In the Crossfire

by L. P. Dover

  “Were you?” Even Bryce sounded skeptical.

  I glared at him. “Yes, I was serious. Believe it or not, I’m not as pretentious as you might think. I thought you might’ve realized that the other night when I got drunk and spilled my secrets.”

  We got caught up in traffic, and he looked over at me. “You’re right, I did. It just doesn’t make any sense to me, especially considering who your family are.”

  I snorted. “The same goes for you too. Apparently, the Collman family were the most vicious in the city. Honestly, I should be afraid of you right now.”

  His eyes darkened. “Are you?”

  Swallowing hard, I shook my head, even though it was a lie. The practical part of me knew I should be afraid of him, but there was the other part that wanted to get closer to him. “No,” I murmured breathlessly.

  His gaze dropped to my lips and then back up to my eyes. “You should be.”

  Everything inside of me tightened. With just that one look, it was as if he’d touched every square inch of my body. It was intense. A horn blared behind us, drawing Bryce’s attention back to the road.

  I cleared my throat and shifted the subject back to my family. “I love my father, but we’re nothing alike. I like to believe I take after my mother. She was strong and compassionate. Nothing could ever bring her down.” My eyes burned, but I fought back the tears. “She was a lawyer too, just like me. I’d give anything to be able to work.”

  He chuckled. “Not many would say that. There’s too many lazy fucking people in this world.”

  I couldn’t argue with him there. “Not me. All I’ve ever wanted to do was help people. That’s why I take on a lot of pro bono cases. I’m not in it for the money. And speaking of money,” I said, “how much is my father paying you to protect me?”

  His jaw clenched, and he kept his eyes on the road. We were almost to our destination. “I don’t need his money, Layla. I have plenty of my own.”

  “Well, surely, he’s offering you a lot, especially if he’s getting you to speak to me. None of the others ever bothered to. It was all silence, except for when Michael watched over me.” Michael and I could talk for hours.

  We pulled into the parking garage that was connected to Avery Hall and parked beside my father’s sedan. Bryce shut off the car and peered over at me, his expression serious. “I’m not like the others. I talk to you because I want to. And tonight, I need to keep you safe. Your father trusts me to do that.”

  I nodded. “Okay.”

  “Do you trust me?” he asked, his voice low and deep.

  Did I trust him? That was a good question, and one I didn’t have the answer to. I looked right into his stormy blue eyes and trembled. “I don’t know,” I whispered, “a part of me does, but the other doesn’t.”

  His gaze averted to my father’s car. “That’ll have to do for now. We have to go.”

  My father opened my door and helped me out. He wrapped my arm around his, and we led the way into Avery Hall with Dominic on my other side. My brother winked at me and smiled, but I had to force one of my own. I was about to walk into the lion’s den, and I was terrified. Behind me, Bryce walked beside Marco, with James and Roger taking up the rear. His lips tilted up slightly, and a sense of calm washed over me. I did trust him to protect my body, but definitely not my heart.

  There were two young men, dressed in waiter’s uniforms, at the double door entrance. Once we got closer, they opened the doors, and my father paused. The room was filled with people, just like it always was, for the annual gala. I’d never thought about it before, but the majority of the people in the room probably hated my father, which meant they hated me. My father’s sins would become my own.

  “We shouldn’t be here,” I whispered under my breath.

  My father squeezed my arm. “Smile, cara mia.”

  He took a step forward, and I had no choice but to go with him. A small orchestra was set off to the right, playing a smooth melody, and several couples danced to the tune. There had to be over two hundred people in the room, men, women, and children. I recognized some of them, but there were a ton I’d never spoken to before. Dominic split off and started mingling with the other families like nothing was amiss. I was never that good at pretending I was fine when I wasn’t. Dominic was charming, persuasive, and very good at talking, all of which was evident by the way a lot of the women in the room stared at him.

  It felt like the whole room was watching us. My father led me over to our table and pulled a seat out for me. “I’m going to walk around,” he murmured. “You’ll be okay here.” Usually I’d have my cousins to sit with me, but unfortunately, I had to sit alone.

