Part 17 (1/2)

”Me?” I scoff in disbelief.

I wish that was true, but if she wanted me, she knows she can have me. That's the only reason I haven't gone to her. I know she'll push me away.

I finally f.u.c.king fall for someone, and she doesn't want me. If she cared about me the way I do her, she wouldn't have ended up in another's arms the night after she left Wren's wedding.

”Yeah, you. Tag, you should know something. As much as I used to hate you, I've gotten over it. You're different.”

”As are you,” I murmur, still trying not to let him see the pain I'm suffering through without her.

”Look. The thing is, Trip-”

His phone rings, and he glances down to pull it up curiously.

”Am I running late?” he asks to whoever is on the other line.

He grows deathly silent, no breaths even falling out. I look up to see all the color has been drained from his face, and his jaw has fallen unhinged.

”What?” I prompt as he drops the phone from his hand.

”It's Ash. That son of a b.i.t.c.h shot her.”

I don't know what hurts worse - my heart or my hand after my fist breaks through the wall of my office.

”Where is she?”

”Mom's.”

Melanie's? After being shot? Why the h.e.l.l isn't she in a hospital?

As.h.i.+ara ”Shannon, it's just a graze. He missed all the good stuff and just barely got my side. I bleed easily, so that's why there's so much blood at the scene. I swear I'm okay. Stop worrying,” I say over the phone.

I'm so exhausted right now. Between the police reports, the quick move to Melanie's, and the hospital visit, this night has sucked a.s.s.

”Stop worrying?” she shrieks in disbelief. ”That son of a b.i.t.c.h just tried to kill you. If he wasn't a sucky shot, you'd be dead!”

I sigh as I step out of the Princess room where Trip's crib safely tucks him away.

”Look, I'm fine. I'm at Melanie's, and I'm perfectly safe. She has a lot of security on staff because of her own safety reasons. That's why I came here. I'm going to stay here until they catch him. The cops are taking it a little more seriously now.”

”It's about d.a.m.n time. Where's Melanie?”

”She's in New York right now. She was in the middle of a big deal when I called her. She doesn't know I was shot. I just asked her if I could crash here for a while. You haven't told anyone, have you?”

”Just Billy. Sorry, I sort of freaked out.”

c.r.a.p. My head drops back in exasperation.

”It's fine. Just get some rest. I'll be okay. I swear, the president secretly lives here because the security is so tight.”

”Good. Stay safe. Love you, girl.”

”Love you.”

As I put the phone away, I hear the sound of voices chattering downstairs. I'm sure it's just the staff, but I go to investigate anyhow.

Eduardo greets me with a smile and hands me a tray of delicious food.

”You need to gain weight, Miss As.h.i.+ara.”

I smile lightly, and then I hear a warm, familiar voice.

”Yes she does.”

”Hey, Billy,” I murmur while turning around, but my heart slaps my feet when I see Tag right behind him.

”What... um... hey.”

His face is stoic, giving nothing away as his entourage of black suits come to follow behind him.

”Come on. You're going to stay at my place. I have just as much security, and I've set up a room for Trip,” Tag a.s.serts while sending men up the stairs to my room.

I rush in behind them to grab my baby up with a swift, protective motion. Tag follows as the men start tossing all my stuff into suitcases.

”Tag, I'm not going with you.”

”It wasn't a request. You're not staying here. Melanie's house is wonderful, but there are too many gaps here for someone to slip in unnoticed. You're coming to my place, and that's final. I'll carry you kicking and screaming if I have to.”

s.h.i.+t. s.h.i.+t. s.h.i.+t. Think. Think. Think.

”The cops are on their way to talk to me some more. I can't go.”

His stern, take-no-s.h.i.+t face stays intact.

”I've already called them and told them to meet me at my place. I also told them to be prepared to be thoroughly interrogated before they make it to my door. From now on, you don't go anywhere without an escort.”

Has he lost his d.a.m.n mind?

”Tag, you can't tell me what to do.”

He takes a step dangerously close to me, his eyes determined, his lips tensed.

”Watch me.”

Tag After a long, silent ride, we pull up to my house. Two dark suits walk toward me, and then they motion to the box to tell the man to open the gate.

”You really do have a lot of security,” Ash murmurs from the backseat as she strokes her son's head.