Chapter Nineteen
C harlie sat in her favorite club chair in Jared’s living room, sipping warm vanilla-and-chamomile tea. She sighed, with as much contentment as she could have, living on edge, waiting for something to happen so her life could go back to normal.
She’d given a lot of thought to what Leo had to say and she knew he was right. Besides, if she trusted Jared to keep her safe, she’d already handed him the keys to her heart. She just hadn’t told him yet.
Earlier tonight, she’d met with Fallon, Noah, and her girls so she could spend time with them even if they couldn’t sleep home yet. Mia had sat at a table beside her the whole time, refusing to join them, keeping an eye out while they ate. Her plans allowed Jared to work late tonight, something she knew he’d needed to do.
She’d arrived home earlier than him and Mia’s shift ended before he returned. She promised she’d stay behind her locked and alarmed door and swore to Mia that Jared would be home soon. Mia left and she waited for Jared.
Taking a sip of tea, Charlie thought back to dinner, her precocious daughters and their behavior.
“Why can’t we come home with you, Mommy? We miss you at night.” Dylan spoke in a sad voice that broke Charlie’s heart and made her want to throttle her brother for somehow involving her in his mess.
“I miss you too, honey. But we explained why.”
“Because Uncle Dan is in t-r-o-u-b-l-e,” Dakota singsonged. “And you don’t want us around in case he comes over.”
It had seemed like the simplest explanation at the time. One that wouldn’t frighten the twins by indicating Charlie might be in danger.
“Someone needs to punish him,” Dylan said, her tone mulish because she wanted to be with her mom.
“He’s a grown-up. Nobody is going to punish him,” Noah said. “He just needs to get some help.”
Charlie nodded.
Fallon cleared her throat. “Who’s finished with their burgers?” she asked. They were eating at everyone’s favorite old-fashioned diner.
“Did you know that mother monkeys slap or bite their babies when they’re bad? Maybe someone should bite Uncle Dan’s—”
Charlie’s gaze swung to Noah’s, her eyes wide. “Dakota, what do you want for dessert?” she asked, quickly changing the subject while every adult tried not to laugh.
Her cell rang, taking her out of her memory, and she grabbed the phone. The screen said Unknown Caller.
She took the call and put the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
“Charlie?”
She recognized her brother’s throaty whisper. “Dan? Where are you? Why is your phone disconnected? What’s going on?” She shouted the questions at him.
“I don’t have much time. Just listen. I know I’ve been a shitty brother and I’m sorry.” He sounded winded and scared and her heart began a rapid gallop in her chest.
“Dan? Where are you?”
“I’m in hiding. Those guys caught up with me. They jumped me and beat the shit out of me. I got away but I’m in serious trouble. If you don’t see me again, just know I love you.”
“Don’t hang up!” she shouted. “Daniel Gregory, you tell me where you are now. I’ll come get you.” She was not going to lose him, too. No matter what he’d done, he was her brother and he sounded like he was giving up, something she refused to accept.
“Absolutely not.”
“Then call the police.” It was time he faced the consequences of his actions, whatever they were.
“I can’t. I don’t want to end up in jail.”
“What. Did. You. Do?” she asked, rising and pacing back and forth in the family room.
He expelled a harsh, pained breath. “I was the getaway guy in a robbery where the clerk was killed. But I swear I didn’t know they’d shoot him! When I found out, I ran.”
Oh my God. Her hand rose to her throat, feeling the pulse beating at the base. “Let me come get you.” Somehow she’d talk him into turning himself in, but at least he’d be safe behind the alarm in this apartment.
“No!”
“Please, Danny. I won’t even get out of the car.” The car she didn’t have. But she could take a rideshare and call Jared on the way and ask him to meet her. She’d just have the driver wait until Jared arrived. “Just tell me where you are. I can help you.”
He hesitated and all she heard was the sound of his heavy breathing. Finally, he said, “Fine.” And rattled off an address she memorized.
“Just sit tight. I’m coming.”
Her insides shaking, hands trembling, she put the address into her phone. She didn’t know the area but was aware enough to realize it wasn’t in a safe part of the city, almost near the Bronx.
Tears in her eyes, she dressed quickly, pulling on a pair of leggings and an old sweatshirt she’d brought with her to Jared’s.
Jared.
He was going to kill her, she thought, but would just have to worry about that later. She’d text him as soon as she was in the rideshare and ask him to meet her.
After tying her sneakers, she grabbed her phone, set up a rideshare, unset the alarm, and took the elevator down to the lobby. Shaking but determined, she stepped out before the doors fully opened.
She hadn’t made it to the entryway when she heard her name. She turned to see Jared striding toward her, his suit rumpled after a full day, briefcase in hand, and his brow furrowed as his gaze locked on her.
“Where are you going? And where’s Mia?” he asked, glancing at his watch.
