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Romeo couldn’t get his shoes off, so I helped him then took off my own. Tristan got his off and exited the SUV. A guy waited by the elevator who I figured was Barry. I didn’t give him more than a passing glance as I held on to Tristan and Romeo. None of us spoke; our eyes stayed trained on the elevator doors.
I wasn’t sure if it was shock or fear that kept us quiet as we were taken to a big room that was all white and tiled. A garbage can with a thick liner stood off to the side with a metal table near it. This was where people got clean so they could easily scrub the area of any trace of blood or evidence.
“Clothes off and on the table,” Barry said. “I’ll retrieve your belongings then get rid of your clothes. Your belongings will be cleaned to the best of our ability. If they can’t be salvaged, they’ll be replaced. There’s a shower behind you. I’ll have new clothes for you when you get out.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to make a smart-ass remark but as I watched Romeo woodenly strip out of his clothes, the words died on my tongue. He and Tristan needed me, and I needed them just as much.
My clothes stuck to my skin in spots as I pulled them off and dropped them on the table. Romeo and Tristan waited for me. I grasped the backs of both of their necks and held firmly. “We’re okay. You hear me? We lived. Let’s get this shit off our skin.”
Tristan nodded but Romeo didn’t say a word. Worry became my dominant emotion. I’d seen Slater depressed and have horrible anxiety, but he’d never shut down like this. I wasn’t sure what to do or how to help Romeo. Although, I could get us clean.
The showers resembled those in a locker room. There was a wall of showerheads with bottles of shampoo, body wash, and whatever else we needed, including brushes to scrub the blood from our nails. I didn’t want to think about how many bits of guts had been washed down these drains.
I reached for the knobs and turned two showers on, getting the water hot, making sure it wouldn’t burn us, then I placed Romeo under one and Tristan under the other. Tristan went to work cleaning his skin while Romeo still hadn’t moved, so I took over the task and washed him carefully. When Tristan was done and Romeo was clean, Tristan embraced Romeo so I could scrubmyself. Romeo held on, wrapped his arms tightly around Tristan and buried his face against Tristan’s neck. It wasn’t words but it was something.
We toweled off after, me helping Romeo. The clothes we put on were way nicer than the ones we took off. They felt like silk against my skin without being that slippery fabric. I didn’t know what they were made of, but it was obvious everything Jordan bought was the best money could buy, including the after-murder clothes we were provided.
Barry waited for us when we were done, our belongings in a zipped bag. “Jordan would like to see you upstairs.”
Nodding, I followed him out, bringing Tristan and Romeo with me. It wasn’t like I could tell Jordan no or I didn’t want to thank him for saving our lives. It wasn’t Jordan who got us into the mess tonight. It was Malik’s brother who thought he could come after us, more specifically, after Romeo.
The elevator arrived at the top floor and before we were two feet into the room, people rushed forward, holding us, asking if we were okay. After a few seconds, I realized it was our friends and my brother.
“Oh my god,” I whispered and dove for Slater. He had tears running down his cheeks as he whispered how glad he was we were okay. In all that happened at the club, my focus was on getting Romeo and Tristan out of there, not wondering if our friends were okay. I was a shit person for that. Guilt immediately ate at me. “I’m so sorry, Slay. I didn’t realize… I was so focused on Romeo and Tris, and I didn’t think about everyone else. Please forgive me.”
Slater leaned back and took my face into his hands to hold my eyes. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Your first instinct was right to take care of them. Do you think Dexen was looking out for Dominic instead of JJ and Greer? I was already out of there, as were Reed, Cas, and El.”
“Is everyone okay?”
“No one was hurt. They got out safely, but they couldn’t find you, so they called me, asking if you’d come home. I was about to look for you when Jordan called and said to come here. He didn’t give us any details until we arrived.” Slater dropped his forehead to mine. “Fuck, I’ve never been so afraid. I thought I was going to lose you, Dash. I can’t…” His eyes slammed shut and tears escaped the corners.
I gripped his sides, fisting his shirt. “I’m okay, Slay. Jordan saved us. We’re good.”
We stayed like that for a minute, simply letting our minds relax as the reality of what happened washed over us. We were okay. Fuck, I still felt like shit for not thinking of the others. Slater was right though. I doubted they focused on us as they were running. They’d go for the men they loved first, as they should. At least my brother, Reed, Casper, and Elic were already out of the building.
Romeo was near Jordan when I found him, Tristan by his side. JJ was there as well, talking to his father.
“Hey,” I said, coming up to them.
Scared light blue eyes met mine a moment before Romeo flung himself into my arms. Hot tears hit my neck and a still frightened body shook against me.
“Fuck, angel,” I whispered brokenly. “I was so worried about you.” This bit of emotion let me know he was coming out of the shock he was in before.
“I’ve never been through anything like that,” he said against my skin. “I was afraid I was going to lose you and Tris and even Jordan. What if—”
“We’re all right.”
“It was my fault. If my father hadn’t been—”
I cut him off. “No. It wasn’t your fault. You did nothing wrong. Your uncle’s a piece of shit who’s hopefully dead. I saw him get hit but nothing after.”
“He is,” Jordan stated from beside us. “Everyone who was loyal to him is as well. I have some business yet to handle, but you three won’t be connected in any way. As far as the world is concerned, no one knows of your affiliation to me.”
Romeo pulled back to focus on Jordan while his arms stayed around me. “What about you?”
Jordan cocked his head. “What about me?”
“Are the cops going to arrest you?”
