Taking the Fall (1-4)

“Saint!” I say, louder this time. “Help me get him under control, even if it’s just to get some answers to his questions.”

Saint puts his phone back in his pocket and grabs Carter’s arm “C, man. Your woman’s right. The fucker can’t talk with you choking the life out of him. We need to know what he knows. Plus he’s getting blood all over the place.”

Carter releases him slowly

“Let’s all sit down, guys,” I suggest, motioning to the couches.

“Fine,” Carter mutters. “But only because I think Cherry has seen enough violence already.”

Picking me up, Carter carries me over to the couch and sits with me in his lap. He puts his nose in my hair, smells me, and I know he’s calming himself down. Relieved that everyone has cooled off, I pry myself from Carter’s lap.

“Bathroom,” I tell him, and he reluctantly lets me go. I go to the bathroom that’s off the living area and search through a few drawers until I find what I’m looking for.

When I get back, Saint and Carter are staring at Justin, who looks like he might piss himself.

“Knock it off, guys. It’s clear he’s been through enough today.”

I sit down next to Justin but then hear Carter growl. He makes a move to get up and grab me, but I give him a death glare. “Carter, calm down. He’s bleeding.”

Carter reluctantly sits back down.

“Start talking,” he commands, and I start to unravel the wrapping around Justin’s hand. The blood has almost saturated the whole thing.

“They cut my finger off.”

I can’t stop the gasp that comes out. “We have to get you to a hospital.”

“No hospitals,” Justin says. “Just clean it up a little, will you?”

“I’m so sorry, Justin, this is all my fault. I pulled you into this. It was my father who took you.”

“I gathered that much. I’m just so glad you’re okay, Layla. I was so worried about you. I didn’t want you to come,” he says gently as he lifts his hand and strokes my cheek.

Carter growls again and I’m starting to think maybe he’s part canine. Justin drops his hand and looks back at Carter.

“Talk,” he orders again.

“Carter, quit it. Stop being such an ass. We did this to him.”

“It’s fine, Layla. He’s just worried about you, and I don’t blame him. If you were mine again I’d be worried too, after meeting your father.”

“She was never yours,” Carter says darkly, standing from his chair.

Ignoring him I go back to working on Justin’s hand.

“I got away when all hell broke loose. I managed to get out and take one of the cars. When I saw you all come out I followed you. I have something I thought you guys might want.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a flash drive, tossing it on the coffee table.

“What is it?” Saint asks as he picks it up and examines it.

“I’m not sure, but from what I gathered, they need Layla to access some bank accounts for them and I think all the account numbers to the banks are on that drive. I snatched it from the computer when everyone took off.”

“Why would they need me?”

Justin shrugs. “I think it’s because when your father went underground he put you on all his bank accounts as the solo account holder. They need to get the money.”

“All right. Let’s say I believe you. Why didn’t you go to the cops?” Carter asks.

“Because of Layla, that’s why.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. I’m not sure what’s happening here but I didn’t want you in any danger. I told you I would help you if you needed anything.”

I feel the guilt eat at my stomach. I’ve pulled Justin into this mess. All he has ever done is be a friend to me, even when I broke up with him.

“He’s staying,” I state. I make sure it doesn’t sound like a question.

I look over at Carter and we lock eyes.

“Please?” I finally say, using the one word I know will work on him.

“Fine,” he growls. “We’re going to check this flash drive real quick. You both stay put.”

Saint follows Carter out of the room and I can actually feel the tension leave with them.

“I’m so sorry, Justin.”

“It’s okay, Layla. I’m really just glad you’re okay.”

Giving him a sad smile, I go back to trying to clean up his hand. It looks like the bleeding has stopped but I want to make sure he doesn’t get an infection.

“Can I get some water?” he asks.

“Of course. Just give me a second.” I go into the kitchen to grab two bottles of water, and I bring them back to the living area. I hand Justin his, and I set mine down on the coffee table and then start wrapping Justin’s hand up.

“How bad is the pain?” I query. It may have stopped bleeding, but it’s still so raw.

“I could really use something.”

“I think I saw some Tylenol in the bathroom. I’m not sure how much that’ll help.”

“I’ll take anything at this point.”

Nodding my head I go back into the bathroom and search through the medicine cabinet. I find two different bottles of meds that might help so I grab them both. I’ll let him pick which he wants. I hand him the bottle and he takes a couple of pills from both, chasing them with his water.

“I’m really sorry about Carter. He can be a little much, but I know it’s because he worries about me.”

“You sure you’re safe with him, Layla? He seems just as scary as your father, if you ask me.”

“I know how it seems, but Carter would never hurt me,” I say and take a drink from my water. “I’m just really glad you’re okay. I was so scared when my father said he had you. I have no idea how he even knows about you.”

“He knows about me because,” Justin leans in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, “he paid me to stay close to you.”

Fear shoots through my body. I try to jerk away from him, but my whole body feels sluggish.