Hollywood Ever After (Red Carpet 1)

“Sweetie, they’re fine. Josh has them, they’re safe. They’re safe.” Mom held me close, letting me sob against her. And I did. I cried until my eyes burned.

“I know this is difficult, Ms. Collins,” Detective Parker spoke again.

“Surely this can wait?” Joe spoke with some authority. “As you can see, she’s not really in a place to talk about this yet.”

I wanted to answer him, but I couldn’t let go of my mom. I couldn’t stop crying. A man I’d been married to for thirteen years had shot me and I didn’t know how I’d ended up here and not dead.

I stopped crying then. “Where is Daniel?” I asked.

There was a long silence in the room.

Detective Parker answered, “Ms. Collins, Mr. Collins is dead.”

Joe squeezed my hand. I felt it all go dark again.

Chapter Fifteen

I don’t know how long I slept, but as the blackness began to fade, images took over. And so did the memory of what happened. I could feel the kitchen floor under me, the blood sticky on my stomach. I could smell the hot metal from the gun being fired, the smell of my own blood.

My heart was pumping. My chest was tight. I couldn’t move. My nightmare felt so real that my anxiety made breathing difficult.

“Claire?” Josh was there, leaning over me, his face drawn with worry. “You were dreaming. It’s all right now.” He looked like hell. His beautiful hazel eyes were bloodshot.

I tried to smile, but my mouth barely worked. “You’re here…”

He pulled me against him fiercely. “Yes,” he murmured into my hair. He held me close, his voice soothing as he said, “I’m here.” He looked down at me, his arms firmly around me.

I was shivering uncontrollably as my eyes met his. His eyes searched my face, growing moist, which made me feel like crying. I swallowed. I was pretty sure I was pathetic enough without the tears.

He pulled me against him gently this time, his hands rubbing up and down my back slowly. He was so warm. I turned my nose into his neck and breathed. His touch, his presence was solidly reassuring.

I frowned then, realization breaking through my drug-induced haze. “Why are you here?”

Josh was shaking as he held me, his hands continuing to rub my back. It took him a few moments before he answered me. “Marty told me you didn’t want me here. So I waited until you were asleep. I didn’t mean to wake you, Claire, but you were talking in your sleep.” He kissed my forehead.

“I’m glad you’re here.” My voice was rough. “I didn’t want you to see me like thi

s. I know I look…scary.”

He continued to stroke my back, breathing into my hair. I clung to him, burrowing against him and holding tight. “I needed to see you,” he murmured against my hair and I tightened my hold on him.

“I…” My voice broke. He pulled back to look at me. I saw the anguish on his face. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for.” He was frustrated…and exhausted.

I sat forward, swaying from the drugs. “I didn’t want to screw up your life! It’s not fair…” I was crying.

He leaned forward, his hands cupping my face. “Claire, I love you. I love you. I came because I wanted to be here. Because I need to be near you. I’m selfish, remember?” He gave me his most dazzling smile, his eyes holding mine. “I keep hoping you might need me a little, too.”

“I do. I do,” I whispered as my hands fisted in his shirt. “You have no idea.”

His lips were feather-light on mine as his arms slipped around me, firm and strong.

I clung to him again. “Daniel is dead.” My voice broke.

“I know.” His hand touched my cheek. “Natalie had your phone at the airport. Our connecting flight was delayed so we were waiting when Regina called. I wasn’t fast enough.”

My hands covered my mouth. “Oh God, Josh.” I shook my head. “You…you were there?”