Page 12 of Steal My Breath Away

“That’s because you were the hero of the story,” I retorted. “I just stood there, frozen like an idiot, and did nothing to save myself. I was powerless. That’s not something I want to think about, just like I don’t think about how I couldn’t save my dad, or how I couldn’t make my mom stay home, or how I couldn’t convince Matt not to join the military, or even how I couldn’t tell Ace how I felt about him before he went away. Someday, I’d like to be the hero of my own story, but it’s never going to happen.”

I was saved from the uncomfortable conversation by a knock on the front door. Still groggy from lack of sleep, my hair a rat’s nest of curls, and my emotions all over the place after my discussion with Paige, the last thing I needed was an unexpected visit from my mom and two middle-aged men in black suits.

“Mom? What are you doing here?” I instantly regretted not brushing my hair or changing out of my gym pants and tankbefore coming downstairs. As usual, she was impeccably dressed in a red jacket over a navy skirt and top, her blond hair perfectly coiffed and her makeup expertly applied.

“We need to talk.” Mom gave me a quick hug. It had been so long since she’d hugged me, I automatically stiffened in her arms.

“Who are those guys?” I asked to cover my reaction.

“Security. They’ll wait for us outside.” She followed me into the house and paused in the hallway, looking around. She had never seen where I lived, and I was pretty sure she wouldn’t approve of the ’70s-era house Paige and I were sharing with four other students. Decorated with dark wood paneling, high-pile shag rugs, and furniture in shades of mustard and clotted cream, the house was in serious need of updating, but we’d added our own touches to make it a comfortable home.

“Oh, this is…” Mom looked around at the brightly colored paintings, patterned rugs, and assorted knickknacks that we’d purchased from garage sales and thrift stores to hide the worst of the wear and tear. “… cozy.”

I gestured her into the living room, keeping my eye on the basement stairwell in case our downstairs housemates, Chad and Theo, decided to come up in their usual shorts-and-nothing-else morning attire. Paige joined us to say hello. Our roommate, Aditi, was out for a run, and Molly had moved in with her boyfriend the week prior, leaving Paige and me with the onerous task of finding someone to rent her room.

“Paige, darling. It’s nice to see you.” Mom gave Paige a quick kiss on the cheek. “How’s your mom?”

“She’s doing okay. She’s still working at her accounting firm. She might get into a clinical trial, so fingers crossed.” Paige forced a smile, but I knew she was worried that her mother wouldn’t be accepted.

“Why do you have security?” I gestured to the window where the two men in black were talking to her assistant in front of a black SUV.

“Let’s all sit.” Mom took a seat on one of the worn armchairsand gestured to the couch, taking control of the room as if it were her house. “Paige, will you join us? I think Haley will need some support.”

“I think the kidnapping attempt has to do with me,” she said after Paige settled beside me.

Before I could respond, she told me about the threats she’d received, Steve being mugged, and the pictures of me at the coffee shop where I worked with Skye. “The Capitol Police are now involved, and they think that you’re at risk,” she continued. “I would really like you to come back to DC and stay with Steve and me, where we know you’ll be safe. You can return to Havencrest next year, or you could even transfer to a local university. I’m sure I could pull some strings at Georgetown or Howard.”

“Next year?” I drew in a deep, calming breath and tried to let the good energy flow through my veins. Aditi was into holistic medicine and was always giving us tips on how to lead a better, calmer life. “I have classes, Mom. I have friends. I have my radio show, and I have gigs lined up for the rest of the term.”

Her lips thinned as they always did when I mentioned my music. “Darling, singing is not a serious career option. I thought you’d come to understand that when you started at Havencrest. I was disappointed to find out you were busking on street corners—not just because of the risk, but also because that time and energy should be going into your studies and not some pipe dream—”

“Singing is not a pipe dream,” I retorted. “It’s what I want to do with my life. College is my fallback in case it doesn’t work out. I’m not cut out for office work. I’d go crazy if I had to spend all day sitting behind a desk.”

Mom had been disappointed that I hadn’t even tried to get into an Ivy League university, but I’d been so messed up after Matt’s death the summer before senior year that it was a miracle I’d filled out any applications. If not for Paige begging me to go with her and insisting on filling in the forms together, I would still be in Riverstone. Havencrest had been our top choice, andthe day we were both accepted had been the only bright light in an otherwise dismal year.

“I’m not leaving.”

“It’s for your own safety,” Mom said. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Then you shouldn’t have put me at risk,” I shot back, still reeling from the revelation that the incident had something to do with her.

“I didn’t think you’d be at risk out here in Chicago,” she said. “But now that you are, I can offer you two security options. First, we can arrange twenty-four/seven protection through the US Marshal Service…”

I stared at her in horror. “I don’t want some old dude following me around college. It would be creepy.” I didn’t realize my leg was bouncing—something that only happened when I was stressed—until Paige put a calming hand on my knee.

“The second option is private security,” she continued. “I suspected you wouldn’t want a US Marshal so I’ve already found a bodyguard for you. He’s ex-military and works with one of the top security companies in the country protecting movie stars and famous singers. He’s young enough to fit in at college, and he comes very highly recommended.”

“Where would he sleep? At the foot of my bed?” I couldn’t keep the sarcasm from my voice.

“We do have an extra room,” Paige reminded me. “Molly’s coming today to take the rest of her stuff to move in with Jace.”

“Paige!” I glared at my bestie, who was supposed to be supporting my refusal to go along with Mom’s plan.

“I don’t want anyone to hurt you,” she said gently. “I also don’t want you to leave. This way we won’t have to interview for a new roommate. It’s not like it’s going to be forever.”

“Definitely not,” Mom said. “The Capitol Police are working with the police here in Chicago to track these people down. I would expect they’ll find them in a matter of weeks, and at most after the Senate election, which is what I suspect this is about.”

“Why don’t you meet him?” Paige suggested. “If not for yourself, for your bestie who hasn’t met a decent guy in a very long time and is in the market for someone with mad protection skills.”

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