Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 68177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“I just can’t believe this.” I want to ask why, want to understand, but right now isn’t the time for me to ask questions. Right now, I need to get myself together and make sure I’m ready to help Jamie, because it seems like he’s going to need me. “How long do you think it will be before your lawyer gets him out?”
He checks his watch. “My guess—an hour, maybe two.”
“I want to be there,” I say, and he shakes his head. “Don’t tell me no, Braxton.”
“I don’t want you at the police station. I’ll have my lawyer bring him to my place. He can stay with us there while we wait to find out how Freddie is.”
Freddie. I don’t want to be worried about him, but I am, and I’m sure Jamie is too. “Exactly how bad is he?”
“Jamie didn’t know. He just said he was bad and unconscious when the EMTs took him away. I’ll make a couple calls and find out when we get home.”
“Okay,” I say then look at Alisha and Bret. “I’m sorry about this.”
“Don’t apologize,” Alisha says softly.
“I’m going to pay the bill,” Bret adds then looks at Braxton. “Why don’t you and your mom get Dakota to the car?”
Without a word, he stands, bringing me up with him, then he leads his mom and me through the restaurant. When we get outside, he leaves Alisha and me to wait under the awning near a warming light while he goes to the valet stand. It’s not freezing, but the temperature has dropped enough to make me wish I had my jacket. I wrap my arms around my middle, and a moment later, Braxton comes over and slips off his jacket, wrapping it around my shoulders.
“Thank you.” I lean into him as his arm circles my waist, and then we wait in silence for his car, the knot in my stomach growing by the second. If I had my cell, I could call Lozz or Jinx and ask them what they know, but now all I can do is think of every worst-case scenario.
An hour later, I sit on the couch with a cup of tea in front of me, my leg bouncing up and down as I stare at the elevator. Braxton came out of his office a few minutes ago to let me know Jamie is on the way and that Jinx and Lozz are with him.
Since we got home, he and his dad have been on the phone with his lawyer, another lawyer, the police, and the hospital, trying to find out how Freddie is doing. I don’t know how I would deal with this situation without them. Even Alisha has been cool and calm, trying to put me at ease.
“Drink some tea,” Alisha urges, picking up my cup and handing it to me as the intercom buzzes.
I take it from her and have a sip, wishing the warmth would wash away the worry as she gets up. I listen to her tell security to allow them up, and when the doors to the elevator slide open a few minutes later, Jamie steps out with Lozz, Jinx, and a man wearing a suit following them. My stomach bottoms out and my hands shake when I see the blood on Jamie’s shirt, the cut on his lip, and the black eye he’s sporting.
He comes to me and takes a seat on the couch at my side with Lozz and Jinx doing the same, the three of them looking somber as I absently hear Alisha tell the lawyer to follow her to Braxton.
I set my cup down, rest my head on Jamie’s chest, and stare at the two men sitting opposite us. I want to say something, but I honestly don’t have a clue what I could say that would make any of this better.
I look up when Braxton comes into the room, and his eyes soften on me before he walks the lawyer to the elevator. Once the older man is gone, he comes into the living room and looks at my brother. “Freddie is fine,” he says, holding Jamie’s eye, and I squeeze my brother’s waist. “The doctors said he had alcohol poisoning, which is why he blacked out.”
“So I didn’t hurt him?” Jamie asks, sounding as relieved as I feel.
“You did, but not as bad as you thought you did. They are keeping him in the hospital overnight, and the cops are going to talk to him in the morning when he’s sober. There is a chance he could press charges against you, but he’s going to have some questions to answer himself, since the cops were able to match his prints to the ones on the box we intercepted.”
“I still can’t believe he did this shit.” Jinx sighs.
“I wish I could tell you it wasn’t him, but I found out a few minutes ago that he’s on video in the elevator.”