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Jasper pushes the button just before our floor. “What were his exact words?”

My chest squeezes.

“It’s important, Kelsey,” Jasper says. “They are going to ask you these questions. You need to be able to answer them.”

“You think I can’t get to you. I can get to you...” I don’t want to share any more. It gives away too much. Things I never want anyone to know. But everything that happened in the lobby is going to be pulled apart and turned over when the police come to interview us about Jasper pulling his service weapon. “Jailbait.”

Jasper flinches.

There’s pity in his gaze. Fuck that, I don’t want anyone to pity me. I step around him and press the button. The elevator starts moving again and I stare at the split between the doors. Marco is going to come for me. No matter who tries to get in his way. And he’s just proved that having security watching over me isn’t going to stop him.

I want to disappear so badly. Be anywhere but here. I need to put thousands of miles between us.

Jasper is on the phone. He speaks quietly, but I know he’s talking to Rook. Telling him, and by default, the guys what occurred.

He ends the call. “Rook is doubling your entourage. You won’t be going anywhere from now on without two of us. You won’t be left vulnerable. This won’t occur again.”

“What about Sonatina? She was still screaming at Riot about making me leave when we left the studio.” I have to be realistic. I’m not with the band like I was when I was managing them. The label could pull the security Riot has on me at any time, leaving me vulnerable. If they can’t protect me, and I’m not safe here, then I need to take my chances on disappearing.

The doors open and Jasper walks out first, checking the area, making sure there’s no one waiting. Another member of Rook’s team meets us. She walks with us into the suite.

It’s quiet and empty for a change. I love hanging out with the guys, but having a moment to myself right now feels like a blessing.

Jasper is in quiet conversation with his colleague.

“I’m going to take a shower.” I leave them to it.

Closing myself in the room, I dump my purse on the bed. It’s easier when my hands are shaking like they are. I pick up my phone and after several attempts manage to enter the number Willa gave me.

It rings a long time before anyone picks up.

“Hello,” a man says.

I bite the inside of my lip. I don’t know the voice. It’s not Micah.

He chuckles. “You’re after Willa.”

“Yes,” I whisper, but then realize I’m acting like a scared little bitch. “Yes. She said I could call.”

“Tiny,” he calls loudly. A few seconds later a door closes. “This better be important.”

“She sounds terrified,” he says.

Great. I roll my eyes. Of course I’m scared, but that just makes me sound helpless.

I am not helpless. I find my gaze drawn to Harlowe’s urn on the nightstand. There’s one of Golden’s crocheted animals resting against it now. He gave it to me for her the day that I told them about our loss.

Kodiak’s flannel is hung over the back of a chair. Bronx’s shirt that he lent me the first night is on my pillow because I’ve been wearing it to bed. And there is a turquoise pick—Riot’s color of choice since forever—on the arm of the chair.

Because no matter how much we fight, he’s still sleeping next to me every night.

What I have right now with the guys isn’t built to last forever. Maybe at some point we’ll have to find a new... old way to be us. Or maybe at some point we’ll have to part ways. But it won’t be because I run away from the only family that has ever truly been mine.

“Who is this?” Willa asks.

I slide Riot’s pick between my fingers and flip it over each knuckle the way Riot taught me to years ago. Almost laugh that I can still do it so easily after so long. “Kelsey.”

“Everything okay?” Her voice is full of concern. Not surprising since the man who answered made it seem like I was in distress. Considering the run in with Marco, I probably did sound like that.