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“That bullet was meant for you. And he took it.”
I swallow at the tightness in my throat. The ache of silent loss makes it hard to breathe.
I didn’t mean to care about Sebastian. Didn’t plan to love him like I did.
At the time I considered it a mistake. One I didn’t intend to make again.
Yet here I am, collecting a list of people men like Frederick can use against me. A situation I used to believe would make me vulnerable.
Weak.
But I think it might have the opposite effect.
I straighten my jacket, standing a little taller as I look out over the people who rely on me to keep them safe.
And I will. Whatever it takes I will do.
“When can we move forward with the plan for Frederick?”
Victor brings his drink to his lips. “It would appear the sooner, the better.”
For the first time I feel like we’re on the same page.
Working toward the same goal.
I rest one hand on his shoulder. “Thank you for coming tonight.”
His mouth barely lifts. “I wasn’t aware there was an option.”
I smile as I move toward the dance floor. “According to Paisley, there wasn’t.”
Victor tips his drink my way, sending me off to claim my dance with the woman of the evening.
I reach the group monopolizing the center of the room and extend my hand. “My turn.”
LaShawn tries to spin Rhonda away from me so I can take control of her chair, but Paisley’s mother stops her. She reaches one hand out to take mine. “I believe I’d like to spend some of this night in the arms of a handsome man.” She drops one foot to the floor and grips the armrest of the chair tight, using it for leverage as I help pull her up.
She hasn’t been on her feet in over a week and her legs are wobbly, so I do my best to support as much of her weight as I can as we slowly sway from side to side to Sinead O’Connor’s rendition of Silent Night. Rhonda sings along with it as Paisley watches us with shimmering eyes, one hand resting over the locket laser printed with a photo I found of her and her mother when she was a little girl.
Rhonda’s singing trails off and she stops swaying with me as the weight I’m supporting increases.
I lean down. “Are you okay?”
Her gaze is unfocused as it meets mine. “I don’t feel right.”
It’s the only warning I have before her eyes roll back and she goes limp.
“Mom?” Paisley is the first person around us to notice something’s wrong. She rushes toward us, her beautiful eyes filled with panic. She presses one hand to Rhonda’s face as she spins to LaShawn. “She passed out.”
LaShawn snaps into action, grabbing Julian by the front of his jacket. “Call an ambulance.”
“We have to do something.” Paisley’s voice is pitched as she tries to take her mother out of my arms. “She needs to wake up.”
I shift Rhonda in my grip, scooping her up and turning toward the doors.
The traffic outside is congested with holiday shoppers and tourists flocking to see the lights. There’s no way an ambulance will get here in time to—
In time.
But maybe I can.
I tip my head toward Rhonda’s coat, where it’s draped over a chair close by in case she gets cold. “Put that over her.”
Paisley grabs it and throws it across her mother, then clings to my arm as I rush through the lobby and out the doors, turning toward the hospital two blocks down.
