“I’m not sick,” Melanie growled. “I’m sore and pregnant, with a broken collarbone and a few stitches on my forehead. What the hell is going on with Tanner?”
Dread consumed her at the thought that Tanner was indeed going to fight her fight. The thought of him confronting Neville made her nearly nauseous.
“Please, tell me he’s not in Atlanta.”
Silence once again settled heavily in the room. Melanie closed her eyes and pulled in a slow, deep breath.
“And Cash and Jax?”
She was almost afraid of the answer to that question, but she knew where one went, the others followed to provide backup and support.
“Why don’t I make you something to eat?” Livie suggested. She remained by the door as if she was ready to dart out at any moment. “You’ve got to be hungry.”
“I’m not hungry.” Damn it, she was, but that wasn’t the issue right now. “Tell me what they’ve got planned.”
Melanie waited, then when her friends continued their silence, she smacked her hand on the arm of the couch. “Damn it, tell me. I never wanted all of you guys to get involved in my mess.”
Jade immediately came from her seat and crouched down in front of Melanie. “Calm down. Getting worked up isn’t good for you or the baby.”
Livie instantly sa
t at her side and rested her hand on her knee. “The guys are meeting with Neville. Do not say a word, just hear me out.”
Endless scenarios spiraled through her mind. She’d done her absolute best to keep Tanner from Neville, but instead she’d thrust all three guys, whom she’d come to love and respect, right at his door.
“Tanner knows what he’s doing,” Livie went on. “He’s not going to do anything that will compromise his career. That’s one of the main reasons he’s taken the guys with him as witnesses.”
Another reason being the three of them together looked threatening, which was exactly what Tanner would want. Neville would either be terrified of the menacing men or he’d go through on his threat of demolishing Tanner’s reputation and badge. Though unless he had something really dirty from Tanner’s past, Melanie wasn’t sure how he’d pull off such a ruse.
“I just can’t wrap my mind around everything,” she muttered. “I need to talk to Tanner. Can you get my phone from my bag?”
Livie and Jade exchanged yet another look, but nobody moved.
“Come on, guys,” Melanie pleaded. “You know I’m not going to just sit back and let him do this, right? I just want my phone. I won’t rat you two out for telling me.”
Muttering beneath her breath, Jade got up and went to the corner by the door where Melanie had dumped her purse when she got home. Jade searched around and pulled it out, but didn’t come back with it. She held the phone against her chest.
“If you call him, text him, whatever, do not blast him for trying to protect you. That man loves you and he’d do anything for you.”
Melanie’s eyes burned as her throat clogged. She simply nodded. “That’s what I’m afraid of,” she whispered.
She held out her hand and waited until Jade came back and handed it over. Without a word, she laid the phone in her lap so she could use her one good hand and pull up his contact.
Melanie held the phone up to her ear and waited as it rang. And rang. And rang. Finally, his voicemail came on and Melanie ended the call without leaving a message. She had no idea what she wanted to tell him anyway, and given the option of having only thirty seconds wasn’t going to cut it.
She dropped the phone back to her lap and stared at it as if the device would give her some magical answer. She shot off a quick text for Tanner to call her as soon as possible, but she knew he’d do whatever his intentions were in Atlanta first. Then he’d call. Maybe.
“Get in touch with Jax,” she told Livie.
Livie offered a soft smile. “Let them do this, Mel. It’s past time for someone to step in and end all of this. You have a family now to think of.”
“That’s exactly who I’m worried about,” she cried.
Livie came to her feet and smoothed down her cardigan. “I’m going to go make you some lunch. Jade will be here, but I need to get home in about an hour for Piper. She’s next door at the sitter’s for now.”
Melanie knew she was fighting against five people who truly cared about her. Part of her was exhausted and she wanted to turn over the reins of this fight. But the other part worried that someone else would get hurt. Someone she loved.
* * *