he was hauling ass toward the door. He wasn’t a small man, but he moved like a ballerina now, dodging Trace and booking it through the exterior door.
My jaw dropped, my attention moving back and forth between the door and Trace. “Don’t you need to chase him?”
Trace just shook his head. “Got officers waiting on either end of the hall.”
A shout sounded, and then some scuffling, before another voice called, “Tried to deck me, boss. Want me to arrest him for assaulting an officer?”
“Do it,” Trace called through the open door. Then he turned back to me. “What the hell are you doing here, Sutton?”
I bit my lower lip, my cheeks flaming. “I need to, um, find a new apartment.”
Trace’s brows snapped together. “Why? You’ve got a great setup now.”
I worried my lip between my teeth. “Rick is kicking me out. He wants to raise the rent and?—”
“That goddamned prick,” Trace swore.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not,” Trace said, looking even more furious. “And you sure as hell aren’t staying here. There are more shady people in this building than in all of Sparrow Falls. It’s not safe. You can stay with Nora and Lolli?—”
“No,” I cut him off. “I’m not imposing on them. I’ll just keep looking. I’ve got nine more days. I’ll find something.”
And if I didn’t? What the hell would I do then?
I grippedmy keys so tightly I wouldn’t have been surprised if the metal teeth cut into my skin. The pain would’ve been welcome compared to the feeling of being completely helpless and out of options.
I struggled to keep my breathing even as I pulled open the door to the rink. I tried to paste on a happy smile, one Luca wouldn’t question, as I reminded myself that I’d find a way. I might have to move one town over where things were a bit cheaper, but I could do that. I’d lose money on gas, but I’d win on rent.
Pain and disappointment burned brightly. One town over meant Luca would have to switch schools to one that wasn’t as good. We wouldn’t be as close to the second family we’d begun to build with the Colsons. And it meant losing our sense of home.
But we’d be safe. I reminded myself of that over and over as I walked deeper into the skating facility. We weren’t back in Baltimore within Roman’s reach, or worse, that of the people he owed money to. I could figure out the rest.
“Warrior?”
I turned, startled at the sound of Cope’s voice.
He scowled the instant he saw my face. “What’s wrong?”
I opened my mouth to lie but simply couldn’t do it. I was too tired. My shoulders slumped, and it was a miracle I didn’t just slide to the ground. “Not my best day.”
Cope moved into my space, hesitating for a moment, his jaw working. “I’m going to hug you.”
My eyes widened in surprise, both at the gesture and him demandingly asking for permission. “O-okay.”
He didn’t wait, just pulled me into his hold. The scent of mint and sage swirled around me.Clean, was all I could think. As if the scent could wash away the events of the day. But it was more, because as gently as Cope held me, I could feel his strength. And it was far too great a temptation.
I let myself fall. It was reckless, but I didn’t think I could stand for a moment longer, not on my own two feet. Cope came right up to meet me, taking more of my weight.
The urge to let my tears fall was so strong. The pressure built, the burn intensifying. But I did everything I could to hold back. Instead, I simplybreathed.
I let the mint and sage course through me, washing away thefear and panic, wiping clean the worry and obsession. The feeling of Cope’s heart beating against my cheek grounded me in a way I hadn’t felt in almost a decade. Steady, strong. I knew I shouldn’t let his presence, histouch, do these things for me. Depending on someone in that way was the sort of risk I couldn’t afford to take. But I couldn’t rip myself away.