She bit down on her lower lip. “Umm. Her shift ended and I told her it was okay to leave because you’d be back soon and… I swore I wouldn’t leave the alarmed apartment. But—”
His eyes widened. “Then what the hell are you doing downstairs and where are you off to alone?”
She’d never been on the receiving end of his angry tone and she didn’t like or appreciate it. She did, however, understand it.
“I had every intention of messaging you from the Uber and asking you to meet me. My brother’s in trouble,” she said, and reiterated what Dan had told her on the phone. “And I can’t just leave him sitting, waiting to be found. I need to help him! But I wasn’t going to get out of the car until you got there, I swear. Just show up, text him that I’m there, let him get in the vehicle, and we’d leave. And you’d have been there as backup. That’s it.”
“That’s it?”
She nodded.
He ran his hand through his already mussed hair. “That’s it, huh? Do you have any idea how much could go wrong with that plan? You’re a woman alone, counting on a rideshare driver you don’t know to take you to a shitty area of town, while you wait for your drug addict brother who’s being hunted by men willing to kill. Jesus, if I hadn’t run into you…” He pulled her against him, his arms wrapping tightly around her.
She breathed in his familiar scent and closed her eyes, appreciating that strong hug holding her tight. But in the back of her mind, the clock was still ticking on getting her brother to safety. “Will you go with me?” she asked.
He slowly released his hold, letting her step back. “Any chance you’ll let me go instead?”
She shook her head. “He won’t get in the car with you.”
Jared let out a pained sigh. “The cops?”
She shook her head again, this time harder. “No police.”
“Fine.” Grasping her hand, he strode over to the desk, handing his briefcase to the doorman. “Lock this up somewhere safe please? I’ll pick it up on my way back home.
“Cancel the Uber. I want to be the one behind the wheel,” he said, grabbing her hand and heading toward the elevator to the garage where his car was parked.
***
Charlotte was going to be the death of him, Jared thought, driving toward the address she’d given him and he’d put into his GPS. He didn’t want to make this trip, especially not with her in the car, but he knew she’d go whether he accompanied her or not. And the latter wasn’t an option.
The deeper he drove into this shitty part of the city, the more his apprehension grew. He wished he’d made Charlotte go back upstairs where he’d have locked her in his apartment. Not that he could have done it, but he sure as hell had wanted to.
He glanced over.
She sat beside him, twisting her hands in her lap and staring out the front window, her anxiety palpable.
“There’s still time to change your mind,” he said.
“No.” The sound came out like a croak but she’d stiffened and refused to budge on her stance.
So he was driving his over one-hundred-grand car into a place they’d strip it if they could. He didn’t give a shit about the vehicle, but it also told him how concerned he was bringing his pregnant girlfriend into this part of the city. An Uber would have been less obvious but Jared wouldn’t have been in control and he had a feeling he needed to be.
Graffiti lined the buildings, at least from what he could see in the dark, and men hung out on street corners in what he was sure were dangerous gangs. Given what he knew of her brother’s issues and now the illegal situation he’d gotten himself into, he wasn’t surprised by their surroundings.
Thank God they continued driving past the hang-arounds and finally pulled up on a dilapidated, quiet street with run-down two-story houses.
“Here.” Charlotte pointed to a number on a beat-up old mailbox and Jared pulled the SUV to a stop and put the car in park.
He blew out a nervous breath. Though he could handle himself, only an idiot wouldn’t be worried.
Thanks to his headlights, he got a better look and realized dilapidated was too kind. The home looked more like it ought to be condemned. Shingles hung off the front, the shrubbery was dead, and even in the semi-dark, thanks to his headlights, it was obvious the paint was chipping.
He turned to Charlotte, whose face was now pale. “Second thoughts?” he asked.
“Yes, but I’m not leaving without my brother.”
“Got it. Then you are staying here. Get in the driver’s seat in case you need to leave.”
She stared at him, horrified. “I’m not leaving you!”
“If it gets dangerous and bullets fly, you sure as hell are. I mean it, Charlotte. I’m not getting out of this car without your promise. You look out for yourself first.” Her and their baby.
“Fine.”
“Say it.”
“I’ll leave if it gets dangerous,” she said without meeting his gaze.
He shook his head. “Your fingers better not be crossed where I can’t see.” He drew a deep breath. “Now call or text your brother and tell him to get his ass out here or I’m coming in.”
She pressed the buttons on her phone and put the sound on speaker, but the call went straight to voicemail. She texted Dan next and they waited in silence.
He gave the man three minutes and let out a curse. “Text him again that I’m going to get him.” She did as he asked. “Now come switch seats with me.”
She exited the vehicle and he met her outside his door, helping her in. “Shut the door and lock it,” he instructed.
She treated him to a salute but he saw the fear in her eyes. Leaning over, he pressed his lips to hers before slamming the door shut and waiting to hear the click of the lock before starting up the dried-out lawn.
