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Nia
I’m shaking all over. My body feels like jello as we stand outside the apartment building, waiting for the police to finish upstairs. First my store, now my home… I’m starting to wonder if someone has it out for me.
Thoughts of whether Thomas could be behind this flit across my brain for the hundredth time in the past hour, but I push them aside. My ex wouldn’t be so discrete. He’d come at me head-on, and he’d make sure I knew he’d done it. The mystery of this has me feeling afraid for my own safety.
As if recognizing my thoughts, Jared pulls me against him more tightly and strokes a hand up my arm as he does. It’s a soothing gesture, and I find myself glad he was here when this happened. God knows what I would have done if I’d been alone. Jared took control of the situation. He knew what to do and made sure I was taken care of. It feels nice having someone to care for me. Usually I’d deal with this kind of thing alone, or call Simone, but my cousin can’t always be my go-to every time my life slides off-kilter. She has her own problems to deal with.
“You doing okay, sweetheart?”
Despite the severity of the situation, my stomach does a little flip at the endearment he uses. I can’t say I don’t like it either.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” I assure him, even though I’m as far from okay as I can be.
Someone went into my home and violated my sanctity, my space. I don’t know how to deal with that. I’m scared, worried and a little nauseous.
“You don’t have to pretend with me,” he says in a soft voice that warms my belly.
“I know. I’m not doing okay, but I’m better with you here,” I admit.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he assures me, giving my hip a slight squeeze.
I lean my head against his shoulder. “I’m sorry you keep getting caught up in my drama.”
“It’s not drama you’re making, Nia.” He sounds serious as he says this and when I risk peeking up at him, I see he really is serious. “I think you have to look at the possibility, though, that something more is going on here. You’re clearly being targeted.”
I blink, his words taking me by surprise. “I’m being targeted?”
“First the store is turned over, now your apartment… this isn’t a coincidence, Nee. Something is going on here. Can you think of any reason someone might have it out for you?”
“The only person I’ve got any bad feeling with is Thomas,” I say quietly.
“You need to tell the police this.”
“I will,” I tell him. “If it was him then he needs to be punished for it. He can’t just do what he wants.”
I watch as Jared rakes his fingers through his hair. “This situation is driving me insane. The thought of you not being safe—”
He breaks off as a uniformed officer walks toward us.
“The apartment is empty. It looks like someone used a tire iron to jimmy the lock open.”
The same as the store.
“This is the second break-in you’ve had, right?” the cop asks me, his brows climbing up his forehead.
“Yes. My store in town was also broken into.”
“Any idea who might have done this?”
I glance at Jared who nods his head slightly.
“Well, there is my ex. I’m currently fighting him for a divorce he’s not too keen on giving me.”
“Has he threatened you before?”
“I walked in on him with his hands around her throat just a few days ago,” Jared interjects before I can say anything.
The cop’s jaw tightens slightly. “Has he been violent before?”
