Page 133 of The Forever Vault

“What is it?” Luke asked quietly. Ezra was still asleep on my lap.

“Austin’s coach, Josh, is doing well. He was never unconscious, but witnesses think he may have hit his head on the pavement. He fought back and two other people nearby helped stop the attack, and it sounds like the bystanders held the guy until the police got there. Other than some bruises and a broken arm, Josh is okay.”

“Did he have a gun or a knife?” Luke asked.

Noah shook his head. “Baseball bat. I guess someone saw it about to happen and screamed. Josh ducked the first blow just in time, then reacted to the second by blocking it with his arm.”

“Hence the broken arm,” I suggested.

“Likely,” Noah agreed. “You guys grabbing some dinner here? I’m probably gonna go meet up with Shane if that’s cool.”

“Yeah,” I answered, “we’ll be fine.”

“Say hi for me,” Luke said.

“See you tomorrow, Noah.”

“So…elephant in the room,” Cam said, glancing at Ezra who was on the phone and walking back and forth in front of us, “If I’m here with Ezra, and Colton and Zeph and back in Texas, and Declan and Ty are at their hotel, then-”

“I’m all alone with a bunch of porn stars?”

“Well, shit, to be honest, I forgot about the porn stars and was more worried about you being alone.”

“I’ll be fine. Noah said the guy’s in custody, so that threat’s over, even though I don’t think the rest of us were in any real danger. I can Uber back to the hotel. They'll drop me off right out front. It'll be fine.”

Cam: Are you back yet?

Luke: I told you I’d text you when I got back.

Cam: So…you’re back or not?

Luke: Not.

25

Lucas

I thanked the driver, wished him a good night, then climbed the steps to enter the hotel. Once I was safe inside the lobby, I pulled out my phone.

Luke: Safely inside the lobby. You can breathe again.

Cam: So sorry I care! Love you and sleep well.

Luke: Love you too. You’ll be great.

I shot O a text, asking how he was holding up, and made my way to the elevator. While I was waiting, one of them popped up beside me.

“All alone tonight, handsome?”

I nodded.

“Is the athletic couple, you know, the black guy with the huge dick and his smaller twunk of a boyfriend…are they still around?”

I shook my head. “‘Fraid not. Family emergency.”

“Damn.” The guy seemed to consider that for a minute.

What the fuck was taking the elevator so long?