Page 64 of Mountain Champion
Not wanting Haley to hear us talking, I back into the kitchen and wait for Angel to join me. As she does, I scan her face, noting the bluish circles under her eyes and the lines etched between them. She looks tired. Stressed.
I ache to pull her into my arms, like I did at her house last night. But that was during a moment of crisis. This isn’t.
“How is she?” I ask quietly.
Angel gives me a weak smile. “She’s good. Excited about being here. Although she wishes there were stairs so Murphy could sleep with her.”
I glance at Murphy, munching contentedly on a bully stick in the corner of the kitchen. “He’d probably like that.”
“She’s okay. She’s got her stuffed animals. And with the full-sized air mattress, she has plenty of room for them.”
“I’ll see about getting a real bed up there,” I reply. “With everything going on today, there just wasn’t time.”
Angel walks over to the island and slides onto a stool. “The air mattress is fine, Ronan. I would never expect you to go out and buy a whole new bed just for Haley to sleep on for a few days.”
“I want her to be comfortable,” I insist. “Tomorrow, I’ll call the furniture store. See what they can do.”
“Ronan.” She traces a design on the counter with her finger before looking back at me. “The air mattress is fine. Really.” Pausing, she digs her teeth into her lower lip. “Have you heard anything? From Enzo or the police?”
I slide onto the stool beside her. My hand itches to touch hers, but I don’t let it.
“Nothing new,” I answer. “Forensics is working through all the fingerprints. Phil and Justin still both claim they’re innocent.” As Angel’s forehead pinches, I add quickly, “That doesn’t mean anything. Once there’s substantive evidence, I’d bet whoever did it confesses in hopes of a lesser sentence.”
“Assuming it was one of them,” Angel points out. “It could have been random. Just someone targeting houses that looked like they didn’t have much security. You said that happens.”
It does happen. But the problem is; nothing in Angel’s house was stolen. Nothing was vandalized. Aside from the slight damage to the deadbolt from sloppy lock picking, you’d never know anyone had broken in. Of course it’s possible Max and I scared off the would-be burglar before he could steal anything. But the way it’s looking now, I’d put money on Angel or Haley being the target.
My teeth clench painfully at the thought.
Anger surges through me.
No one is touching them,I silently vow. Not Angel. Not Haley. They’ll have to go through me first.
Belatedly realizing that Angel is still waiting for me to respond, I say, “It’s possible. I’m sure in another couple of days, we’ll have more information.”
Angel stares at the counter again. “I’m not sure what to do about Haley’s school. If she doesn’t go, I’ll have to come up with a reason. But if I send her…”
“If you want to send her, we’ll set up security.” As her surprised gaze jumps to mine, I explain, “A couple of us can be stationed outside the school. Alec can access the exterior cameras for an extra set of eyes. I can drive Haley there and back. If you want her to go to school, we’ll make it happen.”
“But.” Her hands twist together. “That’s a lot of work. A lot of time. I’m sure you all have other things to do. For GMG and your other jobs.”
“I don’t have other things to do,” I reply. “I’m taking time off at the mountain. I already told my boss about it. And thisisGMG business. Protecting you and Haley, I mean.”
“But.” Angel frowns. “I can’t pay?—”
“We wouldn’t take money from you.”
“But—”
“Most of our cases are pro bono. I’m sure Hazel told you that. And even if they weren’t, we wouldn’t charge you.”
Angel cocks her head. “Why?”
“Because you’re a friend. Because we care about you. Because—” I puff out my breath. “BecauseIcare about you, Angel. You and Haley. And I would do anything to keep you safe.”
She stares at me for a long moment as thoughts work in her eyes. “I don’t understand.”
“Why I’d want to protect you?”
