Chapter 63

"Absolutely not," Charles said.

"But if I take the security guard, I'll be totally fine."

He glowered at me from behind his desk, looking like a displeased boss and less the sexy Alpha in an apron making a delicious cup of coffee from that morning.

"Matilda is already out there getting some amazing shots," Sally said. "We can team them together for added security. Plus, there are lots more journalists down there from other departments and competitors. One of my own is doing a 'protest chic' story about the fashion people are sporting."

Charles stood up suddenly and walked to the window. Sally and I glanced at each other and waited nervously for him to speak.

"Sally, can you give me and Elena a moment?" he asked.

Sally gave me a wide-eyed look and stood. "Sure. I'll be just outside."

When she closed the door Charles turned around, his face full of concern. "You want to go, don't you." It was a statement rather than an answer.

I nodded.

He tapped his fingers on the desk, looking irritable. "Then take Elliot with you."

"Elliot?"

"The guard from yesterday."

"Oh," I said, relieves. "No problem. He was nice."

"And you're back for dinner with me. We can discuss what you see with Sally and the other editors."

I began to smile. He was going to let me go. Not that I would have stayed in my office if he'd said no. Maybe he'd sensed that himself and so was making the best of the situation.

I stood and went over to him. When I got close he inhaled and his eyes softened. He put out a hand and brushed his knuckles down my throat to my collarbone, then lower to my chest and to my waist, making me shiver. His hand circled behind me and pulled me closer.

"Be safe," he said, burying his nose in my hair. "Send me photos of you out there so I know you're safe. And so I can see it through your eyes."

I nodded.

He let me go and stepped back, smiling softly. "Congratulations, by the way. This is incredible."

"Thank you, Charles," I said, my eyes filling with tears.

"None of that. You need to go be a badass."

I laughed as he picked up the phone and called Elliot.

The first day was overwhelming and moving. People were genuinely upset at the way their city was being treated, and they continued to come out until the police shut down the site at 9 p.m.

Matilda and I found Cathy and together we three, and Elliot, squeezed our way through hot, changing bodies, pausing to interview and photograph people. Everyone had a story, and everyone was happy to pose for Matilda. Some even recognized my name and I got a few hugs that made Elliot nervous.

Late that night, Charles held a meeting of the editors and any reporters who were covering the events. We discussed what we thought was going to happen the next day, and what leaders of different groups had agreed to do and where to march.

Matilda gave us a sneak peek at a dozen of her favorite snapshots so far and the room applauded when she was done streaming them for us. Portraits of people's faces, action shots of angry workers brandishing their signs, all peacefully expressing their worries, they had a nobility to them and Matilda had managed to capture their emotion and spirit.

The newsroom was active until the early hours, and Charles and I both fell asleep in our offices doing various assignment. I had to rush home at 5 in the morning, accompanied by a sleepy Elliot, to change, eat, and get ready to go out for the next day's rallies.

I was meeting Cathy and Matilda, Cathy bringing supplies for more signs and banners to her co-workers. It had been decided at the meeting the night before that Elliot would not be working that day, as he'd been on for the last twenty-four hours and needed some sleep.

We walked buoyantly through the morning, down streets where other people were already starting to accumulate, signs under their arms and ready to go.

But something was wrong. Up ahead people were gathered at the corner, their unhappy voices audible from half way down the block.

"What's up?" Cathy asked a man who was huffily hurrying the other direction.

"The city has blocked off some of the major streets," he said. "It's like they knew the route we were going to take."

"What do we do now?" Matilda wondered.

"Side streets! Fifth up to D and then over a block!" the man called from over his shoulder.

"Right," Cathy said. "Let's go, ladies."

Despite the inconvenience, the crowd was still able to gather after an hour's delay, thanks to everyone's frantic texting and social media postings.

We interviewed people, hearing more consternation about how the city knew about the plans and that there was a curfew happening that night at seven.

"Seven?" I asked a disgruntled disposal worker. "That's pretty early."

"They want everyone off the streets. Arrests will be made. They're worried about looting."

"Looting? Was there any activity like that yesterday?"

"One place had a broken front window and the people responsible have already apologized and paid for a replacement to go in this afternoon."

"Then that's not grounds at all."

"Tell me about it, sister. Hey, aren't you that reporter from Social Scene?"

The interview concluded with a big hug and a firm pat on the back.

We had wrapped up by 5:30, wanting to make our way back well before the curfew was over and darkness fell. Matilda gave us hugs and went home while we continued on toward the Rafe Media building.

"So, now that we're alone," Cathy said, looking around at the vacant block. "Spill. I know something has happened. You have a glow about you."

I couldn't keep from smiling. "He wants to be together officially," I said.

Cathy smirked. "I knew it. The way he had you next to him at the press conference, you couldn't do a more public declaration."

I smiled, looking down at my feet. I was so happy, I had no idea how to express it to my friend.

We walked in silence for a moment.

"So, how's the sex?"

I paused, trying to find the correct words. "Earth shaking," I said.

Cathy laughed, the sound echoing off the buildings around us.

A pain shot through my shoulder as someone yanked my arm, spinning me around. I came face-to-face with a person wearing a black balaclava. It was the person I'd seen following me.

Without thinking I stepped in, getting inside the striking range and hit up at the nose area with the palm of my hand like Charles had taught me. The man's head snapped back.

Cathy's scream bounced off the buildings. The man went stumbling back as I pushed against his chest with all my strength.

"Run!" I yelled, and we both pelted up the street. I managed a glance back and saw the man still sitting on the ground, watching us, go. He was clutching his nose, and I could see a hint of red around his fingers.

"She totally busted his nose," Cathy said, smiling at me. Charles was frowning, refusing to let go of my hand. A policeman was taking my statement and Sally stood by with her arms folded. Amy and Jessica were also hovering on the periphery, having been the ones to call the police and the meeting.

"I got self-defense training," I said, looking sideways at Charles who still didn't smile. Amy, however, gave me a little high-five.

"We will check and see if there's any camera footage from the surrounding businesses and will get back to you." The policeman rose and shook my hand, then Charles' on the way out. "I'm glad you're okay."

Sally looked at me and shook her head. "I think you're on desk duty for the time being."

"No, please," I said. "I'll take Elliot no matter how many other people I'm with."

There was silence all around the room.

"How did he know you would be without Elliot?" Sally said.

More silence.

"And the street situation," Cathy said. "How did the city know which way the rallies were going to happen? The leaders told only people who needed to know last night and the rest of us got texts starting at 7:30 this morning. That's not enough time for the city to mobilize."

Charles wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close to his side. I shifted my shoulder so I could hug him back. Sally and Cathy smiled, and gave each other with a knowing look. Amy looked like nothing was happening, and Jessica looked away.

Charles took a deep breath. "I don't like this. We had a lot of people in the room last night, talking about these things. What if we have a mole?"