Page 25 of These Reckless Hearts

I fall back, stepping on Lucas’ toes. He places his arm around my waist, holding me tightly to keep me upright. Stone hangs his head. “I cann…. What? This…This is....”

Wyatt places his arm on Stone’s shoulder as a heavy shroud covers us all. “This isn’t your fault.”

Stone shrugs him off. He peeks at me for a fraction of a second before looking away. He brings his hands up, turning them into white-knuckle claws. “I’m going to kill him. I’m going to wrap my hands around his neck and squeeze so fucking hard.” He’s still growling threats as he leaves the room, and Lucas kisses my temple.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” he whispers.

I’m in such a state of shock I can barely think. I keep staring at the safe, seeing how empty it is, and wondering who put an invisibility spell over my family’s legacy? There’s no way Lance got it, right? This is a terrible dream.

Wyatt, who followed Stone out of the room, calls out, “Where are you going?” When no other sound comes, he shouts, “Dude.”

The front door slams, and Lucas’ arm tightens around me, squeezing me once before running out into the main room. I sway on my feet, internally freaking out. Several other voices fill my ears, and it takes me longer than normal to recognize them, but when I do, I make my feet move. First one foot, then the other. I pull the blanket tighter and find Wyatt caging Stone in near the front doorway. He’s plastered his body against his friend’s, palms outstretched on the wall. Both of their faces share a furious shade of red as they struggle.

Cole shifts his gaze to me. “I’ve got my guys surrounding the house, and a new security company coming in.”

Ninja peers over at me but immediately glances away.

“What are you going to do, Jacobs? March over to that huge mansion and demand answers?” Cole sneers.

Stone roars, fighting against Wyatt.

“It doesn’t matter,” I lament, voice breaking. I drop onto the couch facing away from them. “It’s gone. It’s all gone.”

“Jesus Christ, would one of you take care of baby girl? She’s pale as fuck.”

When Wyatt turns his attention to me, Stone slips out of his grip, elbows him in the ribs, and runs off. It’s as if I’m watching a movie. We’re in another reality. One where Lance Jacobs got the best of us. I want to jump back into the right reality because this shit is fucked up.

Lucas squeezes my shoulder. “Dakota.” His eyes are round, frightened. “You’ve got to stop Stone. He’ll only listen to you.”

He tightens his grip again, and I shake my head as if fighting off cobwebs.

“Stone,” I whisper. “Where is he?”

“He’s leaving to track his father down.”

I get to my feet. He can’t do that. He’ll put himself at risk, and he’s worth more to me than my family’s legacy. “Stone, stop!” I scream, but he’s already down the walkway.

I run to the door, and Cole stops me. “Let him go.”

I glare at Cole, then turn back. “Stop, please!” I yell.

Stone hesitates with his hand on the car door of the Audi before ripping it open.

“I can’t lose youandmy family’s things,” I call out, hoping that will get through to him. I turn pleading eyes to Cole. “Stop him. He can’t do this.” Nothing good will come of him going to see Lance.

Cole nods at Ninja, and Ninja strides toward the driveway. “Don’t hurt him,” I squeak.

With Ninja off to gather Stone, Cole sighs. “Now, will someone take Dakota to get some clothes on, please?”

Wyatt grabs my shoulders, turning me away as Ninja approaches Stone. The cowboy holds me close, rubbing his hands up and down my arms as he walks me to my room. He takes me directly into the bathroom and turns on the shower. My body trembles of its own accord while Wyatt strips down with me and moves us under the hot spray.

“What could you see?” I croak. “In the video.”

“It was clear enough. If people didn’t know it was you guys at first, they would’ve figured it out if they watched the video long enough. We heard you call out each other’s names.”

“They?” I freeze, my body turning to ice despite the hot water pelting me.

“It was a college-wide email,” Wyatt murmurs. “They made it appear as if Stone sent it.”

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