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“Nope.”
“Is he doing mob stuff?”
“Yes.” I didn’t falter. She deserved to know what she was walking into.
“Glad we’re on the same page.”
I caught the disapproval in her tone and pulled her to a stop. Then I faced my now oldest friend besides Carter and hoped she saw how much this meant to me. “I love him.”
“I know.” But she faltered.
She didn’t. Or she didn’t believe it. I touched her arm again. “I grew up with him. He was family to me.”
“He abandoned you.”
Now the truth was out.
“No.” I shook my head.
“Yes, he did.” Her eyes grew hard. “I defended you just now, but he left you. And I know that he’s not with you because of your brother, but it still pisses me off that he left you in the first place. You told me stories about the foster homes, Emma. You’ve never mentioned Carter Reed at all, not until,” her voice lowered and she moved closer, “you know. So no, I don’t think he’s family and I don’t think he loves you.”
My mouth fell open. How could she think any of this? Thoughts and betrayal raced through me when she continued, “I think he wants you. Yes. I think that. But he wouldn’t love you because he wouldn’t have let you grow up alone. You were alone when I met you.”
“I had Mallory.”
“Who you took care of, all the time. You were alone.”
My eyes got big. I couldn’t believe Amanda said that.
She wasn’t finished. “I loved Mallory. I did. And I loved the group we had, all four of us, but you were my friend. I took care of her when you left. I did it for you. Mallory’s never taken care of you back. It’s always been one-sided, and I think you were just grateful she allowed that. So yes, Emma, you were alone until we became friends.”
I opened my mouth.
“And I haven’t left you now either. I know I’m roommates with Theresa. I know she’s taken me under her wing and I’ll always be grateful, but you are my best friend. You are my sister. That’s how it is, so even though I don’t approve of whatever you’re about to do, I’m still with you. I’m here. I’m with you.”
She ended it with a dramatic nod.
“Okay.” I didn’t know what else to say.
Her eyebrow arched up.
“Let’s go find Carter then.”
And she gestured for me to take the lead.
So I did.
A large group stumbled past the hallway to one end. I went the other.
Amanda and I looked all over the hotel. They could’ve been anywhere, but just as we began to head back in defeat, I saw some big muscle-bound guys at the end of one hallway. It was where the larger suites were located. I touched Amanda’s arm. “Let’s go to my office quick. I have a master key that’ll let us in.”
An eyebrow went up. “You think we’ll have to break into a room?”
“No. That’s why I’m getting the master.”
“Oh.” She nodded. “You go. I’ll stay in case they leave.”
“Okay.” I hurried off, but when I returned there was no Amanda. The guys were still there. Their hands were inside their suit jackets and a bulge was underneath, as if they were holding their guns close. I started forward. I could go into the suite beside that one. It was empty and I knew the patio was right next door. If I couldn’t hear through the walls, I would have to try the patio. As I started forward, my heart pounding in my ears, a hand wrapped around my arm and I was lifted backwards.
