Setting her duffel bag down in the hallway, Naomi looked around Sawyer’s apartment once more, this time feeling even more hesitant than before. In her head, she knew this arrangement made sense. Her apartment had become tainted the moment Verin stepped inside, and it would be easier to work together with Sawyer if they were actually… together.

But, there was also a part of her that felt anxious as hell at the prospect of sharing this space with him. First of all, this was Sawyer’s apartment, and she was merely a guest of necessity. And secondly, being in an enclosed space with him, having him sleep in the next room at night…

Well, that inspired some complicated feelings of its own.

“Are you absolutely sure this is necessary? I don’t see how your place is any safer than mine. Verin could just walk up to any of your friends wearing the face of god knows who, and get your address if he were so inclined,” she commented, looking up at Sawyer, standing at her side.

“No, he couldn’t,” he replied. “I don’t just give out my address.”

Naomi’s eyebrows pulled together.

“But your friends must know where you live,” she said.

“I don’t really have friends here,” he just shrugged, grabbing her bag and walking over to a hallway leading to the other side of the apartment.

Scrambling to follow him, Naomi couldn’t help but want to know more.

“What about Detective Hill?” she asked, following him to a guest room right next to the master bedroom.

“I already said I don’t get a lot of visitors,” he replied.

“A lot is different from none at all,” she commented, as he deposited her bag on the floor.

Now, it wasn’t that Naomi was some sort of social butterfly herself, but still, it was hard to believe that during his time in Tempe, Sawyer had had exactly zero people over to his apartment.

“Haven’t you had a… girlfriend or something?” she found herself blurting out, immediately regretting she had said anything at all.

That’s none of your business, Naomi!

It was too late. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her. There were no signs of a woman in the apartment, but she couldn’t help but wonder… Sawyer definitely looked like a man that would have no trouble with the ladies.

Facing her, Sawyer gave her a long look, making her squirm under his gaze. It didn’t seem he was offended by the question, more like he was curious why she had asked it. Naomi half-expected him to give a non-answer or start talking about where she could find fresh towels, because lord knew the man did not like to talk about himself. But to her surprise, he answered.

“I’m not exactly boyfriend material,” he said, his dark eyes boring right into her core.

Why? the question immediately popped into Naomi’s mind, but this time she kept her mouth shut.

Sawyer’s personal life really wasn’t important when it came to the two of them working together, and she didn’t want to come across as prying. So she ignored how the burly shifter opposite her had piqued her interest like no man before, and focused on more important matters.

“So, uh,” she started, eloquent as ever. “What’s the plan? Do we get over to the university right away in case Roy was wrong about the statue being delivered in a couple of hours? Or do I have time to shower and change?”

“You have all the time in the world, since you’re not going with me,” he replied, stunning her for a good moment.

“Excuse me?” she countered. “Haven’t we been through this? I want to be involved.”

“In a potential robbery?” he cocked a brow at her.

“Yes,” she said firmly. “I need to see this through.”

“I get that Melanie is your friend,” Sawyer sighed. “But can’t you just let me handle this? I’m the one with the experience here, after all.”

“Experience in what, demons?” Naomi huffed. “And I’m the one who knows my way around the university.”

“I’m sure I can figure it out without getting lost,” he replied.

The stoic, calm way he argued made Naomi even more annoyed. There was so much more at stake here for her than he realized. Verin had already gotten away with her parents’ murder, and there was no way she was letting him get away with David’s as well.

Not that I can do much to stop him, she scoffed to herself.

But she could try. That was the least she could do. And maybe, by facing this thing head-on, she could somehow make peace with what happened all those years ago.

“Fine then,” she said, picking her bag back up off the floor. “If you’re not going to treat me like an equal, then I don’t see why I should stay here. You have things all figured out on your own, you don’t need me anyway.”

The whole I’m taking my ball and going home approach was petty, and she knew it. And she would be lying if she said that there wasn’t a part of her that wanted to hide away and wait for this all to blow over, to bury her head in the sand.

But she also knew she couldn’t live with herself if she did that.

“Naomi,” Sawyer said, his tone a little less composed than before. “Let’s be reasonable.”

“We had a deal. I thought we agreed that you weren’t going to sideline me. I don’t want your protection. I want you to see me as a tool. I can help you if you let me,” she replied.

Sawyer looked to be mulling that over, as Naomi continued to stand there, her bag in her hand. She was well aware that when it came to physicality, she would be of little help against Verin. But she had her brain as a weapon, and she hoped Sawyer would come to see she could be an asset instead of a liability.

Either way, it was important she put her foot down. This was the last time she wanted to have this argument with Sawyer, no matter the outcome.

“I haven’t seen a lot of people fight this hard to be put in harm’s way,” he finally said, measuring her with his gaze. “I thought you professor types were supposed to be smart,” he added.

Naomi would have taken offense to that, if it weren’t for the grin playing on the edges of Sawyer’s lips. From him, that kind of statement seemed to be more of a compliment than anything.

“Sometimes you have to leap before you look,” she shrugged. “Smart and cautious aren’t always the same thing.”

“I know someone who would disagree with you,” Sawyer chuckled.

But there was an edge to his voice when he said it, and Naomi didn’t miss how he looked away, as if already evading the likely question of who?

“You can shower,” he said, still avoiding her gaze. “But we should leave soon, just in case.”

Naomi nodded, silent, deciding to take the victory instead of pestering Sawyer with any more questions.

“Help yourself to anything in the guest bathroom,” he added, gesturing toward a door opposite the bed. “I’ll be waiting in the living room.”

With that, he turned and left, closing the door after him. As soon as he was gone, Naomi plopped down to sit on the bed, closing her eyes as she took in a deep breath. She had gotten her way. They were going to the university together, to… do what exactly?

Steal the statue before Verin can steal it? Get caught and go to jail? Run into the demon again and get their skulls crushed?

Yet, with all of the possible unfavorable outcomes swirling around in her brain, there was also a sense of calm in her that came with the knowledge she was doing the right thing. She couldn’t let fear rule her decisions.

I’m seeing this through. No matter what.