The woman moaned out as she collapsed back against my brother. “Don’t let her take me again. Pleeeeeease.”
“Who?” I whispered as I tried to get in front of her. “Who, Charise?”
“The woman,” Marla said as she tapped my shoulder. I turned and saw her holding a black and white picture out for me to look at.
It didn’t take a genius for me to realize that they actually got a clean shot off that camera of the face of the woman helping the ring. The woman who pretended to be kidnapped.
“I thought I was heeeelpiiiiiing,” Charise whined out as the drug Doc gave her began to sedate her.
“I know,” my brother whispered as he sank to the floor with her. “I know you were just trying to help.”
I gawked as I slowly turned back to Brutus. He stood there, his fists clenched at his sides, and I just held the picture out to him. He looked at it and nodded, but he refused to unclench his fists and take it. So I held onto it, staring down at it as realization crossed my features.
“Jesus Christ,” I muttered as I handed the picture back to Marla.
“Let’s give them some space,” Doc said as he ushered all of us out.
“Nooooooo,” Charise groaned before she sobbed against my brother.
Charise was caught up in their attempt. Caught up in their trap, just trying to help out another woman.
The question was, was the womanwillinglyhelping them?
Or was she a guilty participant?
23
BRUTUS
As we all stood in the hallway, I couldn’t help but peek through the crack in the door that Doc left before he made his way back down the hallway with his doctor’s bag. It didn’t shock me that he gave up on trying to tend to Charise today.
It was clear she wasn’t in the mood for such things.
“My God,” I growled as I raked my hands down my face.
Anna shook her head as she stood there, peering shamelessly through the cracked door. “We have to do something. We have to get this on record for the DOJ or some shit.”
“You think she’d allow that?” Marla asked.
To be honest, I didn’t even realize Marla was still with us. “Worth a shot.”
“Here,” Ranger said as he came from out of nowhere, “use this phone if you can get it on video.”
I nodded as I took it from him. “Thanks.”
I drew in a deep breath.
Anna slipped the phone from me.
“No offense,” she said as she eased the door open, “but being surrounded by men probably isn’t what she wants right now.”
I stared down into the determined gaze of the woman who held my heart in her tiny, plump little hand. As much as I wantedto help, I had to come to terms with the fact that sometimes me helping was just standing off to the side and becoming the protective shadow.
I was good at it, too.
“Be safe,” I said with a nod down to her. “I’ll be out here if you need me.”
“Me, too,” Marla said, not budging from her spot.
