Chapter 25
25
E than wasn’t sure he’d even felt so angry.
So concerned.
He wasn’t used to these huge emotions. Generally, he was calm and controlled.
That’s what he preferred to be.
The rock in a crisis.
Someone who kept his head. But not this time . . . not when it involved his girl.
Nope, he was losing his mind. Concern and anger warred inside him.
Some bastard had tried to run them off the road. They could have hurt Cate. And he’d been nearly helpless to stop it.
“We’re on Rip’s street now,” Ethan said.
“I’m putting you back on with Rhodes,” Seth said.
“Cate?” Rhodes asked.
“I’m here.”
“I’m going to get the next flight back there.”
Rhodes was in New York City to emcee for a charity gala.
“Don’t do that,” she said quickly. “I’m fine and the gala is tomorrow night.”
“No way we’re staying here while you were almost run off the road!”
She heard Samantha’s voice in the background.
“Samantha, they nearly hit her. She could have been seriously injured,” Rhodes snapped.
“But I wasn’t,” she said. “And you need to stay. Do the charity gala. Please. I’d feel terrible if you didn’t.”
“Fuck,” Rhodes muttered.
“I’ve got her,” Ethan told him.
“Don’t let her out of your sight,” Rhodes growled.
“I won’t.”
“Fine. We’ll stay. But I want to know if anything at all happens. And promise me you’ll stay home, Cate.”
“I won’t go anywhere, I promise,” she replied.
“I love you.”
“Love you too.”
He ended the call as they turned into the driveway of Rhodes’ place.
“Ethan? Are you all right?” she asked as he waited for the gate to open to Rhodes’ place.
They hadn’t had any more issues on the way home. So either that asshole had given up or they’d lost them. If he hadn’t had his girl with him, he’d have been tempted to go hunting for them.
But he did have her.
When they pulled up outside of the house, he turned the vehicle off.
“Stay there. I’ll come around and get you.”
She nodded.
Walking around, he opened the door and undid her belt before picking her up.
Ethan had to fight the urge to carry her inside, lock her in his room, then stand guard.
Easy.
You can’t go all crazy on her.
Yet.
“You don’t need to carry me. I can walk.”
“I do need to carry you, no arguments.” He was aware that he was being overly bossy. But he needed to hold her.
To his surprise, she patted his back. “All right, then. I will allow it.”
Ethan kept an eye on Cate as he spoke to Ink on the phone.
The cops had already been, taking photos of the car and asking the same questions a hundred times. He’d wanted to tell them to stay away from Cate, but he knew that would just create delays and more questions.
She was now sitting on the sofa, talking to her brother. Seth had told him that Rhodes was still talking about coming home and that Samantha was losing her shit.
He was glad he wasn’t there.
“How is Cate?” Ink asked.
“Tired. She held it together well, but I think it’s going to hit her.”
“Fucking bastard. All right. Some guys from the MC will watch outside on the street for tonight and through the weekend until Seth gets back.”
“They must owe Reyes one hell of a favor.”
Ink grunted. “Yeah. I’m going to see if I can free up anyone else to come out and help. Are you going to be all right?”
“Yeah. Even if that asshole was the stalker and knows where the house is, between the guys outside and the security system, I’ll be fine.”
“I just don’t get why this asshole would come after Cate,” Ink said. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“I know. I need to go check on her.”
“Sure. Keep checking in.”
“Will do.”