SAMANTHA
James called me and explained the situation, and when I parked in the police station’s parking lot a little after three in the morning, Becky was the first person I saw. She hurried toward me, an angry set to her chin, and I was barely able to shut my car door before she was on me.
“You were supposed to keep quiet about what I told you,” she hissed in my face, her hands balled into fists. She held them up like she wanted to hit me, but she only pressed one into my shoulder. She pulled her punch, if it’d been intended as one. “You weren’t supposed to tell, Sam!”
“What’d you think I’d do? I had to choose between Adam and Mason.” The choice was obvious.
She hung her head, her hands dropping to her sides. “The choice was between me and Mason. I trusted you.”
“I’m sorry.” And I was. “But this wasn’t between you and me. It was between them.” It was ultimately between James Kade and Steven Quinn. “We just got in the middle.”
She sighed as a white SUV pulled in and parked next to her car. Adam got out. If Becky had been mad, Adam was furious. His jaw was clenched and a vein popped out along his neck. He started for us.
His eyes were cold as he turned to Becky. “I told you not to come here.”
She stood a little taller. “I wanted to be here for you.”
He turned to look at me again. “You wanted to yell at Sam.”
“So? You would, too.”
He shook his head. “I’m not the one she betrayed.”
“If it’s a choice between Mason and someone else, you know my decision.” He always had.
“Yeah,” he spoke quietly. “I’m well aware.”
“Sam!”
Heather came out of the station, shielding her face with her arm against a sudden gust of wind.
“What are you doing here?” I’d called her, but… “How’d you get here so fast?”
“I already knew what went down before you called. Channing has a police scanner. We were already on the way.”
She hadn’t told me that on the phone. She flashed me an apologetic smile. “I figured it was just easier to explain when you got here.”
I surged forward. “Are they okay?”
“James is the only one here.”
“What?”
“They arrested my dad,” Adam said. “They’re bringing him in.”
Two squad cars pulled into the lot and stopped right before the front door. But instead of seeing Steven Quinn in handcuffs, we watched as Nate and Logan were helped out of one squad car. Their hands were cuffed in front of them, and I gasped, reeling backward.
Their faces were covered in bandages, not to mention bruises on every bit of exposed skin, and their knuckles were scraped raw. They’d been fighting. A lot.
Heather stepped close and steadied me with a hand on my arm. “That’s what I was coming out here to tell you. Everyone else went to the hospital first. All of Caldron’s guys were admitted. Mason, Logan, and Nate—they were hurt, but they kicked ass.”
Mason…
I searched for him, but couldn’t find him. If Logan and Nate looked like this—the back door to the first squad car opened, and I stopped thinking after that.
A sob hitched in my throat. I couldn’t even let that out.
Mason stepped out with his hands cuffed in front of him.
I couldn’t breathe.
I couldn’t do anything.
He had fewer bandages on his face, but one side was a giant bruise. His lip was busted, and I could tell he was in pain. He limped. I must’ve made a sound because he turned suddenly. His gaze found mine, though one of his eyes was covered by tape.
He stepped toward me, my name on his lips, but the cop yanked him back.
“Stop!” I ran to them.
Two cops moved to intercept me, but Heather and someone else stopped me before I could get to them. Heather shot a hand out to stop the police from coming closer.
“She’s fine. We got her.” She leaned close and whispered to me, “Chill or they might arrest you for making a scene.”
I could only watch as they led Mason inside. Then I looked to see who else had stepped in to help me.
Becky. She released me, her eyes darting away. “No one else needs to get hurt…or arrested.”
I reached out, saying a soft thank you before Heather started forward, and I went with her. I looked back over my shoulder. Becky watched us go, and I mouthed again to her, “Thank you.”
She nodded, offering a faint smile.
Heather held my arm close to her. “We’ll sing the friendship song with her later. Come on. We have to start harassing for bail.”
But in the end, that was taken care of.
James Kade had called in an army of lawyers. They walked in wearing their three-piece suits like they were secret service—except with briefcases. Once they showed up, it wasn’t long before Nate, Logan, and Mason were released.
