4. DANIELLE #2
I blinked, trying to make sense of what I just heard. I couldn’t comprehend what he was actually trying to suggest. My annoyance came out as nervous laughter that I didn’t even remotely try to hide.
“Your roommate?”
“Yep.”
“And take me? Take me where? Cody lives with you, Alex, and Landon knows where you live. So, where is he supposed to take me?”
“Correction: he did live with me. Cody knows that if we don’t catch Landon in time, he’ll need to leave, and he’ll take you with him. I trust him, Danielle. If anyone can keep you as safe as I can, it’s Cody. When we find Landon, you can both come back. Until then, I need you to trust my judgment.”
My stomach twisted in knots, adding new pain to the list of things I was enduring at the moment.
I didn’t like this plan. Not at all. Cody was a stranger to me.
If someone lined up a dozen men in a room, I couldn’t pick him out.
All I really knew was that he met Alex in the Army, and after I moved out, Alex let Cody stay with him because he was having trouble adjusting to civilian life.
Trying to find his purpose, as Alex had put it.
I scoffed, unable to keep my sarcasm in check. “So that’s the plan then, huh? Send me off to nowhere with some emotionally unstable ex-soldier who doesn’t even know what to do with himself. Brilliant, Alex.”
I regretted the words the second they left my mouth. Alex’s face hardened, and now he just looked cold and emotionless.
I knew Cody meant the world to him. I didn't fully know their history, but I was painfully aware that Cody had saved Alex’s life before, and I’d just insulted the one person he trusted most. Before I had a chance to retract my statement or express any kind of remorse, Alex hit back with the same force.
“Well, considering the predicament that hiding things from me has put you in, unless you want to take care of this yourself, which you’ve done such a great job of up until now, I really don’t see you having a choice here.” Alex was stern, snapping back at me with resolve.
Damnit. He has a point.
He wasn’t going to tolerate me saying no. There was no way around this, and I was just going to have to deal with it.
-
The next six weeks were a struggle, but Alex was there every day helping me through rehab.
The rehab was brutal; I’d almost argue that it was the most painful part of recovery.
At this point, my stitches were gone, the worst of my bruises had faded, and my eye was almost healed.
Soon, my casts would come off. I’d still need a wheelchair for at least another week, and walking would be tough, but in just a few days, I’d be ready to leave the hospital.
Leaving the hospital should have been something to celebrate, but all I felt was dread and uncertainty.
This hospital had become my sanctuary—my single sense of security.
Now I was expected to trust a total stranger, someone I’d never even met, to protect me the way Alex always did? The thought gave me anxiety.
There was still no sign of Landon, and with just a few days before my discharge, the thought of him being out there had my nerves stretched thin. All I could do was hope for a miracle breakthrough in the case.
Before I could get deep into the anxiety that was yanking at my insides, I was pulled back to reality by a knock on the doorframe. I looked up to see Alex standing there with a pensive look on his face, watching me as a faint crease formed between his brows as I worked my wrist back and forth.
“How’s the wrist feeling?” he asked.
“It’s stiff and weak. Still hurts, but it’s getting better.” I kept my focus on my wrist. Part of me just wanted Alex to know I was still upset. “What’s up?”
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but we still have no leads on where Landon went,” Alex exhaled through his nose, then spoke, as if he’d rather be saying anything else.
“He ditched his brother’s car, so any trail we had is gone.
I’m going to head home for a bit and talk to Cody.
He needs to get some things in order before he can come get you in a few days, and I want to make sure he’s got everything he needs.
If you’re up for it, I can bring him by for dinner tonight so you can meet him. ”
I stopped moving my wrist, staring at the wall with my eyes fixed on nothing in particular in hopes that it would make Alex disappear.
This wasn’t the life I wanted, and it wasn’t fair.
I was never going to feel safe with this guy.
Honestly, I wouldn’t feel safe anywhere with anyone until Landon was caught.
“Might as well get this over with,” I spat the words out with as much hurt as I could muster. I wanted Alex to hear the full weight of my disapproval, but he didn’t even react.
“This isn’t going to be as bad as you think, Danielle. Cody’s a good guy.” Alex tried to sound reassuring, but it barely made a dent.
He turned and left the room. Out of sight, I rolled my eyes and silently mouthed a mocking version of his words. It didn’t change anything about the situation I was in, but just for a moment, that small bit of defiance made me feel a little better.