Chapter 31
I didn’t have the stomach to finish breakfast with the brothers. They tried to get me to stay, but my head was reeling from what had just happened and I couldn’t. I needed to go back to the hotel and talk to Courtney. I needed to wrap my mind around everything that was going on.
I needed to talk to my best friend.
“At least let one of these police officers provide an escort for you,” Tony said.
“It would make us feel better, especially since you don’t want us to come,” Terry said.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to walk you out?” Tony asked.
“I’m sure,” I said as I came out in my dress. “I just need to see Courtney. I need to just vent and volley things off her.”
“You know you can do that with us,” Terry said.
“But we understand,” Tony said, nudging his brother.
“Thanks,” I said breathlessly.
“The boys are expecting you in the next thirty minutes. We gave them the evening and morning off since you were with us,” Terry said.
“So no diverting. Go straight to the hotel suite. If you need something, send one of them out to get it,” Tony said.
“I will. I promise, you guys.”
“Miss Lexi, we’re ready whenever you are,” Officer Rowland said.
“Let us know when you get back, darling,” Tony said, and he kissed my cheek.
“And keep in touch. Assuming things go well, we’ll see you Monday, love,” Terry said. He kissed my other cheek.
“All the guys seem to be onboard for Monday night, so I’ll message a time and place we can all agree on later,” I said.
I hugged their necks and breathed in their individual scents one last time. Then Officer Rowland escorted me out of their penthouse suite. My mind was so tired of repeatedly reeling that it wasn’t thinking of anything. I simply stared blankly at the elevator doors while three police officers stood behind me. Officer Rowland was droning on about something, but I didn’t care. I was beginning to wonder if they were ever going to catch Jeremy.
I didn’t know if I would ever have my life back.
The elevator dinged as the doors opened, and I stepped out into the lavish lobby. The lights were bright and I had to shield my eyes. My dress trailed behind me as the fabric slipped effortlessly around my legs, and even though I was dressed in the finest fabric, I felt like a prisoner, someone whose life was dictated by the ghost of their past. Why was this happening? Why did it have to be me? Why couldn’t they find—
“Hello, Lexi.”
I froze while the officers scrambled behind me. Guns were drawn and things were being yelled, but all I was doing was staring down the barrel of a shotgun. Jeremy’s eyes were on fire as they raked up and down my body, taking in the dress I was wearing before his lips curled into a gut-wrenching smile.
“Put down the gun, Mr. Newberry,” an officer said.
“Mmmm, I don’t think so,” he said. “You look wonderful by the way.”
“Thanks,” I said flatly.
“Did you really think I was going to buy that?” he asked.
“Buy what?”
“That little whimpering apology you just made on the phone,” he said. “Did you really think I would believe it?”
“Doesn’t look like you did,” I said.
“I’ve known you for three years, Lexi. I know you better than you know yourself,” Jeremy said.
“Hardly.”
“I said, put the gun down, Mr. Newberry,” the officer said again.
“No way,” said Jeremy, chuckling.
“How did you get my number?” I asked. “I mean my new number.”
“Like I said, I know you, Lexi. One well-placed call to the phone company with some of your security question answers got me just about whatever I wanted with regard to your phone,” he said.
“You’re deranged, you know that?” I asked.
“Lexi, now’s not the time to taunt ’im,” Rowland said.
“I’d listen to the little cop if I were you,” he said as he raised the gun to my forehead. “Are you sucking his cock, too?”
“Nope. He doesn’t have a twin, so it’s not really my thing,” I said.
“Lexi!”
The Wolf brothers yelled in unison as they pushed themselves out of the elevator. Jeremy pointed his shotgun up and shot the ceiling, forcing the cops to cock their guns as plaster fell on my head.
“Back the fuck up!” Jeremy exclaimed.
“Do as he says, please,” I said.
“Lexi, are you all right, love?” Terry asked.
“Still breathing, but if you keep talking, I might not be much longer,” I said.
“Why the fuck are you not shooting him!?” Tony asked the police.
“Because he hasn’t made a move toward anyone. He’s simply posturing,” I said.
“Posturing?” Jeremy asked. “Is that what you call this?”
The barrel of his shotgun pressed against my chest. The heat of it was too much, causing me to grunt in pain as I stood toe to toe with him. He wasn’t taking me down. I was stronger than this. I knew he would misstep, and I knew this would be his end.
He wasn’t getting out of this alive.
“Yes,” I said. “That’s exactly what I call it. Because it’s a show. You won’t kill me.”
“And why won’t I kill a whore like you?” he asked, grinning.
“Because you want me to suck your dick with all the tricks I’ve learned from the twins,” I said, smiling.
“You stupid slut!”
His trigger finger twitched, and the guns behind me went off. I shrieked and ducked down as the Wolf brothers ran to grab me. Tony scooped me up into his arms while Terry pulled a gun from his robe, which he held out in front of him while they backed up toward the elevator with me. Tony reached down to press the button before he barreled me into the elevator, and Terry stepped in just as I looked up to see what was going on.
Jeremy was bleeding from his shoulder and his arm as the police wrestled him to the ground. I watched them slap cuffs on him while he continued to scream at me, calling me names and debasing my reputation as I shook against Tony’s chest.
“It’s over, darling. It’s done. He’ll never bother you again. I swear it.”
“And if he does, love, I’ll be ready to kill him,” Terry said as he uncocked his gun.
“Holy shit,” I said as I pushed myself closer to Tony. “It’s over.”
“Yes, it is, darling,” he said. He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Yes, it is.”