I leaped into Mason’s arms as he came out, rubbing at his wrists. He caught me, tucking his head into my shoulder and neck.
“This is worth the pain,” he said.
I’d forgotten, and tried to pull away.
He only tightened his hug, holding me another moment longer. “God, Sam.” He lifted his head. A raw and tender look appeared in his eyes, and he traced my face with his finger. “Caldron could’ve really hurt you.”
Logan murmured, “He was more dangerous than we thought.”
Mason didn’t let me go, and Logan nudged him. “Buddy, I know we were in the clinker, but it’s not like you had to hide some soap in your ass cheeks. Nate and I were there the whole time, and it was just a couple hours.”
Mason stiffened and pulled back to glare. “Buddy?”
“It’s the joint. I’m already a hardened criminal.”
Mason released me, but his hand still held one of mine. “You’ve been arrested before, and excuse me for hugging my girlfriend when I realized how Caldron could’ve really hurt her.”
Logan stepped in front of him, shouldering him out of the way. He pulled me in for a hug. “It’s my turn.”
“You have your own girlfriend.”
“Who went back to see her dad. Remember?” Logan squeezed me. “Besides,” he added as he let go, “Sam’s going to officially be my stepsister after next week.”
That was right. The big wedding was next Saturday. I didn’t have the energy to deal with the tension that clung to me anytime the wedding was mentioned. Mason and Logan had been discreet in going to get their tuxedos fitted. Beyond that, I didn’t know anything about the wedding. Malinda was helping, but I didn’t live with her and my father anymore. I didn’t have to see any of the decorations or preparations she might’ve been doing at her house.
Heather and Channing came over, his hand resting at the small of her back.
“What’s going to happen after this?” Heather asked.
Nate and Logan shut their mouths and looked at Mason.
I felt tension flood him, though he showed none of it. “We’re in the clear as long as those guys are okay.”
“What guys?” Heather looked around the station. “Everyone’s here.”
We all looked over as Adam and Becky entered the station. Behind them two police officers brought in Steven Quinn. His hands were in front of him with a sweater laid over them. It didn’t matter if we didn’t see the handcuffs. We knew they were there.
“Ah…” Logan cleared his throat. “Mason means Caldron and all his goons.”
“But Mason doesn’t have to worry about that.” Nate shot him a meaningful look.
Mason let out a silent sigh. I could feel the release from his chest. “You’re not doing that.”
Nate shook his head. “I don’t care. I’ll do it before you can.”
“Nate—”
“Stop it, Mason. I mean it. You have football yet.”
“What’s happening?” I asked them.
Nate and Mason fell silent. Logan said, “We’ll tell you later.”
“Nothing’s going to happen—” Mason started.
Nate cut him off again. “You’re right because there’s no way in hell I’m letting my best friend throw his life away because he was protecting himself and his loved ones. It will be self-defense. My parents are movie directors. They have good connections. If it goes to a trial, I won’t get convicted. You know that.”
“Nate—“
“For the last goddamn time,” Nate snapped. “Shut up.”
I was putting the pieces together.
Mason said if those guys were okay, so if they weren’t… I looked up at Mason and horror struck me deep in the chest. If one of them died, or even if they had serious damage, he would be arrested, again. He would be charged. There could be a trial.
Feeling like I was in water, like an invisible force had slowed my movements, I looked at Nate.
He would take the fall. That was what he meant.
My lips parted. I felt a gasp, though no sound came from me, and I reached back down to find Mason’s hand. I squeezed. I knew he was in pain. I knew I should loosen my grip, but I couldn’t. I felt like I’d almost just lost him. And now, if that happened, I could lose him all over again.
He would never let Nate take the fall.
I looked at Logan to find him watching me. He knew what I was thinking, and I could tell he knew it, too. I looked again at Nate and saw the same look there. He knew it as well. No amount of convincing would change Mason’s mind.
I wasn’t waking up from a nightmare.
It was only beginning.