Chapter 15: What He Knew
Theo shut the door behind him and let out a long, low sound that was not quite a sigh, nor it was quite a groan.
He had expected relief. Instead he felt his wound along a thread that threatened to snap.
A soft knock came from the other side of the door. He opened it just enough to see Danielle standing there, brushing her other arm.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
He held the door wider and stepped aside. "Five minutes," Theo replied.
She stepped in and closed the door behind her like someone closing a small, fragile room. For a beat they simply looked at each other. She seemed to be trying to find the words. He had no desire to make it easy for her.
"Thank you for staying," she said at last, quiet and direct. "I—I didn't think… I was glad."
Theo did not smile. He set the duffel on the chair and kept his voice professional. "You should learn how to defend yourself."
