Backlash

she’d spent around him back when they were together.
More silence. This had probably been a bad idea, but there was no going back now. He stood in front of her, looking right into her dark brown eyes, and he was finding it hard to steady his breathing. There was something about her that cut to his core. And his decisions had ripped apart everything they’d had together.
“I’ve had quite a day,” she whispered, almost like she was defeated. “But you really don’t need to be here, Hunter.”
He exhaled, not ready to give up. “What are the doctors saying?”
“I’ll be okay. Concussion and some bumps and bruises, but it could’ve been much worse.” Her voice started to shake.
It took every ounce of willpower in his body not to hold her and try to comfort her. Instead, he took a tentative step forward. “But you’re alive, and that’s what matters.”
“Have you heard anything about the investigation?” she asked.
“Minimal. FBI is working a terrorism angle, and Alexandria PD and FBI are on the scene.”
She bit her bottom lip.
He knew that was one of her tells. “Is there something you know?”
“No. I wish I did.”
He’d known Layla well enough to see she wasn’t telling him everything, but he wasn’t in any position to push her.
He heard motion behind him and turned. Two men stood in the doorway. The taller one spoke.
“Ms. Karam, I’m Agent Blakely, and this is Agent Jones from the FBI. Can we ask you some questions?”
“Sure,” Layla said.
That was Hunter’s cue to leave. “I’ll check on you later.”
“That’s not necessary,” she said.
But there was no way he was just going to slip away, never to be heard from again.
Hunter walked out of the room and stood outside of the agents’ line of sight, then pretended like he was looking at his phone while he listened to the conversation. He knew he shouldn’t, but he needed to know she was okay.
Agent Blakely cleared his throat. “Let’s start at the beginning. You were having lunch at the Old Town Grille?”
“Yes.”
“Who were you with?”
“My friend Vivian Steele. Izzy Cole was going to meet us, but she was running late.”
“Do you remember anything suspicious? Anything out of place?” Agent Jones asked.
“No. We were waiting for our food to arrive. Everything was very normal, like it usually is.”
Hunter’s gut was screaming that something was off. There was some reason that Layla was holding back, and he had no idea why.
Agent Jones cleared his throat. “And you work for the State Department?”
“Yes,” she said without hesitation.
Hunter was one of a handful of people who knew State was just a cover for Layla.
“And your friend works there too, right?” Jones asked.
“Yes. We both do.”
“Did you go to this restaurant often?”
“Every Saturday.”
Hunter realized the importance of that tidbit.
“Do you know of any other Saturday regulars?” Blakely asked.
“Not like us. Not every Saturday,” Layla responded.
“Is there anything you’re working on right now that you feel could put you in danger?” Jones asked.
That was exactly what Hunter wanted to know.
“Not that I can think of.”
“Exactly what do you do at State?” Blakely asked.
“I’m an analyst in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.”
Hunter moved closer to get a better look into the room.
Blakely jotted down some notes and then pulled a card out of his jacket. “If you think of anything else, please give me a call. We’ll be following up as the investigation unfolds.”
“Thank you.”
Hunter scurried down the hall to avoid the agents, but he couldn’t stop wondering what kind of trouble Layla was in.

CHAPTER
FOUR
That night, Izzy helped Layla into her condo. Bailey and Viv were there waiting.
“You didn’t need to go to all of this trouble,” Layla protested. “The doctor said I would be fine.”
Izzy knew Layla didn’t like all the fuss, but considering the circumstances, it was more than warranted. “We’re doing this because we want to.”
“Well, Viv needs some TLC too,” Layla said.
Viv patted Layla’s arm. “I didn’t get hit in the head like you did.”
It was nice how Izzy had become a part of the group. She was the youngest of them all, and she looked to each of the other women for advice and guidance. Now there was an opportunity for her to help in return, and she was going to do just that. “I’ll start making dinner soon. You two just relax. Let Bailey and me handle everything.”
Layla lifted her hand. “First, I need to talk to everyone. Please sit.”
Izzy took a seat in one of the chairs.
“I’ve been placed on administrative leave,” Layla said.
“Because of the bombing?” Izzy asked. “What about Viv? Have you too?”
Layla and Viv exchanged a glance, and something passed between them.
Izzy felt like the odd one out. “What am I missing?”
Layla shook her head. “It’s just me. This has nothing to do with Viv. There’s an internal investigation. I have no idea why I’m being investigated, and neither does my boss. But for now, I’m not going to be working until this is sorted out.”
Izzy looked at Bailey, who also remained silent. “So this investigation doesn’t have anything to do with the bombing?”
“They are acting like it’s a totally separate thing,” Layla said.
“And you’re not so sure,” Izzy guessed.
“Here’s what I do know. I’ve felt like someone has been watching me for the past couple of weeks. Today, the restaurant I frequent every single Saturday like clockwork was the site of an explosion. And then, on top of that, I’m told that I’m being investigated by the IG’s office. Does that seem right to any of you?”
Izzy bit the inside of her cheek as she tried to process this information. She didn’t want to say it, but she thought Layla was hiding something. As she looked at the other two women in the room, she had the same sinking feeling. Since she didn’t have the tight bonds built from years of trust like they did, she didn’t think it was her place to interrogate Layla. Especially not after the day they’d had. She’d let it