TUCKER
When we get to Ryan’s, I tell Amber to wait outside for a moment.
She snorts indignantly in response. “I’m not some dirty secret you have to keep hidden away.”
“I’m not some random chick, and I’m not here as your date or whatever.
I’m here for Caitlyn. When Josh sees me, he will know who I am--” I start laughing as a realization dawn on me.
“And then you’ll have to explain to your brothers why Caitlyn’s best friend has your number. Oh, this is going to be hilarious.”
I open the front door, and lead Amber into Ryan’s house. She stares around wide-eyed, and I realize that to others this place probably seems like a mansion or something. But Ryan needed a big home to house Alicia and her siblings, and of course, their expected baby.
“Is that you, Tucker?” Ryan calls out. He steps into the hallway from the dining room, and when he sees Amber trailing behind me, his eyes narrow. “You seriously rushed out of a family dinner to pick up a woman and then brought her here? For God’s sake--”
To my surprise, Amber steps in front of me. “I’m sorry, Mr. Braddock. I’m a friend of Caitlyn’s. I have some important information about her safety.”
“Is that Amber?” I hear Josh call. “What’s she doing here?”
He joins Ryan in the hallway, followed by Antony and Sebastian.
Faced with all five Braddock brothers, lesser women might back down, but Amber stares at my brothers definitely.
“Hey Josh,” she says, stepping closer to him. “I have some important information to tell you about Caitlyn. She’s in danger.”
“Please, come in and tell me everything,” Joshua says, leading Amber into the dining room. Sebastian and Antony follow close behind, but Ryan turns on me with narrowed eyes.
“Why did Caitlyn’s friend call you? Why didn’t she contact Josh directly?”
I glance away as I confess. “We slept together a few weeks ago, at that house party I threw.”
Ryan rolls his eyes. “Is there anyone in this city you haven’t slept with?”
A sarcastic retort is on the tip of my tongue, but I bite it back and say, “We can’t do this now. What’s going on with Caitlyn is serious. You should hear what Amber has to say.”
As me and Ryan walk into the dining room, Joshua leaps up and runs to Ryan. “Caitlyn is pregnant. David is blackmailing her to stay with him.”
“Fuck.” Ryan runs his hands through his short, dark hair and then settles back in his place at the head of the table. “Ant, will you get the Scotch, please? We’re going to need it.”
Antony gets up from the dining room and grabs the bottle of Scotch and some glasses from Ryan’s drink’s cabinet. “Would you like one?” he asks Amber politely.
“Yes, thank you,” she replies, then directs her attention to everyone. “What are we going to do?”
“We’re going to save my child and the woman I love, that’s what!” Josh says, unsurprisingly. By the looks of him, he’s ready to go face David now.
“Whoa, slow down. I want to rescue Caitlyn as much as you do, but if Lorenzo Esposito is involved, we need to move carefully,” Amber says.
Ryan raises a brow. “Lorenzo Esposito is involved?”
Amber tells my brothers everything I told her, while I sit quietly sipping my Scotch.
I have to admit, I admire her courage. Not only is she willing to face down the Braddock brothers, but Amber is willing to incur the wrath of the Morgan family and Lorenzo Esposito, all to save her best friend. That type of loyalty is impressive.
When she’s finished speaking, Josh turns to Ryan, desperation clear in his eyes.
“We’re going to do something, right? You’re going to help me.
I know you were certain Caitlyn used me and went back to David, but now we know the truth.
And well, she’s carrying my child. You know what that’s like.
I know you’d do anything to protect Alicia. ”
Ryan pinches the bridge of his nose. “You’re right. I would. And if Caitlyn is carrying my niece or nephew, we won’t turn our backs on her, but how do we know what Amber is saying is true?”
Amber opens her mouth to argue, but I beat her to it. “I don’t know what your problem is, Ryan, but please, for once in your life, stop acting like a complete asshole. Why would Amber make this up?”
Out of the corner of my eye I see Amber flash me a grateful smile.
“Fine. But even if we take Amber’s word for it, how do we know Caitlyn is really pregnant?”
“I was there when she took the test,” Amber says, staring at Ryan directly.
“And you know for certain the baby is Joshua’s, not David’s?” Ryan asks.
The whole room fills with silence, and Josh glares at Ryan.