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I went hot, then cold. My scalp prickled and dizziness assailed me. I was losing my shit. Big-time.
“Wait. Just…Hey!” JB clapped his hands in front of my face, startling me out of my terror-filled breakdown. “Let’s just think this through,” he commanded calmly, lifting his eyebrows and forcing me to stop and think rationally as well. “I thought she was with Trick right now.”
“She is…” I nodded, my voice broken and shaking. “They went to the station to answer some questions.”
“So they tookhercar?” JB asked, sounding confused by that idea.
“No.” I shook my head. “They…” Then, I straightened in surprise. “No, they didn’t. They took his. Son of abitch...” My gaze lifted in hope as it finally clicked as to what he was saying. “Hercarwas in an accident. Not her. Oh, thank God.” I pressed a hand to my heart and tried to calm the fuck down.
But JB was still shaking his head, not understanding. “Then who’s in Chloe’s car?”
“Nia borrowed it to—oh fuck,” I realized, gripping my head and feeling shitty because I was still relieved to think that Chloe was okay. “Nia borrowed her car. I just saw her at the jewelry store, too. She took an early lunch break to help pick out Chloe’s ring. So she would’ve been driving back to— Oh… Oh no.Nia’sin critical condition?”
My eyes were wide as they met JB’s.
“Am I an ass if I say I’m still relieved it’s not Chloe?” I asked in a hoarse, shaking voice.
My brother gripped my arm. “No,” he said with all seriousness. “Because you’ve definitely convinced me that you really do love her. But maybe don’t mention any relief in front of Julian.”
I nodded and swallowed hard. “Right.”
“Speaking of…” JB slid a phone from his pocket. “I’m going to call him. See if he’s heard anything about Nia yet?”
“Good…” I nodded, my hands shaking for an entirely different reason. “Good idea. Shit… I should probably call Chloe.”
She was going to freak when she heard her sister-in-law had gotten into an accident with—
Wait a fucking second.
Why hadNiagotten into a wreck with Freston?
“Son of a bitch.” I whirled toward JB, who had his phone pressed to his ear but was waiting for an answer. “He’s got a tracker on Chloe’s car. That must be how he found her at Lucy’s.”
“Fuck,” my brother breathed, only to blink and snap his attention to the call. “Hello? Julian?” Turning away, he walked a couple of steps off, trying to inform Chloe’s brother of everything he knew.
Meanwhile, I yanked up my own phone and dialed Chloe.
She answered on the second ring. “Hey!” she said brightly, making me exhale with so much relief that I went momentarily dizzy. “I was actually in the middle of answering your text. We just got out of—”
“Where are you?” I broke in urgently. “Are you still at the station? Are you okay?”
“I… Yeah. Wha-what’s going on? Your voice is shaking.”
“Sorry.” I closed my eyes briefly and pressed a fisted hand to my head. “I’m just… I need you to come to me, okay? I need to see you with my own eyes to make sure you’re okay.”
“Luke, you’re freaking me out,” she warned sternly. “What is wrong?”
“I’m at the hospital,” I started.
Only for her to cut in with, “Oh my God. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I waved a dismissive hand. “I’m fine. I was just stopping by to see JB. But we heard your name come over a police scanner from some cop’s radio that was walking by in the hall.”
“Myname?” she said in confusion.
“Yeah.” I took a breath and winced before admitting, “I think your car’s been in an accident.”
“Oh God.Nia?”