  A waiter came over to the table, holding a tray of drinks. I grabbed a glass of red wine and plastered on a smile. “I’ll be okay now,” I said, sending a quick glare to my father. He walked off, but I could feel Bryce close behind, even though I couldn’t see him. Marco joined my father, but there was no sign of Roger and James. I could feel the stares on me, but I wasn’t in the mood to go out of my way to talk to anyone.

  The seat beside me pulled out, and I had a feeling it’d be Julian, but as luck would have it, I was met with Bryce’s familiar blue eyes. “Thank God,” I breathed. “I’m struggling here.”

  His expression tensed. “I know. That’s why I couldn’t leave you here by yourself. People are staring and getting restless. They know something’s wrong.”

  I turned my body toward him so no one could read my lips. “Something is wrong. What is my father planning to do?”

  He shrugged and looked around the room. “I don’t know. He didn’t say exactly.” When he turned back to me, I could see the truth in his eyes.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see someone coming up to the table. When I looked up, it was Cadoc Cartwright. My stomach clenched, but I held in my groan. “Hello, Layla. You’re looking as lovely as ever.”

  I forced a smile. “Thank you, Mr. Cartwright.”

  His grin widened. “Please, call me Cadoc.” Then he turned to Bryce. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Collman. My offer is still on the table if you want to discuss it.”

  Bryce tensed beside me, his expression hard as he stared at Cadoc. “Like I told you last night, I don’t work for anyone other than myself.”

  Mouth gaping, I sat there in shock. Bryce never said a word about speaking to the Cartwrights. Cadoc was amused by my reaction, and chuckled. “Suit yourself.”

  He walked off and smiled at us again over his shoulder. Bryce reached below the table and squeezed my hand. “Don’t react. That’s what he wants.”

  “Does my father know?” I asked, pulling my hand away from his. The Cartwrights were our biggest rivals.

  “No.” His gaze bored into mine. “He warned me that the other families would approach me with offers once they found out who I was. And as you can see, I turned it down.”

  “Why?”

  Instead of answering, his gaze shifted to something over my shoulder. “Penelope Cartwright’s walking this way and looking right at us. I think she wants to talk to you.”

  I looked behind me, and he was right. She was gorgeous in her form-fitting royal blue gown. Penelope Rossi Cartwright was tall, with long dark hair that hung in a sleek sheet down her back. I’d talked to her on several occasions before, but that was because of my mother. She always made it a point to talk to Penelope at the galas, and never once did either one of them mention anything about what happened thirty years ago, when the Cartwrights ransomed another Rossi for Penelope. I wanted to know all about it, but I wasn’t about to bring it up.

  When Penelope got closer, I stood, and her smile faltered for a second when she looked down at Bryce but then changed when she focused back on me. Holding out her arms, she hugged me lightly. “Layla, it’s good to see you.”

  “Same to you,” I replied.

  She nodded away from my table, her hazel eyes full of concern. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

  “Sure
.” I glanced back at Bryce, and he stood and walked away.

  Penelope and I strolled past the other tables and headed straight for the bar. “Was that Bryce Collman sitting beside you?” she asked. She picked up two glasses of champagne, and held one out to me.

  Brows furrowed, I took it. “Yes, why?”

  She took a sip of her drink. “Curious. I heard my husband and some of the others talking about him the other day. You two seem like you’re getting close.”

  It was obvious she was fishing for answers, but I didn’t know why. My instincts didn’t scream at me to be cautious, but I figured it was best to be. “We’re not like that,” I ended up saying. She smiled as if she didn’t believe me. I tried to find him in the crowd, but couldn’t see him. “I guess he’s a hot commodity right now.”

  Penelope searched through the crowd. “So are you, my dear.” Grinning wide, she placed a hand over her heart and laughed. Nothing was funny to me. “Tell Mr. Collman to be careful,” she said, speaking through her teeth as she smiled. “We’re being watched right now, so I need you to smile.”

  Heart racing, I did as she said. “Why does Bryce need to be careful?”

