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My mind is running a million miles a minute as I try to process what they’re telling me. Is that why I was in the river? Was I running from someone?
“Okay, so I was beaten before driving into the river, high on drugs I don’t take. Fantastic.” I close my eyes and clench both hands into fists.
What in the world happened?
Why can’t I remember?
“Why did Leopold bring you here?”
I open my eyes at the sound of Ryker’s voice. “He thought you might be able to help me.”
“I need to call Tessa,” Zane says. “I’ll be right back.” He steps away, retrieves a phone from a table near the ring, and heads toward the side of the gym.
Meanwhile, Ryker hasn’t said anything else.
I turn back to him. “Look, I, uh, I don’t remember what happened to me or who was responsible for it. No one at my job will talk to me, and I don’t have any family.” He still doesn’t speak. “I’m not an addict, Mr. Granger. I may not be able to remember the last two weeks, but I know who I am.”
“People change.”
“Not that much, and not that fast,” I reply instantly. “Please, Mr. Granger? I need answers, and he said you’d be the best person to help me find them.”
Ryker glares over at where Zane stands on the phone, then looks back at me. “I’m a bodyguard, Miss Swanson. Not a detective.”
“Well, that’s good, then. Because like I said and you suggested, I’m pretty sure someone had a hand in me going over that bridge. Might be nice to have you around if they try again. I can pay you,” I add quickly. “Or, rather, your company, I guess.” When he doesn’t respond, I fight the urge to turn and run. “Please? I don’t have anyone else I can go to.” Tears fill my eyes. “I was grilled by a detective out of Charleston who made it clear he thinks I’m an addict who overdosed my patient. I can’t remember the last two weeks, and I’m—” I stop abruptly, not sure I should admit how absolutely terrified I am.
Even more so with them suggesting the bruising is the result of assault rather than a car accident.
“I’ll help,” he finally says.
“Really?” I stare up at him.
He nods.
“That easy?”
“Did you want difficult?” he asks, arching a brow.
“I’ve had enough difficult over the last couple of days,” I reply, feeling a bit of a weight lifted from me. I don’t know this man, but he saved my life. Now he’s going to help me reclaim what’s left of it.
And that is something to be grateful for.
Zane crosses back over, phone still in his hand. “All settled up?”
“He said he’ll help me.”
“Great, consider us ready to help, too. You can meet the rest of the team at dinner tonight.”
“Dinner tonight?” I ask.
“At my mom’s house. The rest of our team will be there, too, so you can meet them. Anastasia will also be there, as will my wife, Tessa, Garrison’s wife, Katelyn—who I think you met already, and Weston’s wife, Reese.”
“Sounds like a full house.”
“It is,” Zane replies with a wide smile that implies he doesn’t mind the crowd at all.
“Okay, well, that would be good, I guess. I do need to get home soon. I have fish.” I’m not sure why I say it, but I was never great with awkward silences.
“We’ll head to your apartment first thing tomorrow,” Ryker says.
