Carter Reed 2

I pulled on her hand, needing to get her attention. A thought had occurred to me. When she glanced down, I said, “Don’t call your boyfriend.” He couldn’t come. He couldn’t know.

She nodded. “I know. I know, Emma.” She looked back to Thomas. “I mean it. Find who did this.”

“We will.”

When we arrived at Noah’s place, I limped up the stairs. Noah and Theresa waited for us just inside the door.

“Oh my god,” Theresa cried. “Is she okay?” She looked at Amanda. “What happened?”

Amanda shook her head. “Not yet. Questions can be answered later. Thomas, help her to the bedroom.”

I shook my head. The painkillers had fully kicked in, but I wanted answers, just like all of them. I needed to know what happened. “No, no.”

He helped me down to the bed, and I sat up.

“Lay down, Emma.” Amanda was beside me. Her hand went to my shoulder, but she jerked it back before it touched me. It formed a fist, trembling, then she forced her fingers open again. Her palm barely grazed me. She was scared to touch me. “You need to rest.”

I wasn’t Mallory. I wanted to growl at her, but a mewling sound came out. I shook my head. Thomas placed a blanket over me, but I threw it back. I wouldn’t sit there like a victim. I wasn’t helpless.

“Emma!” Amanda stood, panicked. “Stop. Please.”

I kept shaking my head, pushing myself to the edge of the bed. “It’s a few sprains and a cut. I’m fine.”

“You haven’t seen yourself, Emma.” Theresa spoke up from the doorway. “You look like you were the bomb. Trust me. She’s not overreacting.”

I was fine. The doctor had said so, and I shoved myself upright. I shouldn’t walk on my own, but I would if I had to. “I need answers.”

Theresa sighed. “Fine. We can all talk in the living room. Can you help her to one of the couches?”

He looked back down at me, torn, but he did. When I sat down, Amanda sat next to me.

Theresa stood back, wringing her hands. “I need to do something.” She looked at Amanda. “I have no idea what to do. What do I do?”

Amanda leaned forward and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Do you have broth or tea without caffeine? I think you could heat some up for her. That would help.”

“Good idea. I’ll do that.”

Suddenly, Thomas pressed a hand to his ear, listening to something. It was so quick. His hand fell almost as soon as he’d touched his ear, and he turned to the guard closest to the door. “Open the door. Let them in.”

Theresa had turned, starting for the kitchen. Now she froze.

“What?” Noah called, craning his neck to see.

“What’s going on?” Amanda scooted to the edge of the couch.

Thomas ignored everyone. The guard yanked open the door, and another wave of security guards came in. They spilled out into the living room and kitchen, continuing on to every room. After a moment they began to return, barking out, “Clear.” Echoing calls came from the other rooms. All the same word. They were dressed like my own guards, in black clothing, but their guns were held upright, ready to shoot if needed.

“What the hell?!” Noah’s voice was sharp. “What the fuck is going on? Who are these people?” he tried to ask Thomas, who continued to ignore him.

Thomas waited until the last guard had returned to the room. Then they filtered back outside until only two remained. One took point in the living room, standing between our room and the kitchen. The other went to the door, standing beside the wall, and then the door opened again.

Cole came in.

His hooded sweatshirt was gone. Instead, he wore a black long-sleeved shirt, but it was bulky, and I could tell as he came toward me that he wore a bulletproof vest, too. When he stopped in front of me, no one said a word. Theresa and Amanda’s eyes were glued to him, while Noah glanced from Cole to me to Thomas and back again. His hand kept clenching, unclenching, and forming a fist again. He clearly didn’t know what to do, but he kept quiet, and I knew why.

It was clear that my guards knew this man, and that meant he was someone important.

Looking back at Cole, I realized he was waiting for me. Gone was the cold and livid look he’d had earlier. Now his anger lurked under the surface. Like Carter, a lethal aura emanated from him. But this wasn’t Carter.

Where was Carter?

I closed my eyes as a wave of longing came over me. Forgetting everyone in the room, everything that had happened, even the woman who looked like me—in that moment I wanted him so badly I tasted him. I could feel him. I remembered the feeling of being held in his arms, hearing his voice as he whispered he loved me.

I wanted him there, no matter what.

“Okay.” Theresa broke the silence. “Who the fuck are you?”

“Theresa,” Noah said. He held a soft warning in his tone.

“What?” She gestured to Cole. “He stormed in here, and now he’s not saying a word. What the hell is going on?!”

“They all know him. Connect the dots.”

She stopped, readying another retort, but looked around the room instead. “Oh.”

“Are you okay?” Cole asked me.

Thomas moved to my side. “You shouldn’t be here,” he said. “Carter wouldn’t want you here.”

Cole met his gaze. “The woman he loves was hurt at my club tonight. Nothing would keep me from making sure she was all right. She’s in my city. She’s my responsibility.”