Page 2 of Before We Fell

Based on the glances they quickly slid her way then back to me, they knew both of us as well.

“Officers Marsh and Richmond. What can I do for you?”

“Have a few minutes?” Alex Marsh asked. “We need to talk.”

“I’ll just go,” Peyton whispered. Her face had paled, and all surprise was gone from her, but that didn’t stop her from brushing her hand across my lower back as she moved. “Talk to you later, Noah.”

I grunted an acknowledgment, stepping back with the door so she could leave and the officers walked in.

As it closed behind them, they followed me to the kitchen where I grabbed a mug and looked at both of them over my shoulder. “Need coffee? It’s late.” Or early. Whatever.

“No, listen, Mr. Wilkes—”

“Noah,” I corrected. These guys were my age and my prestige might have demanded respect, but I never gave a shit.

“Noah,” Officer Dan Richmond said, and his voice had gone weird. Thick. A bit strangled. My now filled mug stilled halfway to my mouth. “We need you to come to the hospital with us. Something happened.”

“With Joker?”

He was my most current, infamous client, and was being held for not only solicitation but beating the shit out of the hooker he’d hired. That he had a gram of coke on him at the time didn’t help. Nor that he was one of the best running backs in professional football. But he was the only thing I could think of.

“No.” Dan stepped forward. He was my age. Had a wife and two young kids. And he looked terrified. “Listen, Noah. It’s Riley.”

Every warm, pulsing spot inside my body turned to ice and froze. “What’s Riley?”

Adam Marsh stepped up and quietly said, “Maybe we should sit.”

The hell I was. I stepped back. My ass hit my marble counter, and I set down my coffee. “What the fuck is going on?”

They glanced at each other. Like neither wanted to talk. And if Riley was at the hospital and they were here…the palm of my hand pressed against my chest. “Where’s Amanda? Jake?”

Adam lowered his head and raised it like he was regretting ever stepping foot in my home. “Riley’s in shock, Noah, unhurt, but scared. From what we’ve been able to gather, Amanda and Jake took her to seeThe Lion Kingtonight. And well, shit man…I hate to say this…but…”

“They didn’t make it,” Dan said, swooping in and stepping toward me.

“What the fuck do you mean, they didn’t make it?”

This wasn’t happening. Wave after wave rushed through my brain. I was the best defense attorney in St. Louis, hated by almost every single man who wore blue, and the fact these two guys were standing there, looking like they wanted to hug me made no sense.

“What are you trying to say?” I asked, gasping for breath. Riley. Unhurt. Didn’t make it.This was not happening.

“Shot. Both of them. Purse and wallet gone.”

Shot? Oh, Jesus.

“Riley—”

“We’re here to take you to her.”

I heard nothing else but a whooshing in my ears. And I barely remembered grabbing my wallet, sliding my feet into a pair of flip-flops despite the fact it was February, following them to their cruiser. Getting to the hospital.

But it was seeing Riley, my sweet little niece, all hair and huge blue eyes rimmed red and not their usual sparkle that slammed everything into place.

I ran to her as soon as I saw her, curled in a blue blanket, looking so damn tiny on the hospital bed in the emergency room and as she saw me, great big fat tears fell down her cheeks.

“Uncle Noah!” she sobbed as I grabbed her. My legs, done trying to be strong, collapsed once I got my arms around her and I fell to the floor, Riley in my lap. “Uncle Noah,” she cried again.

I shoved her face into the crook of my neck. My splayed fingers and palm larger than the back of her head held her tight to me. I pressed my face into her hair. “I’m so sorry, Riley. So, so, so damn sorry.”

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