Meaning in Masterson by Calle J. Brookes

Author:Calle J. Brookes
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781940937434
Publisher: Lost River Lit Publishing, LLC

36

Dusty rushed over the snow, slipping a little on a patch of ice. Ben caught her. Together they made their way to where the paramedics were loading a protesting Nikki onto a gurney. “Nik! What happened?”

Her best friend’s eyes were darting around, left to right. Most of the time, Nikki’s nystagmus was reasonably controlled. Except when she was afraid, or stressed. Of course, Nikki would never admit that.

There was blood on Nikki’s forehead.

“Someone was in the building,” the man at her side said. “He knocked her down the stairs.”

“Where the hell were you, Clark?” Ben demanded.

“Back off, Ben. Hunter went to pick up our Chinese order. I thought it was him coming back for something.”

“And you left the door unlocked?” Ben asked. “Damn it, Nik. You know better.”

“Not now, Ben.” Nikki and Dusty said together.

“It wasn’t unlocked; I locked the damned door and double-checked it. He came in through the front—broke in the glass,” Hunter said.

“You going to be ok?” Dusty asked.

“I will. Josh and Jake are just being worrywarts. I don’t need to go to the hospital.”

Hunter had one hand on her shoulder. “You’re going.”

“Hunter…”

“Nikki, just…please?”

Nikki shot him a look, right there in the street light in front of her bookstore. “Fine. But I want an I-told-you-so when they say I’m going to be fine. And I want my Chinese when I get home. I’ve earned it.”

Hunter said something foul about the Chinese. Nikki patted his hand. Dusty took a look at him—he was seriously upset. Worried.

Nikki was probably downplaying, too.

Nikki looked at her brother. “Lock up, for me?”

“Damn it, Nik. You’re going to move in with Fletcher tomorrow. I swear.”

“Like hell, I am. Dusty…help me out here.”

There was pain on Nikki’s face. Dusty hadn’t missed how tightly she was holding on to Hunter’s hand. “Ben, now is not the time for your stupid rantings. Nikki is going to go get her head checked out. I will lock up your apartment. Hunter, you are going with Nikki, I take it?”

“Yes.”

Dusty had a sneaking suspicion they wouldn’t be able to pry Hunter away from her.

That worried just as much as the idea that someone had broken into the bookstore tonight. They had random burglaries sometimes—but maybe once a decade. This…was scary.

She was glad Hunter was there, but…

Hunter could hurt Nikki so easily, too.

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