None of us move. The room is heavy, silence wrapping us around in an unwanted embrace.
Then my knees give out.
My back slams into the open shelves behind me as I slide down the bar, the concrete floor cold through my fishnets. The room tilts, chest seizing in short, desperate gasps as I try to breathe. Seconds later, the dam breaks, and tears stream down my face as a sob rips through me.
Paralyzing fear and pain crash over me all at once, flashbacks of the shooting melding with the attempted robbery just now, andI can’t fucking breathe.
“Indy—it’s okay. You’re okay. Just breathe.” Cain is suddenly kneeling in front of me, hands heavy on my shoulders.
Beside me, Rosie trembles.
When did she sit next to me?
She grabs my hand, lacing her fingers with mine, gripping me tight.
“The cops are on their way,” Cain assures, rising to his feet. He lifts his phone to his ear, his voice booming. “Whitlock, I swear to fucking God if you don’t get here—no, don’t tell me to relax. My fucking bar just got held up. My wife had a gun in her face!”
“Gareth.” I breathe his name like a plea. I need Gareth.
My hand shakes violently as I fumble for my phone in my pocket, barely able to tap his name.
It rings twice, then his calm voice sails through the phone. “Hello?”
“Gareth, I need you.” My words slur together incoherently.
“What?” Instantly, his tone sharpens. “Indy, slow down. What’s wrong?”
Another sob rips through my chest. Then I blow out a breath, forcing myself to speak clearly. “We just got robbed. He had a gun. Please come.”
“What? I’m on my way.”
“I can?—”
I can what? I can’t drive like this.
“No, just stay where you are. I’ll be there soon.”
The phone goes dead.
I stare at the blank screen and continue to shake.
I’m okay.
I’m okay.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Shoving my phone into my pocket, my eyes lock with Austin’s across the table. My heart threatens to explode, pulse hammering so hard my hands start to shake.
I need to get to Indy.
I turn to Declan, already stepping back from the table. “I’ve got to go, I’m sorry.”
“Is everything good?” Austin asks, brows pulling together. “What’s wrong with Indy?”
I swallow around the lump in my throat and shake my head. “I don’t think so.”
Rounding the table, I stop behind Hailey, Declan’s girlfriend. “Thank you guys for dinner.” I press a quick, friendly kiss to her cheek and squeeze Declan’s shoulder before I’m racing through his yard, abandoning my half-eaten plate and the muddled sound of their voices behind me.
