Cuffed by His Charm (Dirty Little Secrets 4)

Not a second later, blue and red lights illuminate the sky. I look up and spot an ambulance speeding toward us, with a cop car right behind, telling me that Alex called both, likely on Ryder’s order. When they come to a stop, the paramedics are out a second later and running toward us with gear and a gurney.

The next few minutes become a blur as I watch Ryder lower Evan onto the gurney, his lifeless arm hanging off the side. His eyes are closed, dark circles beneath them. He’s equally dirty and pale, his skin nearly gray now.

“Blackwood, what’s happened here?”

I glance next to me, discover a uniformed police officer striding toward us. Obviously, Ryder wasn’t wrong that the SFPD know who he is, and maybe that lessens a little bit my guilt that we didn’t involve the police from the beginning.

“This is Evan Archer, brother of McKenna Archer.” Ryder gestures to me. “She’s a good friend of mine and reported him missing an hour ago. I tracked his cellphone which led us here. We found him like this.”

The cop wrote on his notepad then without looking up asked, “Any idea what happened to him?”

“Before he blacked out, he told us he got mugged,” Ryder replied, voice steady and confident. “I’m taking a guess that they dragged him back behind here.”

“All right.” The cop finishes writing and then reaches into his pocket and hands me a card. “Call me once your brother is awake and alert, and I’ll come down to the hospital to take his statement.”

“I will, thank you.” I take the card, trying damn hard not to show the tremble of my hand.

The cop looks at Ryder and offers his hand. “Nice work here. Good to see you again.”

“You too, Hennessy.” Ryder returns the handshake.

And just like that he’s leaving, striding back to his car. That’s when I realize that the gray line is even thicker than I knew. But cops have bigger criminals to go after than my gambling-addicted brother, and now I understand Ryder’s earlier amusement when I asked if we should involve the police. To him, and maybe even to Hennessy, Evan is a boy in a game of men.

Ryder steps back, watching the paramedics, and it’s in that second, I have absolutely no idea how I can ever thank Ryder for what he’s done for me and for Evan. “Thank you,” I say softly, reaching for him, holding on to his forearm. Ryder glances at me, and emotion rises in my voice when I add, “I wish I could do something, say something to show you how grateful I am for all you’ve done for me.”

Ryder gives a gentle smile, pats my hand. “You’re with Gabe now, that makes you family.” He glances at Gabe over my shoulder, and they share a long look before Ryder addresses me again. “Keep Gabe happy, McKenna. Do that and consider us even.”

Like he isn’t some hero who helped me when the situation called for him to flip me the bird and let my brother rot in hell, which probably is what he deserves after he sold them out, Ryder turns and walks away. Tears prickle my eyes; I know his request is easier said than done. Gabe and I have a big complication between us now. My brother. I glance at Evan, conflicted. I’m so angry and so happy he’s okay all at once.

Everything should feel good now, we’re back to normal. Evan is safe and out of danger, and yet as I watch while the paramedic straps my tall and lanky brother to the gurney, I know that everything’s changed.

“We’re ready to go,” the paramedic says. “Are either of you coming with him?”

“Yes.” I step forward. “Yes, of course, I’ll go.”

“I’m coming, too.”

I turn around to Gabe and study the intensity in his face, reading the anger in the depths of his eyes. “Go home. I’ll call you when he’s feeling better, then you can talk with him.”

Hurt ripples across Gabe’s features, and I understand the reasons why. But I can’t think about Gabe in all this. Not right now. Because I’ve always been my brother’s keeper, and he’s hurt. He doesn’t need accusations rights now. He needs a doctor and rest.

Obviously taking me seriously, Gabe finally sighs, offering his hand. “Come with me then, and I can drive you.”

I shake my head, feeling torn in a thousand directions. “I’m sorry, I can’t. He needs me.”

A pause. Then, “I need you, too, McKenna.”

I shut my eyes, realizing what going with Evan declares to Gabe, but right now Evan needs to get better, and I need to think, figure all this out. I can’t do that with Gabe there, glaring at my brother until he wakes up. “Please don’t make me choose between you, Gabe.” I open my eyes, and my heart shatters at the coldness washing across his features, as I finish, “Because I won’t choose you.”

“Miss, we need to go,” the paramedic says sharply.

“Sorry.” I pull away from Gabe and jump into the back, taking the seat, staying out of her way. “I’m sorry,” I say to Gabe, tears in my eyes, watching the betrayal etch into his features.

That’s the last thing I see before the paramedic shuts the doors and we’re off, driving toward the hospital with the sirens blaring.

“Kenna.”

I glance down and reach for my brother’s hand. “I’m here, Evan. You’re safe now.”