Abbot sat down on the other side of Zach’s head and seemed fascinated by Hannah’s actions as she used trembling fingers to lift his eyelids and check his pupil dilation. She reached for her phone, intending to dial 911 again, but the sound of a police car’s siren in the distance stilled her.
She took a deep breath and caressed Zach’s face. I’m sorry. So sorry. Someone had been in her home again. Someone had done this to him. She felt so violated and scared and angry. Angry at herself for not listening to him earlier. He’d been right.
The person doing this was dangerous, and worse, they didn’t seem likely to give up anytime soon.
Sarah Taylor glared from across the room. “And why didn’t you tell me any of this sooner?”
Hannah shrank deeper into the corner of her new sofa and watched her best friend pace a line in the living room rug. Sarah’s ebony skin didn’t turn red in anger the way hers did, but Sarah had other tells Hannah had picked up on throughout the years. Hannah knew her usually calm and quiet best friend was livid.
Well, at least she hadn’t brought one of her brothers with her. Then Hannah would be defending herself against two of the Taylors. Heaven help her.
“I told you,” Hannah said. “I didn’t want to distract you from your schoolwork. You work a full-time job, and your mother is sick with cancer. The last thing you need to worry about is me.”
“I know you didn’t say that Hannah Michelle Dawson.” Sarah stopped pacing and pointed an accusing finger at her. “You are practically my sister, and you know you can come stay with us. We could have been watching out for you.”
Hannah grabbed the pillow beside her and hugged it. Batting her eyelashes, she feigned a proper British accent. “If you would be so polite as to grace me with your forgiveness, I’d be ever so grateful.” Sarah could never resist the British accent.
“Don’t even try it.” Her friend’s thinned lips twitched as she held up a hand in warning and spun away.
“Do you like crumpets?” Hannah batted her eyelashes. “I’ll make you crumpets if you forgive me.”
Glancing back at the sofa, Sarah rolled her eyes and relented with a smile. “Fine.” She crossed her arms. “I forgive you, but only if you come stay with us.”
Dropping the accent, Hannah groaned. “Come on, Sarah. You and I both know you and your mom have this weird phobia about cats. That’s why Abbot is locked in the other room right now. I can’t bring him into your house. It wouldn’t be fair to any of you.”
“I don’t understand why you don’t get rid of that thing anyway.” A feigned shudder jiggled Sarah’s shoulders. “Creepy-as-hell cat.”
Gritting her teeth, Hannah moved to her feet. Every few minutes she felt the need to check on that so-called creepy-as-hell cat to make sure no one else had climbed in the window and tried to snatch him again.
“Besides the fact I love and adore Abbot, you know why.” Hannah paused on her way to the bedroom to peek out the front window curtain. “Remember the money that paid off your mother’s medical bills? Remember that money I gave you to pay for this semester’s tuition? That’s why.”
“Loaned me,” Sarah corrected, padding close behind her with Costello bringing up the rear. Hannah opened the bedroom door and spotted Abbot twisted in an unnatural kitty position in his fluffy bed, deep asleep.
A sigh of relief escaped her parted lips as she closed the door.
How was she ever going to get a decent night’s sleep again, with her constant guarding over the two animals in her care?
“I’m gonna call Jeremy so he can come and stay with you.” Sarah pulled out her cell phone. “The boy’s crazy as hell, but he doesn’t mind cats or dogs.”
The mention of Sarah’s youngest brother nearly tore a groan from Hannah. She grappled with her friend’s hand before Sarah could complete the dial. “Jeremy is in high school.”
“So?”
“Sarah, I’m a 30-year-old single woman who just moved into this neighborhood.” She shook her head. “I love your brothers like my own, but all my new neighbors will see is that a 15-year-old boy keeps coming and going from my house. Awkward.” She let the word roll out in two syllables. “Besides, if anything happened to him, do you know what that would do to your mom?”
“Ugh. You are such a party pooper.” Groaning, Sarah twirled, and her long, black hair swished around her shoulders. Her pretty features appeared drawn tight, and Hannah worried her friend hadn’t been taking care of herself very well. Lord knew she had plenty to cause her stress. Sarah plopped onto the sofa, arms crossed, her hazel eyes sparkling with determination. “Fine. I’ll stay.”
Hannah closed her eyes and prayed for strength. She rarely won arguments with any of the Taylors, but she absolutely could not allow her friend to stay here. She refused to burden Sarah any more than she already was.
“If you stay, we’ll both gain ten pounds from eating ice cream and get no sleep because we’ll be watching your DVDs of Downton Abbey all night. You, my friend, have exams coming up. Get your butt home and study.” Hannah moved toward the kitchen to grab a diet soda—maybe the caffeine would help keep her alert—and chewed her bottom lip as she came to terms with the decision she’d already made. “Besides, I’ve hired Zachary Collins’ agency for protection. There is no need for you or anyone else to stay here.”
“Yeah, because they’re obviously doing a top-notch job so far.” Sarah snorted. “How old is that kid guarding your house anyway? Sixteen?”
“E.J. is at least in his twenties, and he’s been nothing but professional.” Hannah closed the refrigerator and turned to face her friend. A zing of irritation on Zach’s behalf triggered her temper. “Zach refused to leave the other night because he thought I was being watched. If he hadn’t been here yesterday morning—” She didn’t like to think what could have happened. She waved a dismissive hand. “Besides, they moved me to a hotel last night and made sure the house was safe to come back to. They’ve been keeping us safe, Sarah.”
Her friend held up her hand. “Fine, but don’t expect me to believe Zachary Collins is doing this out of the goodness of his heart. I’m sure he only sees dollar signs when he looks at you, Hannah.”
“It’s not like that.” She frowned. “You don’t even know him.”
“I’m just sayin’ be careful.” Sarah sprang up from the sofa and joined her at the kitchen island. Sarah leaned against it and wiggled her eyebrows. “So, what’s he like in person? I’ve only seen his show a few times.”
“He’s…good. I think he’s good at what he does.”
“Gay?”
“Sarah.” Hannah couldn’t keep the amusement out of her voice.
“What? He was on TV. You have to wonder.”
“I don’t think he’s gay.” Although she didn’t have much to base that on. Wishful thinking probably.
Sarah’s smile grew lascivious. “Is he as hot as he seems on TV?”
Hannah sighed dramatically. “Hotter. Much hotter.”
Sarah snuck some pieces of popcorn from the bowl Hannah had left sitting there…had it been three days ago? Geesh. She really needed to clean. “What about the other bodyguards?”
Hannah gave her a quick run-down of the men she’d met so far, and Sarah released a long breath,