***
Don.Who the fuck gave a shit about Lynn’s boss right now?Snake had beaten his mother and left her for dead.Which meant that while his mom had been through a harrowing ordeal, there was a chance she was embroiled in something that brought the assault about.And if that was the case, she was still potentially in danger.
Christ, first Drea, now his mom.How the fuck was he supposed to keep the two of them safe?
He didn’t want to believe his mom was on the wrong side of the law, but what if she was?By calling the police, was he going to get her into more trouble?A wry laugh, partially born of panic, escaped.More trouble than what… nearly being killed by a hired fucking gun?
Focus.That’s what he needed.“I need to call Dad and my brothers.They need to know.”Cujo pulled out his phone and dialed.
“I’ll call Don,” Drea said, rummaging in her purse.
“No.Call Detective Lopes.Or Carter if you can’t get ahold of Lopes.”He hated the idea of Carter being around, but right now they needed help.The right kind of help.Like extra security on the floor, or a more secure room for his mother.Drea made a move to speak just as his dad answered.
“Dad, hey.You need to come to the hospital.”He quickly filled Alec in on the details and asked him to call Connor and Devon, suggested Connor sit tight until they’d spoken to the police.While nothing had changed with his mom’s physical health, much had changed about her circumstances.No point in him driving all the way over until they knew more.
He ended the call and waited for Drea to finish hers.When his family arrived, they could sit down and decide how best to tell Evelyn.They’d need to speak to his mom’s doctor, too.
Drea ended her call and sat down next to him again.Thank God she was here, and had been able to identify his mom.One of these days they were going to catch a break from the craziness that seemed to be happening all around them.
“What did Lopes say?”he asked, sliding the phone back into his pocket.It all made sense, the awful gray pallor Drea had worn when she realized.He felt like someone had taken off his skin and turned him inside out.
“I didn’t call Lopes, I called Don.”
Seriously?Was doing what he asked this one time so hard to understand?“Drea.I said don’t call Don.I wanted the police to handle it.If this Don knows what she was involved in, then I want the police to question him.”
“I’m sorry, Cujo, but listen, please.You heard what Don told me.Other people could be hurt.Wouldn’t it be better to find out from him what your mom is involved in and help her that way?”
“I don’t give a shit aboutother people.I care about my mom’s safety.Whoever the fuck Don is, he’s not going to put a police officer outside her door.”
“You don’t know that.He said he was working with the appropriate authorities.”Drea bit the skin at the side of her thumb, and instead of finding her nervous tell endearing, he was pissed because of it.
“And what if the guy is some controlling asshole leader of a group she can’t escape, or the actual perpetrator of the crime and he just wanted you to stop digging?Seriously, Drea, you can’t just plough into this like you have all the answers.”
“I wasn’t trying to… I wanted to help, to—”
“To what?Do it your way?That’s nothing new, is it?”
Her eyes filled with the bright sheen of tears.No.Don’t bring out the fucking waterworks.
Drea stood and walked over to the window.
Cujo pulled out his phone and placed another call, jabbing the dial icon angrily.
“Detective Lopes, please.”Perhaps he said that louder than was necessary, but he needed to make the point.
He waited a moment for the desk to transfer him.
“Lopes.”From the background noise, it sounded like he was driving.
“Hey, Detective, it’s Brody Matthews.”
“Mr.Matthews.What can I do for you?”
Where to even begin?He was flat out of small talk.
“I think I know what happened to my mom,” he answered.He looked over at Drea, who met his gaze.Jesus Christ, why couldn’t she have just called Lopes like he asked?Or even Ryan-fucking-Carter?He’d come hurrying in a heartbeat if she called him.
“Has she regained her memory?”