  She met my gaze, her smile tense. “My nephew doesn’t like competition. He’s already seen you with him. With your mother not here anymore, she would’ve wanted me to warn you.”

  “Why now?” I asked. “You’ve had plenty of opportunities before.”

  She laughed again and pulled me in for a hug, her voice a whisper in my ear. “Time’s running out.” When she let me go, Julian was right behind her, trying to look charming with his smoldering brown eyes, perfectly coiffed dark hair, and his expensive tux. He was a snake, plain and simple.

  “Mind if I steal her away, Aunt Penelope?”

  There was a warning in her stare, but she stepped away from me and placed a hand on Julian’s shoulder. “Of course. You should take her to the dance floor.”

  That was the last place I wanted to go, but it was better than somewhere private. Julian held out his hand. “What do you say? Wanna dance?”

  Hell no, but unfortunately, I couldn’t think of anything to say other than, “Sure.”

  He held out his arm, and I took it. We’d caught the attention of his father, and Cadoc grinned slyly, like he was scheming. Then again, when were the Cartwrights not? I’d rather stay celibate for the rest of my life than be a part of their family.

  Julian stopped in the middle of the dance floor and guided my hand to his shoulder while he took my waist. “You look beautiful tonight, Layla.”

  I tried to smile but it probably looked more like a grimace. “Thanks.” The music sounded seductive and slow, not exactly the kind of song I wanted for a dance with him.

  Julian pulled me closer, his grip tight around my waist. It caught me by surprise, and it made me gasp. “What are you doing?”

  His evil leer made me tremble. “It’s time you give in to me, Layla. You know how bad I want you. Everyone here knows that we’re meant to be together.”

  The man was delusional. Thoughts of my uncle, dead in the field, plagued my mind. It made me wonder if Julian did it himself, to send a message. Taking a deep breath, I looked right into his soulless eyes. “You may want me, Julian, but I don’t want you. These games your playing with me are over.”

  Unfortunately, that seemed to intrigue him more. I should’ve known he’d want me to fight back. “What games?” I dug my nails into his shoulder as hard as I could, and he bit his lip.

  “The ones where you’ve interfered with my life,” I hissed. “I’m not stupid, Julian. You’re good at terrorizing people, especially men when they’re interested in me.”

  He chuckled. “They were all pussies. I couldn’t have you wasting your time on them when you should be with me. I did you a favor.”

  I gripped his shoulder harder, but it was obvious the asshole loved pain. “No. What you did was make me realize I don’t want to be anywhere near you. If you so much as blink at me wrong again, I’ll stop you myself.”

  A low growl escaped his lips, and he smiled. “Promise?”

  Hoping to not cause a scene, I tried to step out of his grasp, but he pulled me right back in. Clenching my teeth, I glared right into his dead eyes. I’d always told myself I wasn’t afraid of him, but that possessive look on his face made me tremble. Thankfully, my anger was stronger than the fear. “Let me go, or I’ll scream.”

  Julian laughed, but then a voice I’d hoped to hear cut him off. “I think it’s time I cut in.”

  Bryce was behind me, so I couldn’t see his face, but my heart stopped and I held my breath. All I could see was Julian’s outright rage as he glared at Bryce. “Ah, you must be Bryce Collman.”

  “And you must be deaf,” Bryce taunted back. “She said to let her go.”

  Julian’s jaw tensed, but then he loosened his grip and I jerked away from him. Bryce grabbed my wrist and pulled me to his side. “Are you okay?”

  Linking my arm with his, I held onto him. “I am now.”

  By now we’d drawn the attention of everyone around us, including my father. The muscles in Bryce’s arm twitched, and his fist was clenched so tight his knuckles were white. This was exactly what I wanted to avoid. Julian was volatile, and I had no doubt Bryce was too. If they started a fight in the middle of the gala, it’d be a bloodbath between the families.

  I squeezed Bryce’s arm. “It’s okay, let’s go. He’s not worth it.” Standing in front of him, I tried to get his attention, but it was solely focused on Julian. I could tell by the look on his face he wanted to say more. I would’ve loved for him to put Julian in his place, but it wasn’t the right time. I nudged Bryce back a little more which wasn’t easy. “Please,” I whispered.

