“Devlin.”
A pause. Then his energy changed. Even without looking, Leland felt it.
“Is everyone all right?” Dev asked quietly.
The question sliced through Leland’s adrenaline haze.
Another pause. Then: “Damn. Have Alec bring her in. We’re headed that way soon.”
Dev lowered the phone.
“Callan says someone got close to Julia at work. Mateo pursued.”
“When?” Leland asked.
“About thirty minutes ago.”
“That couldn’t have been Jack,” the brunette blurted out. “We’ve been together all evening. He picked me up at six.”
Parker choked out, “I told you—”
Leland held him there for another few seconds. “That doesn’t make you innocent,” he said quietly. “It means you’re a different kind of problem.”
He released him, and Parker barely remained upright. Relief broke over his features.
Leland’s fist cut it short. The thud of flesh on flesh and bone cracking echoed sharply through the quiet street. Parker crumpled to the ground and stayed there.
The brunette stared down at him. Not screaming now. Not caring either. Seeing Jack Parker clearly.
She looked at Dev. “He really is a prick. But now I’m stranded.”
Dev sighed. Leland didn’t need to hear the words to know what came next.
“Get in.”
Chapter 21
Julia couldn’t stop shaking. She sat curled in the corner of the oversized couch with both hands wrapped tightly around one of Emily’s, but even her friend’s firm grip couldn’t stop the trembling.
It was probably shock. Definitely fear. And maybe an adrenaline drop, like after a really intense scene. Except there was no warm-and-fuzzy, floaty feeling.
The room was quiet compared to the chaos of the venue. Fortunately, the dessert was ready to be served, the staff capable of breaking everything down on their own when Alec whisked her and Emily out of there and back to Devlin HQ.
Emily hadn’t left her side since. Julia was grateful for that because right now, her friend felt like the only thing keeping her tethered to the floor.
Alec leaned against the counter, coffee in hand. Calm on the surface, but he hadn’t taken a single sip. His eyes kept returning to the couch, to her, to Emily, as if checking to make sure they were still there.
Rhys stood near the doorway, speaking quietly with Gaby, while Callan worked from his laptop at the small table nearby.
She’d known these people for months, some for years. They were usually unflappable. Tonight, all of them were on edge. Which told her how bad this was.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Emily asked. “Not coffee. Maybe water or a soda?”
Julia shook her head. Her stomach was a knotted-up mess. She couldn’t stop thinking about Mateo, in the hospital with abroken leg and concussion. It could have been worse—even fatal on concrete steps. Every time she thought about that, nausea rolled hard through her.
Emily squeezed gently. “Stop blaming yourself.”
She looked over weakly. “I didn’t say anything.”
