Inked Obsession (Montgomery Ink Fort Collins #2) - Carrie Ann Ryan Page 0,35

wasn’t sure how, but somehow, we were all getting out around the same time.

“You doing okay?” Benjamin asked.

I nodded. “Yes, why?”

“No reason, just asking,” Benjamin said, frowning.

I rubbed at my chest again, and his gaze went to the movement.

Lee came up to us, frowning. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing. What’s wrong with you?”

Lee narrowed his eyes. “Nothing’s wrong with me. You keep rubbing your chest.”

“Are we going in?” Archer asked, rocking back on his feet. He leaned in to Marc as Colton and Jacob came up to us, as well.

“I’m fine, guys. Come on, let’s go in.”

The sound of a shot rang out, sharp. It echoed through my body, pulsated within my chest and through my brain. I ducked, dropping to my knees, and all I could do was hear my blood rushing through my veins, my heart beating too fast. Metal coated my tongue, and I tried to breathe, clutching at my chest. Suddenly, there were hands on me, pulling at me, and I couldn’t breathe. They wouldn’t stop. They were coming at me.

“No!”

I punched at them, trying to get away. My chest hurt like something was sitting on it. There was a fucking elephant on my chest, and I couldn’t breathe. I gulped for air, trying to do anything, something.

I looked up to see Benjamin’s wide eyes. Lee cursed and cradled my head. The others looked at me, either kneeling around me or standing, shouting.

What the fuck was going on? Why couldn’t I breathe? Was someone shooting? The guys needed to get down.

I pulled at Benjamin. “Stop. The bullets. Get down. Don’t let them get you.” I was gasping out the words now, and they didn’t make any sense. Lee kept cursing.

“What’s going on?” Archer asked, shaking as he held my hand.

My pulse raced, and I looked around at them, then swallowed hard. “Fuck,” I muttered.

“Your fucking brother was involved in a shooting a couple of months ago. We lost Brian, a guy we knew from college. He died, and Beckett was there. And he wouldn’t let me tell you. Now, he’s having a fucking panic attack because a car backfired.” I looked at Lee, my eyes wide as I tried to figure out what the hell was going on. “Don’t get mad at me. You should have told them. Shouldn’t have made me keep the secret. Fuck you, Beckett. Dear God, your pupils are pinpricks, and you’re hurting. It’s clear. What the fuck, man?”

He started to pace, running his hands through his hair as Archer looked down at me, still squeezing my hand. “You were shot?”

I pushed at them, trying to sit up. “You’re going to stay the fuck down. You’re going to lay here and tell me what happened,” Benjamin growled.

I shoved at him again, then Colton, of all people, was there, pushing my hair back from my face. “Breathe.”

“I’m in Riggs’ parking lot. Anyone can come around and see us.”

Colton shook his head. “They’re not going to. Just catch your breath.”

“You had a panic attack?” Archer asked. “What happened?”

I met Lee’s gaze and saw sadness. Because I had fucked up. “I was at the shooting at Rocky’s.”

“You were there?” Benjamin whispered. “And you didn’t tell us?”

Cold seeped through me, even as my cheeks warmed. “I didn’t know how. It was stupid. I know I should have. That’s how I got hurt. And Lee was the last person I called. I didn’t have an emergency contact in my phone like I should have. So, they called Lee, and he came and picked me up from the hospital.”

“How did you get hurt?” Archer asked, his voice low.

“A shelf fell on me of all things. I pushed some lady out of the way. I don’t remember much else. I think I blocked it out. I remember the blood. They shot Brian. I didn’t really know how to tell you guys that I was there. I’m fine. I just fucked up.”

They looked at me then, and I knew I had fucked up. I didn’t know words would help. I just looked at them, and they shook their heads. I let out a breath, knowing I needed to do something, say something. Only there wasn’t anything to say.

Chapter 10

Beckett

“I know that you’re allowed to have secrets...” Benjamin’s voice trailed off as we sat on my couch. Archer paced in front of us, a frown on his face.

Lee, Jacob, Marc, and Colton had gone home, and I wasn’t sure where I stood with them. I didn’t know what to say. Or, honestly,