  Reluctantly, he stepped back, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Bryce turned to walk away, and before he could grab my hand, I was ripped away, pain shooting up my arm. The gasps from the crowd echoed in the room.

  Julian jerked me around, his eyes like fire. “Why do you make me do things like this?” he shouted, squeezing my arms so tight. “He can’t have you, you’re mine!”

  Then, it was as if everything moved in slow motion. Blood splattered in the air, and I screamed as Julian fell lifeless to the floor. A set of arms wrapped around my waist, and I tumbled down, the air whooshing out my lungs with the fall. Bryce landed on top of me, his eyes wild as he shielded me. All I could hear were shrieking screams and the pounding of feet as everyone raced by us. But then, I saw Julian’s lifeless eyes as he stared over at me, his body limp on the floor with blood oozing out of a wound on his head. Cadoc knelt down by his son’s dead body with his gun out, scanning the crowd savagely.

  Bryce jerked me up, and put his arm around my waist. I couldn’t even feel my legs. It was like my body was in shock. Bryce grabbed my face, and squeezed. “We have to get you out of here.” His words sounded so far off, but I nodded my head. It was all I could do.

  Bryce and I ran for the exit, but when I looked back at the crowd scrambling around for their lives, Julian wasn’t the only one on the floor. There were other pools of blood, one surrounding Penelope’s husband, Adrian, and the other…my father.

  “Oh, my God,” I cried, freezing in the doorway.

  Bryce tried to pull me out. “Layla, we have to go.”

  Panic consumed me, and I burst out crying. “I have to see if he’s okay.”

  Bryce looked off into the crowd, and his eyes widened. “Holy fuck. What the hell’s going on?” He squeezed my hand hard. “Stay with me, and don’t let go.”

  There were so many people screaming and trying to get out of the room, but I held onto Bryce’s hand as he pushed through the crowd to my father. Dominic, Marco, and Isaiah crowded around my father while the men in the Cartwright family surrounded their fallen two.

  I ran over to my father, and fell to the floor beside him. Marco helped him sit up, and placed a hand over the wound in his shoulder. He grunted in pain, but he was alive. “Daddy, what’s goin
g on?”

  He hissed as Dominic and Marco lifted him to his feet. “You have to get out of here, cara mia,” he snapped. “It’s not safe.”

  “Who fired the shots?” Bryce demanded.

  Dominic nodded toward the windows where there were holes through the glass. “Outside. James and Roger are out there searching now.”

  My father grabbed my arm, growling in pain. “Go, Layla.” Then he looked over at Bryce. “Please,” he said, his breaths coming out in rapid pants, “take her to the estate. She’ll be safe there.”

  “What about you?” I cried.

  He shook his head. “I’ll be fine. Go.” He let my arm go, and nodded at Bryce. “Hurry.”

  Bryce gripped my hand, and ran for the door. I could barely see through my tears, but I followed him. However, I did look back once more, at the carnage left behind. I didn’t know what it meant, or what the outcome was going to be. All I knew was that nothing was ever going to be the same.

  Chapter Eight

  Bryce

  Getting Layla out of that clusterfuck was my number one concern. However, the other problem was figuring out who the hell had done the shooting. Since Anthony was spared with a shot to the shoulder, it made me wonder if the bullet that killed Julian was meant for him or Layla? She was too close to him when he got hit.

  Once on the highway, I could feel the adrenaline rush subside. We still had another two-hour drive before we reached the Corsino estate in upstate New York. Even though it was a hot summer night, Layla’s body shivered. I reached for my suit jacket that I’d ripped off earlier, and draped it over her body.

  She looked away from the window to me, her teeth chattering. “Thanks. I just can’t seem to get the images of Julian and my father out of my head.” Her eyes closed. “The blood, the sound of everyone screaming.” When she opened her eyes, there was a haunted look I recognized all too easily. I remembered looking at myself in the mirror the first time I’d seen someone killed in front of me, and seeing that exact expression. Now, it was a way of life for me. No amount of blood or screams bothered me anymore.