My body started to shake and I could feel my eyes burning as a coldness took over my skin. I was never normally a person who’d lose control, but here, in this moment, I wasn’t far from the edge; I could feel my sanity slipping.
Parker was my brother; he was the only true family I had . . . and now he was gone.
My breaths came out in rapid pants and the world spun around me. There was only one person I could think of who was responsible. The hit was meant for me, but Parker took the fall only because he wanted to make sure I got back okay. He’d probably still be alive if he hadn’t been in my room.
“Wren!” a voice shouted.
It was Ripp.
I couldn’t look at him or anyone else. All I could focus on was Parker and the overwhelming rage and despair swirling through my body.
More voices echoed behind me, and someone tried to pull me away from Parker’s body, but I gripped his shirt and let out the most guttural scream that shook me to my core. Parker was gone and I was never going to hear his voice again.
CHAPTER9
WREN
My throat was so sore from screaming that I could barely swallow, and my eyes burned like lava had been poured into them. I could barely move, my neck tense, and my muscles aching, as if a truck had hit me. My senses were heightened as I heard nothing but the sound of my own racing heart.
One minute, I was sitting beside Parker’s lifeless body, and the next, I was in Ripp’s hotel room with him, Kali, and Valentin. Two of his men were standing guard at the door.
Kali’s secret relationship with Valentin was no longer a secret from Ripp, but not a word was said. If there was, I was too out of it to hear. All I remembered was being dragged away from Parker, but then I blacked out.
Now, I was sitting with Ripp on his couch, his arm draped protectively around my shoulders. I don’t know how much time had passed, but it felt like an eternity of misery.
For the most part, I was numb, but I knew once I could feel again, it would be the worst pain imaginable. Kali came over and knelt in front of me, twisting the cap off a bottle of water.
“Drink this,” she commanded, softly but sternly.
I didn’t realize how hard I had crashed. My body felt heavy, as if the whole world had landed on me. And my mouth felt as dry as the desert. I took the bottle and the cool water trickled down my throat, bringing only a fraction of relief.
“Thanks,” I said, my voice gravelly.
Ripp rubbed a hand soothingly down my arm. “I talked to my mom. She said there’s an agent nearby who’s coming to see us. He’ll be here in a minute.”
Nodding, I leaned my head back against the couch cushion. “Okay,” was all I could say.
Ripp’s mother was an FBI agent and the one who got my brother involved in Nikolai’s case. Working with the FBI was a dream come true for Parker. And taking Nikolai down was his top priority. One way or another, I was going to see it through.
A few minutes later, someone pounded on the door. My eyes shot open, and I watched as Valentin moved in front of Kali—who was about to answer the door—and gently guided her back so he could do it. It was evident he was protective of her, but there was such a thing as being overprotective. If Valentin weren’t careful, he’d risk pushing her away.
Ripp carefully slid his arm from my shoulders and stood. The second the door opened, Kali gasped, making my heart stop. Ripp rushed over and I heard Kali and Ripp’s voices going ninety miles an hour. I couldn’t see who they were talking to from where I was sitting on the couch, but when I stood, I got a good look at the man who entered the room.
I’d heard about Ripp’s twin brother, Brooks, but I’d never met him. He’d been away on secret FBI tasks months before I met everyone. They looked exactly alike with their blond hair and blue eyes; they even wore similar jeans and black T-shirts. The only difference was that Ripp had tattoos and Brooks didn’t.
Brooks looked at me over Ripp’s shoulder and it was so strange seeing a carbon copy of Ripp. I’d heard he was a good guy. Ripp and Kali stepped out of the way so Brooks could walk over to me. Valentin made his two men step outside, leaving just the five of us in the living room.
A sad smile spread across Brooks’s face when he held out his hand. “I’m glad to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you from both my brother and yours.”
My heart stopped. “Mybrother? Did you know Parker?”
He nodded and slid the computer bag off his shoulder, gently setting it on the floor. “For a few weeks, at least. I’ve been helping with the case.”
Ripp crossed his arms over his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me? And why didn’t you let me know you were in Vegas?”
Brooks glanced over at Ripp, his smirk just like his brother’s. “I arrived today. There’s something I have to do, but when I got the call about Parker, I knew I needed to be here.” His solemn gaze turned to me. “The police are in your hotel room searching for evidence. The assistant sheriff will be here soon to ask you questions. I wanted to talk to you before he does.”
My throat started to close up. “And Parker? What are they going to do with his body?”
