Chapter Twenty Four
"Get in the car." Colt gestured to John's Mercedes.
This made no sense. The last time either man had seen each other was years ago at a football game. They never spoke, and they were not friends. Her brother was in the Marines. If he was here in Miami, then he'd be with his daughter. Her gaze shifted from Colt to John.
John's expression seemed relieved.
Alice bit her lower lip, held John's hand and asked, "Why are you both here?"
"You and Vicki texted me." Then John repeated Colt's message. "Get in the car."
That wasn't an answer. She tugged her hand to take it from him, but he held firm. She shook her head. "I have my own car in the parking lot."
Colt worked in unison with John. He opened the backseat of the car. John walked her and placed his hand on her head as if he could protect her with his body from a shooter. Colt assessed the crowd. "Sis, don't be an idiot. Get inside."
The hand that brushed against her back burned in her memory. So did the moment the bullet broke through the glass. She sucked in her breath. "I don't know what's going on, but it must be big if you are both here."
Without another word, she squeezed into the backseat of the car, which she quickly realized was overdramatic. The leg room was more than ample, she thought, as both the men in the front seat were all muscle. They stared at each other. She crossed her arms as the men closed their doors. "What?"
Colt turned to her from the passenger seat. John revved the engine. Colt asked, "Why weren't you at John's as planned? Did you two have a fight so you put your life in danger out of anger?"
Her skin prickled and her forehead felt hot. This discussion was not to be had with Colt. She shook her head. "No—and what a question."
His gaze narrowed like he was a hawk and she was prey. "Then why did you leave?"
"Today is move-in day with my condo. It's time I do what I need."
John gripped the wheel and she caught his gaze in the mirror. His blue eyes looked haunted. Then he handed her his phone. She stared at the newest model of the phone and realized this wasn't what she'd seen before. Whatever it was that brought them together had better not be technology-related. "This looks brand new."
John shook his head. Then he returned his attention to the black-tarred road. "I had to give my old one to the police. Listen to the voice mail."
The police. The thought that something had happened to her father replayed in her mind. He couldn't have had another heart attack.No.
"Okay." She hit play. This couldn't be happening. A chill raced through her body. The man had been a real threat. She coughed as the message replayed again. "Someone was following me. At least he didn't shoot me on the street."
Her entire body had a chill that ran through it. She could have been shot on the street where people buy wedding dresses and walk in their finest outfits to be seen.
John's hand went to her spine and he quickly massaged her shoulders. "Don't think about what might have been, Alice. You called and Vicki sent the video. The police are on it."
"Victoria dragged me inside the bookstore. Jennifer has the original footage of the man on video."
Again both men shared a look. Colt nodded, "I'll deal with Jennifer and get that to the police with her sworn statement."
John told her brother, "Thanks."
This was all her fault. She should have listened and stayed at John's home.
John sped his car down the street. Colt shook his head, stared back at her, and said, "You have two options until this all clears up, Sis. You come home with me to the parents' house, or you stay with John. You cannot be alone."
No. She gripped John's new phone like it was a lifeline. Her condo would only have locks, not the House of Morgan protection. She stared at John's profile. He kept his eyes on the road so she couldn't see them. She shook her head and turned her attention to her brother. "This is idiotic."
John tapped the steering wheel with his fingers. Her head snapped toward him and then she met his blue eyes for a moment in the mirror. "My house has security that the farm doesn't have."
To go back with John made her heart race. Alice recalled her fear at how close the stranger had come and decided she'd stay without one more complaint until the man was caught. It wouldn't be too long, not with video evidence. She nodded. "John's house is free of Mom and her constant negativity."
Colt stared at John next to him in the front seat. John nodded back, and then Colt ran his hands through his hair. "Mom has good reasons for not trusting the Morgans. She tried to call you."
Alice reached for her phone and unblocked her mother's telephone number. As her fingers clicked, her mind did the same. Whatever happened to fuel her mother's opinion of the Morgans, her brother knew.
