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“I know it’s not the Ritz,” he says. “But you’ll be safe.”
“Where are you going?” I ask when he turns away.
I sense my mom looking at me, probably wondering why there’s so much emotion in my voice for this apparent stranger.
Felix turns back, staring at me with those intense eyes.
“I’m going to keep watch until Kenny, and his men arrive.”
“What about your shoulder? What about sleep?”
“I’ll bandage my arm with a gun at my side while I make sure this safe house really is safe.”
He leaves before I can say anything else, leaving me to study the broadness of his back, my hands clenching as I imagine going after him and clawing on.
Sleep with me tonight….
“Come on,” Mom touches my arm. “I won’t pretend this is regular, in any sense of the word, but we still need sleep.”
“You trust him?” Julie mutters, glancing at the door.
“You don’t?” I say, a tone far snappier than I intended. “He saved our lives. Those men would’ve killed us all.”
“I know,” Julie says, “but he’s still a stranger.”
“What about Mike? Felix isn’t here now. What did you mean earlier, during your call?”
She stares at me for a few moments, then shakes her head slowly.
Mom stands off to the side as though preparing herself to play the referee.
Julie and I rarely argue. The few times we had were during high school and once a few months ago when Julie’s mood had gotten even worse, and I was trying to persuade her to seek help.
“What does that mean?” I snap, unable to stop myself. “It’s just us. You can explain. Mike doesn’t have anything to do with…withthis, does he?”
Julie erupts into a sob and then takes off for the closest door, slamming it behind her. I surge forward, meaning to start hammering my hand against it.
I understand she’s going through a tough time. I get that I shouldn’t press her.
But is this really fair? To call me up the night somebody tries to kill me, almost warning me of it, and then shutting down and refusing to talk?
Mom touches my arm as she slides between me and the door.
“I think sleep first, Freya. You’re both exhausted. You’re not thinking straight. How are you going to have a productive conversation?”
“But she clearly knows something.”
I let out a long breath, so much clashing in my mind that it’s difficult to keep it all straight.
“Maybe,” Mom says, lowering her voice. “Or maybe she’s dealing with a lot anyway, and almost being murdered has made it worse. Freya this is all extremely bizarre, but I saw those police officers. I heard their gunshots. Whoever Felix is, clearly, he’s safer than the alternative.”
It’s not as though her words are a bright, enthusiastic endorsement, but they still make me smile.
“See?” Mom smiles in response. “It’s not so bad, is it?”
I don’tknowif it’s bad since Julie won’t speak to me, but mom’s right. Getting into an argument won’t solve anything.
Part of me wants to make Julie tell me. Maybe Iwouldcharge in there if mom wasn’t here. But it wouldn’t be the right thing to do.