He arrived at the front door only to find it partially open. He was creeped out but pushed the door further open and stepped inside. Looking around, he didn’t see anyone and began to make his way through the house, checking in the living room, then the kitchen.
The sound of a crash startled him and he realized it came from upstairs. He slowly made his way up, checking behind him every few steps. At the top of the stairs, he faced a bathroom with the door open a crack.
“Dan?” he called out.
The other man peeked through the opening, his one black eye showing. “Jared? Charlie said you’d come.” He flung the door open, revealing white powder all over the old, dark wood countertop.
He had a bruise on his jaw, his lip was split, and he held his side as if his ribs hurt badly.
“I didn’t mean it,” he said, hopping from foot to foot.
Jared frowned. “We can talk in the car. Let’s go.” He wanted to get the hell out of this place before whoever was looking for Dan found him.
“I swear, I didn’t know they had a gun.”
Charlotte had already explained the situation and it was as bad as it could get. “Come on. We’re leaving now. Talking later.”
Jared stepped closer, grabbed the other man’s skinny arm, and all but dragging him down the stairs, around the corner, and out the door, him yelling about how it hurt the entire time.
He didn’t give a shit about the man’s pain. He wanted to get Charlotte out of here and to safety. This shitty neighborhood was freaking him out. Nothing could happen to her or his baby. Allowing her to come had been a mistake.
They were steps from the car and he caught her wide-eyed gaze when two men approached, seemingly out of nowhere.
“Fuck.” Jared glanced at the car and narrowed his gaze, silently warning her not to dare unlock the vehicle. He turned as a hooded man grabbed Dan, one arm around his waist, the other holding a knife to his neck.
Seconds later, Jared was pushed from behind and plastered to the hood of the car, the second man holding him in place. Taken by surprise, he expelled a rough breath of air, aware he had to fight this guy off.
But the only thing going through his mind was Charlotte as he prayed she stayed in the damned car.
***
Charlie watched the house, barely blinking as she waited for Jared to approach the old, run-down home and knock. Her stomach bottomed out when he walked inside and disappeared from sight. Time seemed to slow as seconds, then minutes passed.
When she saw Jared and Dan rush down the grass to the car, she breathed out a sigh of relief. And then two men jumped out of the bushes from the side of the property and she screamed in surprise. In the blink of an eye, her brother had a knife to his throat and Jared was thrown against the hood of the car by a man with a tire iron in his hand.
The guy with the knife pushed Dan forward and looked Charlie in the eye. “Get out of the fucking car.”
“No!” Dan screamed.
She couldn’t hear Jared but his lips moved and she had no doubt he was warning her to stay put.
She froze, not moving, her heart pounding in her chest. The police, she thought, grabbing her phone from the center console. She had to call the police. Dialing 911, she hit speaker, giving the operator the address where they’d come to get Dan. She prayed they’d arrive soon.
“Did you hear me? Open the door and get the fuck out here!” the same guy yelled, pressing the knife closer to her brother’s throat.
“Ouch!” Dan yelled as blood dripped down his neck.
No way was she letting them get hurt if it was in her power to stop it. “Stop!” she screamed before all hell broke loose.
Jared headbutted the man holding him from behind and broke free, the other guy grabbing his bleeding nose. While he was distracted, Jared swung, nailing him in the jaw, then kicked out and got him in the abdomen. Obviously not expecting it, the man fell to his knees.
Charlie was panting, fear overwhelming her, but she trusted Jared to handle things.
Dan tried to wiggle free, but he was trembling and too unsteady. Jared thrust out his foot, nailing the man holding Dan in his knee. He threw her brother to the ground and went for Jared, who appeared ready to take him when the second guy, the one Jared had taken out of the equation, rose to his feet.
Charlie flung open the car door to warn him, screaming as he hit Jared in the back of the head with the tire iron and he fell to the ground, seemingly unconscious. “Jared!”
Both attackers turned her way, taking a step forward, when the blessed sound of sirens filled the air. The men froze, whispered something to each other, then took off at a run.
Charlie fell to her knees by Jared’s side. “Jared?” she asked, her hand shaking as blood oozed from the wound in his head. Afraid to move him, she sat by his side, caressing the side of his face. “You’ll be okay,” she said softly. “You have to be okay.”
She glanced up at her brother who was jumping where he stood. “The cops are coming. I have to go!”
“Don’t you dare,” she hissed. “Jared was hurt because I insisted on rescuing you. You sit down, shut up, and take responsibility for once. You owe him that.”
A patrol car screeched to a halt behind the SUV and an officer climbed out, his partner walking around the vehicles beside him.
“He needs an ambulance, now!”
One officer called it in while the other grasped her brother’s arm as he tried to slink away.
Fear and nausea warred inside her as she sat waiting for paramedics to arrive, stroking Jared’s cheek, saying prayers the entire time.