The three of us go to the police station. Grayson and I go in first, so he can give Matt his statement about what happened the night he was arrested. Next, it’s Tyler’s turn to give his statement. Then Matt brings Grayson back in and tells him that the charges against him are officially dropped.
I’ve got to say, even though I knew it was coming, it’s still a relief to hear. Matt tells Tyler that he should expect a call from Paulo Dresden within the hour, since the DEA agent will now be in charge of Tyler’s case.
Since Tyler is advised not to go back to his apartment, we decide that he’ll go to a safe house until the DEA gets in touch regarding the next step. That’s when they’ll collect the names of the key cartel players that they need, and then they can start making plans for their arrest.
Even though the cartel doesn’t know that Tyler is talking to the police or the DEA, there’s still a distinct possibility that they could find out about the missing drugs. Tyler’s apartment is definitely a dangerous place for him to be right now.
Matt walks us all out. Tyler is up ahead, Grayson is glued to my side, and Matt is on my other side, at a slight distance from me. I’m starting to get the distinct impression that Grayson knows that Matt and I have a history.
Grayson’s been off whenever he deals with Matt. I mean, I know the guy arrested Grayson once, but Matt has helped him today—and he’s helped his brother. Grayson should be grateful for that. But his snide comments and attitude haven’t shown that. When he made a crack about my “best friend Matt” to me, I cottoned on to the reason for his problem with the guy.
He was definitely jealous.
Superstar Grayson Knight was jealous of Matt Daughtry. All because of me.
I won’t deny that I got a little thrill from knowing that the green-eyed monster was at work on Grayson. Some things just make a woman happy.
But Grayson’s jealousy confuses me, because he’s been so incommunicative ever since last night. Not that I’ve rushed to talk about things either, but I think that I’ve been cordial. It’s strange that this morning and around Matt…well, I’m half-expecting Grayson to pee on me, so he can mark his territory.
I guess Grayson and I do need to talk about what happened between us. I’m worried about what last night was for him.…What if he was just chasing the unobtainable? Maybe I was something forbidden to him. Something he couldn’t have. Now he’s had that something—me—maybe the thrill has worn off and he’s just not interested anymore.
Maybe the jealousy thing with Matt is more about male pride than anything else.
I guess the only way I’ll know is if I talk to Grayson about it. Have a proper conversation with him. And I will talk to Grayson, once we’ve got Tyler settled at the safe house.
“Thank you for all of your help, Matt,” I say, offering a smile and also my hand. Even though shaking Matt’s hand seems too formal after everything he’s done, I don’t think hugging him would be the best idea with Grayson standing right beside me like some sort of animalistic predator. Who knows what he would do.
Matt stares down at my hand in his. A chuckle escapes him as he shakes his head. “Anytime, Mel. I told you earlier: You need help, you call me first.”
“I know. Thanks again.”
Matt is still holding my hand, even though he’s stopped shaking it.
Grayson clears his throat. I take that as my cue to move. I ease my hand from Matt’s, giving him one last smile of thanks before I leave. I walk through the door that Tyler is holding open. Grayson is on my heel, his hand possessively on my lower back.
His touch surprises me. It’s the first time he’s touched me since last night. The skin that his hand presses against feels like it’s on fire. Even though there are layers of clothing between his hand and my back, I can still feel the heat of his fingertips.
I lift my eyes to him. The look in his face is heated with anger and lust. The combination is one hell of a sight, and my needs flare to life. My need for him.
I break eye contact so I can breathe. This isn’t a moment we need to be having now. But it’s one we need to have soon, if my libido has any say.
We’ve just hit the sidewalk when suddenly I hear the screech of tires. I look up and see a car moving down the street toward us. Panic stiffens my spine.
The car is a black Escalade with full blacked-out windows and no license plate. I feel completely paralyzed as I watch it. Those windows lower, almost as if in slow motion. I see the guns poke out from behind them.
Matt yells something.
Tyler turns and yells, “Get down!” His words hit my ears, but it sounds like I’m hearing them underwater.
Everything seems to slow right down, almost to a stop. I’m frozen and the guns are pointed in my direction.
I’m going to die.
Out of nowhere, someone grabs me and throws me to the ground. A large body lands on top of me, covering me, just as the earsplitting shots are fired.
All I can hear is the sound of screams and bullets spraying everywhere.
My eyes are closed and my heart thunders in my chest. I have never felt fear like this in my life. It seems like the gunshots go on forever.
The deafening noise stops as quickly as it started. My breath is caught in my throat and I’m afraid that a second spray is going to be aimed at us. But then I hear the distinct sound of tires screeching away.
They’ve gone.
I almost cry in relief.
There’s only silence for a long second, as if someone has hit pause on the world around me.
Then the yelling begins as everything instantly comes back to life. Grayson’s voice is loud and clear as he speaks to me. He keeps it surprisingly calm as he says, “I got you, baby. Are you okay?” He doesn’t move his body off mine.
“Y-yeah, I’m fine,” I say, my voice trembling. “They didn’t”—I mentally check my body for pain, but there’s nothing—“I’m okay. Are you—?”
“They didn’t get me. I’m fine.”
“Thank God.” I breathe a sigh of relief. I couldn’t bear it if anything had happened to him.
Grayson lifts himself up slightly but doesn’t move off me completely. It’s almost like he’s afraid to leave me.
“Tyler?” I ask, my voice still trembling.
“He’s fine.”
I follow his line of sight to see Tyler sitting on the ground, looking completely shocked but physically okay. Matt is with him, and seems uninjured. He’s checking over Tyler.
I shift, turning my face so I can look at Grayson. He looks fine, calm, but I see the fear and disbelief in his eyes. And I know how he feels, because I’m right there with him. I’ve realized, in this moment, how much he’s come to mean to me. I knew I cared for him. Now I know how much.
Grayson’s looking deeply into my eyes.
There’s this moment where something intimate passes between us. He cups my cheek in his hand. “Mel, I—”
But he doesn’t get to finish whatever he was going to say. Police officers come swarming out of the building, ready to help. The wail of an ambulance gets louder until the vehicle pulls up close to us, and paramedics jump out to check over our injuries. Whatever Grayson was going to say to me gets lost in the mire.