Page 21 of Her Keeper
Sloane was nodding at Brooks’ point and looking thoughtful, and I knew what that meant. The decision had been made. She was giving up her side of the fight.
They were going to make me call Alfonso.
I took my phone out of my pocket and looked at my two best friends, who had always jumped right to my defense when I was in trouble. These girls were willing to do whatever it took to protect me, and I’d taken it for granted my whole life. I’d hated it, honestly. Thought they were trying to keep me in the dark.
Now that I was in the light, I could see that they’d been saving me for years. I’d just been too stupid to realize it. And I might die before I got a chance to really thank them.
“I love you two,” I said, my voice wavery with tears. “I want you to know that.”
Sloane’s face melted into a sappy reflection of my voice, but Brooks snorted. “Save it, blondie. You don’t get to make a grant speech now. We’re in the middle of scheming. Call your brother and get him on board. We can talk about how thankful you are once we’ve got you safe.”
I smiled and shook my head at that, because it was just so Brooks.
And then I dialed my brother’s number.
* * *
Someone started banging on the door before I could hit the button to make the call, and I threw myself to the ground, panicked at the thought of anyone having found us.
“Get down!” Brooks shouted unnecessarily, and a moment later Sloane hit the rug right next to me, her hand on the back of my head and her eyes on the door.
More pounding, Shouting. A gunshot.
The door busted open and a man came flying through, all black suit, gunsmoke, and glowing blue eyes.
“Michael, what the fuck?” Brooks shouted. “Do you have any idea how much that’s going to cost me? What are you doing here?”
I took one look at the man who’d come into the apartment and shoved myself toward the corner, where I crammed my body in between a table and the wall, praying he hadn’t seen me. I got as far back as I could while Sloane jumped to her feet and stood in front of me, Brooks racing over to stand right in front of her.
“We’re not going to let you do anything to her,” Brooks said firmly. “And in case you’re wondering, I have a gun in my holster and I won’t hesitate to use it on you. I’m not going to let you do this, Michael.”
Michael, who still hadn’t said anything, lifted his hands in peace, his chest heaving and his eyes still glowing with intensity. He looked from Brooks down to my face, and I wanted to cry or scream or maybe both.
He looked furious and so, so frightened, and I’d never seen him look like that before. He always had everything under control. Always knew exactly what he was supposed to be doing.
Right now he looked like he’d just found out that nothing in his world was what he’d thought it was, and he was beyond angry at having the rug pulled out from under him.
“I’m not going to hurt her,” he told Brooks softly. “I’m just here to find out the truth.”
I watched Brooks’ shoulders stiffen, her stance grow even firmer. Behind her, Sloane reached into the holster she wore on her back and slid a Glock out.
Oh my God, my two best friends were going to get themselves killed on my behalf. Unless I did something to stop it.
“Stop,” I told them, making my voice as firm as I could manage. “I don’t want either of you getting hurt for me.”
Neither of them turned to look at me, and I wasn’t sure at first that they’d even heard me.
“He can’t take us both down, Pen,” Brooks said. “And we’re not going to let him have you.”
I took a deep breath and considered my options. Did I want to talk to Michael? Not really. I had no fucking clue what he actually wanted. But I also didn’t want my friends getting hurt, and I knew them well enough to know that they were going to press the issue.
I knew Michael well enough to know that he had at least three guns on him and they were all loaded.
I also knew him well enough—or at least thought I did—to say that if he was here and talking rather than shooting, it might mean that he did just want to talk.
“Let him through,” I said quietly. “If he wants to talk, I’ll talk. There are things he needs to hear.”
Sloane turned and gave me a long, searching look, asking me with her eyes if I was telling her the truth, and I nodded once. If I had to sacrifice myself to keep them safe, I would do it happily. And if Michael actually did just want to talk...
