He lets the dress slide off my shoulders and puddle at my feet on the floor; he takes my hand, helping me step out of it. His eyes take in the lingerie. “Definitely wear that again.” He shakes his head, jerking his eyes away. “See you downstairs?”
I lean up on tiptoes, kissing his soft lips. “I’ll be down in a few.”
He takes one last look before leaving the closet. I unlace the lingerie and grab for whatever is in the panty drawer, not caring if it matches. I slide some panties and bra on and shove my legs into a random pair of cotton shorts with one of the guy’s shirts I’ve been collecting every time they leave them in my room after a night with me. I don’t even know who’s belongs to who anymore.
I rush back down the stairs to the room Leo is in. All the guys are still sitting vigil, having also changed into more comfortable clothes, except Evander and Mateo, who stayed behind at the gala when we left.
“I’m sure one of the guys has some clothes you can change into,” I offer, walking into the hallway.
Evander smiles sadly. “We’re fine.” He looks around. “What happened?”
“Viktor,” I answer angrily, ripping out the bobby pins that are holding my hair up. Ryder knocks my hand away and more gently starts plucking them free.
“You think this was Viktor?” Mateo asks, unbuttoning the top button of his dress shirt. The jacket and bow ties on both of them are long gone.
Ryder runs his fingers through my now-loose hair, and I have to take a minute to appreciate the relief. “Without a doubt.”
Zane pops the door open, looking deathly pale. “Doc said he’ll be fine and that you can see him later,” he says, shutting the door behind him.
All the air whooshes from my lungs so fast that I feel like I might pass out. “Let’s go to the living room,” Ryder suggests, rubbing my back.
I go to argue, but we’ll be close just in case Leo needs us, so I nod and let him take my hand, leading me to the living room. He tucks me into his side on the loveseat, and Gage tucks into my other side. Dex sits in one of the chairs while Evander and Mateo take up the couch. Zane looks two seconds from making a break for it. “Sit,” I say, pointing to the chair beside Dex. I need answers. He looks resigned but sits down. Holden pops around the corner, looking around the room.
“Is he okay?” he asks quietly. I didn’t even know he knew what was going on.
“He will be,” I assure him and myself. He looks relieved, walks over, and sits in front of the loveseat next to my legs. I run my hands through his curly hair, relieved we couldn’t talk him into going.
“I heard what happened, but I didn’t want to get in the way,” he answers my unspoken question.
Ryder reaches down and squeezes Holden’s shoulder. “You’re never in the way, Holden.”
I look at Zane. “Explain.”
He looks relaxed in his seat; I know he’s anything but. His shoulders are rigid, and his eyes are taking in everyone in the room. He’s in the room with criminals who will kill him without a second thought. “I was behind the SUV at the red light.”
“You were following us?” Ryder grits out.
Zane turns cold whiskey-colored eyes on him. “No, asshole. My apartment is the same way.”
I hold a hand up before they can start arguing. “Okay. Keep going.”
He shrugs. “There isn’t much to tell. I saw the SUVs rush in and open fire. I shoved the driver out and got you guys out of there.”
Mani walks in, tosses keys to Zane, and Zane catches them out of the air with a confused look. “We got his truck out of there right before the cops rolled in.”
Ryder had sent Mani and his crew down there to check the scene. I messaged him immediately to look for Zane’s truck or department-issued car. I knew he didn’t fucking walk to us, and I was just hoping the keys were in it.
“Thanks, man,” Zane says with a nod.
Mani grunts. “Don’t thank me. Thank her,” he says before striding back out of the room.
The whole place outside is crawling with guards making rounds, on high alert. I don’t think Viktor will try to attack my home, but I didn’t think he would order an open hit, either.
“Why?” Gage asks the one question I can’t figure out.
He looks at me and doesn’t need to answer that question. “Her,” he answers honestly.
Does he think this is his way back into my life? He’s still a cop; it doesn’t matter that he just saved our asses.
