Chapter Thirty-Three

Danica

T he cab of the truck is thick with tense silence the remainder of the drive, and when he pulls up to my building, he glares at me as I go to reach for the door handle. With a huff, I slam my back into the well-cushioned seat and cross my arms. I watch in silence, waiting for him to hop out, rounding the front of the truck. And when he reaches the passenger side, he opens the door for me and then reaches up, wrapping his hands around my waist once more and lifting me down to the pavement with surprising gentleness. I want to shoot a snarky reply about how I am perfectly capable of getting in and out of a vehicle by myself, thank you very much, but I bite my tongue. Now isn’t the time.

After following Theo’s truck at a discreet distance, Jay’s man parked behind us, continuing to make us aware of his presence. I still haven’t said anything since Theo’s earlier comments, and he just trails along, following me into the building. For a minute, I hold my breath as we wait at the elevator, wondering if he will follow me upstairs or if he will leave now that I’ve made it safely into the building. As the elevator doors slide open and I step in, I’m surprised by my own relief when Theo moves in next to me. But when Jay’s man catches up to us, giving me a subtle nod as he steps into the elevator on my other side before averting his eyes, my relief is suddenly replaced with. . . disappointment? No, that’s just silly. Why should I feel disappointed about not being left alone with Theo? However, I can’t ignore the sinking feeling that washed over me when Jay’s man and I made eye contact; when I realized Theo and I would not be alone for the few remaining moments before we reached my apartment.

The soft chime signals we have reached my level and I step out, both men following close behind as I make my way down the hall to my apartment. Coming to a stop before my door, I hesitate as I reach out a hand to grab the handle. Theo just arches his eyebrow, face assessing, and I know I am giving too much away. I know he can sense my fear.

“Well. . . thanks for the ride home. And for. . . seeing me to my door. Goodnight.” Still, I continue to hesitate, unable to bring myself to open the door with Theo just watching, staring at me silently. Jay’s man finally speaks up.

“It’s safe. Roberts’ inside.” He gives a nod in my direction. A silent command for me to proceed.

Taking a deep breath, I finally take the plunge and turn the handle. A knot of apprehension tightens in my chest as the door swings open, and I am greeted by a whole team of people. Finn’s people. Jay’s people. I should feel relief, but I don’t. I inch my way forward. I know what happened at Prism was technically worse, with the amount of vandalism that occurred in a place that is admittedly more of a home to me than my own apartment.

But the fact that whomever it was got inside my home, past my extensive security system, rather than just leaving the ‘gift’ outside the front door like they have in the past? Well, it feels like much more of a violation. I shudder as I self-consciously wrap my arms around myself in a defensive gesture, and Theo steps up behind me, resting his hands firmly on my shoulders, reassuring with his solid presence.

“What happened here?” His words are clipped, barked out in a commanding voice that demands attention.

It’s Roberts who steps up to our little group, eyes roaming over me, assuring himself that I am okay before looking to Theo behind me. “You didn’t tell him?”

I bite my lower lip, unable to speak as I see the team behind him combing every inch of my apartment for signs of whomever broke in earlier and shake my head.

Roberts sighs, his face grim before calling out to a member of his team to bring the “gift” over to our group. A man I have not met before, careful not to leave prints, holds the box in his gloved hands as he brings it over for Theo to look at.

Theo’s expression goes from commanding to concerned in an instant, before a cold hardness washes over his features. “Nope.” He grabs my arm firmly, steering me backwards, towards the door. Calling over his shoulder to Roberts as he leads me closer to the hall, “I’m taking her to my place. She’s not staying here with shit like this being left for her. Take it up with Finn if you have a problem.”

I open my mouth to protest but he cuts me off before I can get a word out. “No, Danica. You are not fucking arguing with me on this. You are not staying here if that fucking psycho can access your apartment and leave shit like that for you to find. Don’t even bother.”

A quick glance over my shoulder reminds me of exactly what he saw in that box, of the note he had to have seen along with the bloody mess, and my face pales.

Letting out a soft breath, Theo wraps a strong arm around my shoulders as he leads me out of the apartment and back to the elevator.