I stayed with Gabriella who didn’t seem to want to let go of my hand. “Will you stay with me tonight?” she asked gently.
“Of course I will. If you’re done here, come home with me, let me take care of you.”
She nodded and stood. “Shall we get my things? I’d really rather leave now, if that’s okay?” She looked as if she wanted to cry again.
As we passed reception, I gave instructions to let Mackenzie know that we were packing her bags.
We took the lift to her floor in silence other than the occasional sniffle. I squeezed her hand whenever she did, I wanted to hold her but was unsure of any bruising.
“The first thing we’re going to do when we get to my place, is put you in the bath and then bed,” I said. I was sure, if there was any bruising, as soon as the adrenalin started to wear off, she’d be hurting.
“Bed sounds good, and I do mean to rest,” she said, then chuckled. She also winced and I guessed her head hurt with that small facial movement.
I rushed around the room packing all her things, even though she tried to take her clothes from me to fold. We were back down at reception within fifteen minutes and Mackenzie was standing there waiting for us. He took her suit bag and holdall and we checked her out.
I squeezed myself in the back of the Aston Martin to allow her to sit in the front, despite her protests. My head was angled awkwardly, and my knees dug into my chest until I changed position to sit across the back seats. Mackenzie told us that there was an image of a man running carrying a handbag the same as Gabriella’s. He wore a hoodie and dark tracksuit, stark white branded trainers, which suggested he wasn’t necessarily homeless, but he couldn’t see his face. The man clearly knew the area and kept his head down to avoid CCTV detection.
“What about the police?” Gabriella asked, remembering that the receptionist had said she’d called them.
Mackenzie replied, “I gave them my cell number. They’ll call but I don’t hold out much hope of a visit.” He kept his gaze on the road.
“I have plenty of contacts, if they don’t, I’m sure I can rustle up some interest,” I said.
“What would I do without you both?” she said. “I do love you.”
My heart froze at the statement. I saw Mackenzie glance in the rear-view mirror, but I was sure what she’d said was simply asouthern thing, a term of endearment. It wasn’t permanent, she might be leaving, I repeated in my mind.
“Can you take me to Alex’s, please,” Gabriella said, and I realised then that we hadn’t told Mackenzie she wanted to stay with me.
“Of course.” I thought his tone a little curt, and I hoped it was just that he was concerned for her.
As far as I knew, there hadn’t been anyone significant in her life for years and I wondered how Mackenzie felt. I didn’t think I was number one on her list, I was sure he was, but in that car when she was in need, there was a slight atmosphere, a shift in dynamic and I hated the thought of that festering.
“Unless you think she’s safer at yours,” I said, to appease.
Both looked at me, Gabriella with a frown and over her shoulder and Mackenzie via the mirror.
“Don’t you want me to stay with you?” she asked.
“Absolutely, yes, I do. I want you safe,” I said.
“From what? It was just a mugging,” she replied.
“I know, I’m being silly,” I said.
Mackenzie smiled and nodded very gently. I was sure at that point he understood what I was trying to do. “To Alex’s then,” he said.
While we drove, we peppered her with questions. Had she noticed she was being followed? Did she let go of her bag straight away? Had she made a note of the contents for the police?
“Boys, I highly doubt any woman knows the full contents of her handbag, moreso an oversized one. I had work documents in there, my purse with a small amount of cash. I cancelled my cards straight away. And no, I hadn’t noticed him following me. I was talking to Alex when it happened. He took that opportunity to strike, I guess.”
Unreasonable guilt slammed into my stomach.
“If I get my hands on him…” Mackenzie muttered.
I watched her place her hand on his arm. “It’s done, I’m fine, please don’t get angry,” she said, as if she knew that would be the outcome.
He took a long breath in. “I hate seeing you hurt,” he said.
