Heartthrob (The Bennett Brothers 3)

By the time I reach the lab, my stomach is a bundle of nerves and my body is shaking. I close my eyes and think of the last morning I was in bed with Mathis. If things go well, I’ll wake up with him tomorrow morning. The realization kicks in, and my adrenaline spikes. I can do this.

The instant I open the door to the lab, the air changes. There’s wailing coming from the other side of the wall, which sends my instincts into overdrive. I drop the bags, run through the door, and take in the scene.

A middle-aged woman is sobbing, trying to hold a small trashcan up to Carlos, who is viciously ill. From the looks of things, he’s vomited everywhere but into the container. I rush to her, take the trashcan, and gently nudge her aside.

“Bring me some wet cloths,” I order her.

Carlos heaves up, and I use this position to my advantage, leaping behind him, so I’m straddling his back and can better control his body. At this angle, the trash bin fits under his chin. He doesn’t fight me, retching a few more times until he’s exhausted and reclining into me.

The woman returns, handing me a warm washcloth, and I wipe his face gently. “You’re okay,” I try to soothe. “This is normal.”

“It hasn’t been this bad before.”

“You have me now, and I assume this is your mother?”

“Yes, this is my mother, Ina. Mama, this is fairy Claire.”

The woman attempts a smile, but her expression is torn with anguish.

“I’m sure Stefan will be here soon with the Gatorade, which should help.”

It’s obvious I’ve said the wrong thing when Ina gasps, her face falling apart, at the same time Carlos flinches in my arms. He squeezes his eyes tight, but a flood of tears streams down his cheeks.

“Rocket?” I nudge him. “What’s happened? Where’s Stefan?”

My heart thunders in my chest with possibilities. The first thought is he’s discovered Jay and is somewhere in this building acting out the evil he’s capable of.

“He’s gone. He came to say goodbye and then locked us in the room. We couldn’t stop him.”

“Gone where?”

“Gone, gone. He said it would be a long time before he could see us again, if ever. He kissed us both and disappeared behind the other door in the room.”

“He left you like this?!?” I scream, uncaring that I sound like a lunatic.

“He said you’d take care of everything.”

“How the hell am I supposed to take care of you alone?”

“That’s not all, Claire,” Ina speaks up, her throaty voice cracking. “He told us to tell you to do everything you have to do, and that a medical transport is on the way.”

“Does anyone even know where we are?”

Ina shakes her head. “I’m at a loss. He brought me here at night.”

“Shit!” I hiss.

“There’s more,” she goes on, “Stefano said to tell your friend there’s no need to stake out the place. It’s clean, and we’re the only ones here. He also said he’s sorry, but he’d do it all again to save his brother’s life.”

Tilting my head to Carlos, I find my calming voice. “Rocket, be honest with me. Did you talk to Mathis?”

His red-rimmed eyes grow wide and pool again with tears as he nods.

“It’s okay, buddy. But do you think Stefan found out?”

“I was careful. But you were so sad, and I had to let him know you were okay.”

“That was brave.” My own eyes sting as more tears slide down his cheeks.