Mason (Carter Brothers #2) - Lisa Helen Gray Page 0,98

Harlow got attacked by Davis he burnt the place to smithereens, but now that I’ve been attacked and kidnapped at the same place, along with a murder and rape, I’m unsure what he could possibly do next. I suppose only time will tell.

“She’s my girlfriend; she was taken and has been down there with a dead body. She needs to see someone,’’ he says to the paramedic. I’d been so focused on the burnt down building that I didn’t even hear the ambulance come to a stop.

Just then Maverick rushes out of the building in time to throw up in the long, overgrown weeds.

“Shit!’’ I hear Mason whisper and when I turn to look up at him, he looks down at me with concerned eyes. I know immediately what he’s thinking. If Maverick threw up over what he saw down in that basement, then what was it like for me? I wish I could reassure him that I’m fine, but I don’t think I’ll be fine again. Not really. My mind will always remember and imagine her lifeless, bloody body. Nothing will ever be able to wipe that image from my mind. Hopefully in time I will learn to cope, but I’ve not thought that far ahead.

I sway a little, Mason holding on to me tighter as Evan walks out of the building barking orders into his phone.

“Is he a police officer?’’ I ask Mason on a tired whisper, feeling my eyes droop.

“An undercover cop, babe.’’

The paramedic walks over to us, guiding Mason on where to take me. Once I’m lying down on the soft cot bed, I close my eyes feeling safe, ignoring the hushed whispers of Mason and Maverick before finally feeling the rumbles of the ambulance starting up.

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

When I wake up the smell of disinfectant hits my nose, the smell strong and I know I’m at the hospital. My body aches and I long to turn on my side, but then remember my bump sometimes prevents me from doing that. At home I’ve got a pillow that Mason bought me that tucks under my bump. He got it from Mother Care. I’m actually wishing he had brought it with him.

Opening my eyes, the first person I see is Mason. He’s sitting next to the bed, his eyes still black from the dark circles surrounding them, and I know it’s from lack of sleep.

“Hey,’’ I croak, my throat still screaming out for water.

“Angel,’’ he breathes and I notice his shoulders relax. “Are you okay?’’

I nod my head. “Can I have some water? Is the baby okay? Did they get Carl?’’ I shiver, firing off loads of questions.

“Here you go,’’ he says, bringing a cup of water with a straw up to my lips. I greedily drink it, but when Mason warns me to slow down, that I don’t want to be sick, I reluctantly remove my lips from the straw. “The baby is fine. They don’t need to do a scan, they checked for a heartbeat and it’s strong and steady. And yes, I just got a call from Malik, they got him. They should be here any second,’’ he tells me and that’s when the door to my room flies open and everyone rushes in surrounding the bed.

“Oh my God Harlow, what happened to your face?’’ I ask, struggling to sit up. Mason notices and puffs the pillows up behind my back so that I’m sitting up. I’m still a little tired, I must not have slept long enough for my tired body to be satisfied.

“Carl,’’ Malik growls, his face hard as he takes in the big, angry, purple, and red bruise swelling on Harlow’s left cheek. Her face is all puffed out and my eyes start to water feeling guilty. She got hurt saving my ass. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt.

“I’m so sorry,’’ I whisper, feeling the first of many tears fall from my eyes.

“Hey, it’s not your fault. He took me by surprise, but they got him. He’s not going to be bothering us for a very long time,’’ she tells me softly.

“What happened?’’ I ask, needing to know.

Harlow looks to Mason and gives him a look and when I look to Mason to see his expression he gives her a nod.

Weird!

“Your brother split us up into two groups. He, Mason and Maverick went for you, and Malik and I went to meet Carl.’’

“On your own, are you mad?’’ I shout, wincing when my throat