Total pages in book: 179
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
I listen to Reese and Reid talk for a full minute, with a conversation about the police, among the many fast-moving topics, before Reese disconnects. “He’s handling things. Trust him. I do.” His hands come down on my shoulders. “I wish I could get out of court, but Dana and the jury and—”
“Go in there and do your job.”
“I need you to stay in the building. Come to the back room with the team for lunch. We’ll skip the truck.”
“She’s with Reid. We need that lucky hot dog and she doesn’t get to make us hide.”
“We’re being cautious. We’ll order in hot dogs. Don’t leave. I need to know—”
“I won’t. If it will make you focus, I won’t go anywhere without you.”
He presses his forehead to mine. “If she touches you, Cole will be defending me. Fuck. Now I know how he felt when that man attacked Lori.”
“She was literally attacked. I haven’t been and I won’t be.” I cup his face. “Go win and give me juicy stuff to write about.”
His fingers tangle in my hair and he stares down at me. “Do not leave the courthouse.”
“I promise.”
He kisses me, another deep, drugging, curl my toes kiss, before he releases me, and says, “Don’t move.” He steps to the edge of the hall, leans around it and then Savage is joining us. “Stay with Savage,” he orders, kissing me once more, hard and fast on the lips, and then he’s gone.
Savage steps in front of me. “Ready to go to court?”
I stare at this big, hard man, a scar running down his face, and right now, I need a distraction to calm my mind. “How did you get the scar down your face?”
“Enemy combatant overseas.”
“What happened to the other guy?” I ask.
“He died. Painfully. Ready to go to court?” he asks again.
“Yes, but just so you know, that story is very comforting right about now.”
“Yeah. I should have been a doctor. Great bedside manner and all.”
“Then I should tell you something. I’m sick right now. I may have to get up suddenly and go to the bathroom. How do you want to handle that?”
“Gabe’s here, but text me and wait for me at the door. If you don’t see me, throw up on Gabe or the floor, I really don’t care which, but do not leave without me.”
“So much for your bedside manner.”
“The only good bedside manner is the kind that keeps you safe. Let’s go before the crowd makes me pull a running back move to get you into your seat.”
I don’t laugh but I do start walking. I just want in that courtroom with my husband in the same room. We head down the hallway, and the minute we hit the bustle of people, Savage’s hand is on my arm. A few more steps and I spot Gabe waiting by the courtroom door, looking as handsome as ever in a grayish blue suit, his blonde hair rumpled as if he’s been running his fingers through his hair anxiously. That’s not like my brother and that tells me he knows what happened this morning.
The minute we’re in front of him, he pulls me close and hugs me. “Way to make me regret every asshole moment I’ve ever had with you, little sis.” He pulls back to look at me. “I’m repenting. I’m sorry.”
“You’ve already said that to me. Stop saying it. We’re okay Gabe.”
“We’re not, but we’re gonna get there.” He eyes Savage. “I’m with her. I know the rules. I won’t let her leave without you, even to pee.”
“Or throw up,” Savage says. “You both wait for me.”
“Throw up?” Gabe asks, eyeing me. “What does he mean?”
“I’m fine. Lauren is bringing me medicine and it’s nothing you’ll catch.”
“That means pregnancy or food poisoning. Which is it?”
I don’t want to lie to my brother, but I have to protect this secret and—I have to protect this secret. “Food poisoning,” I say, nearly choking on the lie that I hate. “And I need to get into court.” I walk past the doors and Gabe is instantly by my side.
We speak to the guard and he ushers us to the front, near Reese, which is exactly where I need to be right now. I claim my seat and Gabe is instantly beside me and just in time. The jury is returning. In another two minutes, Reese walks into the courtroom and he seeks me out. The minute his eyes meet mine, I feel relief wash over him, and there is a transformation in him. He relaxes into his job and then, in turn, claims the courtroom. He’s magnetic, all eyes on him, and for now, I’m forgetting about Debbie. I’m ready for my husband to show us all what he’s got.
Reid
About sixty seconds after I disconnect with Reese, with the news that Debbie stalked my sister, for God knows how long, I’m on the phone with Royce Walker to coordinate my plan. I’ve just hung up when my assistant, Connie, who is attractive, forty, and single, the latter of which she blames on me, appears in my office doorway. “She’s throwing another fit. You have to get her out of here. Debbie isn’t about to do Dallas, she’s about to do our receptionist.”