The Wrong Right Man(59)

“You’re good for him,” Bret states softly as I set my now empty glass down and look at him. “You aren’t afraid to remind him that work isn’t the most important thing in his life.”

“Yet he still just left the table with his phone,” I point out.

Alisha shrugs. “We’re hoping that the more you point it out, the more he will see how much his job has taken over his life.”

“Don’t get your hopes up,” I say then jump when a hand lands on my shoulder. I tip my head back and meet Braxton’s gaze, and the look in his eyes sends a chill down my spine.

“What happened?” I ask as he takes his seat next to me and adjusts me in my chair so that I’m facing him. “You’re scaring me,” I admit as he takes my hands.

“That call was from your brother.”

“Jamie,” I whisper, and he nods.

“He was arrested tonight.”

My stomach drops, and I turn my hands over so I’m gripping his. “Arrested?”

“Freddie got drunk and started rambling about you and me to Lozz. At first, he didn’t think much of it, but then Lozz spoke to Jamie, and your brother told him about your place being trashed and what’s been happening. Lozz put two and two together, since he knew Freddie didn’t go home with them Friday. Jamie went over to talk to him, and Freddie was still drunk and admitted what he did.”

“What?” I whisper, sure I heard him wrong.

“Things became violent, they fought, and Freddie is in the hospital. Jamie is at the station.”

My stomach churns. “I think I’m going to be sick.” I pull my hand from his to cover my mouth. I haven’t known Freddie as long as I’ve known Jinx and Lozz, but he’s still someone I trust—one of the few people I really trust.

“I called my lawyer. He’s going down to the station to bail Jamie out, but he did a number on Freddie, so we need to be prepared for what might happen.”

I close my eyes and drop my chin to my chest. Jamie has always had a temper, and when he loses control of it, he becomes irrational and can’t restrain himself. I can only imagine what he did to Freddie when he found out he was the one behind what’s been going on, especially when he considered him a close friend.

“I just can’t believe this.” I want to ask why, want to understand, but right now isn’t the time for me to ask questions. Right now, I need to get myself together and make sure I’m ready to help Jamie, because it seems like he’s going to need me. “How long do you think it will be before your lawyer gets him out?”

He checks his watch. “My guess—an hour, maybe two.”

“I want to be there,” I say, and he shakes his head. “Don’t tell me no, Braxton.”

“I don’t want you at the police station. I’ll have my lawyer bring him to my place. He can stay with us there while we wait to find out how Freddie is.”

Freddie. I don’t want to be worried about him, but I am, and I’m sure Jamie is too. “Exactly how bad is he?”

“Jamie didn’t know. He just said he was bad and unconscious when the EMTs took him away. I’ll make a couple calls and find out when we get home.”

“Okay,” I say then look at Alisha and Bret. “I’m sorry about this.”

“Don’t apologize,” Alisha says softly.

“I’m going to pay the bill,” Bret adds then looks at Braxton. “Why don’t you and your mom get Dakota to the car?”

Without a word, he stands, bringing me up with him, then he leads his mom and me through the restaurant. When we get outside, he leaves Alisha and me to wait under the awning near a warming light while he goes to the valet stand. It’s not freezing, but the temperature has dropped enough to make me wish I had my jacket. I wrap my arms around my middle, and a moment later, Braxton comes over and slips off his jacket, wrapping it around my shoulders.

“Thank you.” I lean into him as his arm circles my waist, and then we wait in silence for his car, the knot in my stomach growing by the second. If I had my cell, I could call Lozz or Jinx and ask them what they know, but now all I can do is think of every worst-case scenario.

An hour later, I sit on the couch with a cup of tea in front of me, my leg bouncing up and down as I stare at the elevator. Braxton came out of his office a few minutes ago to let me know Jamie is on the way and that Jinx and Lozz are with him.

Since we got home, he and his dad have been on the phone with his lawyer, another lawyer, the police, and the hospital, trying to find out how Freddie is doing. I don’t know how I would deal with this situation without them. Even Alisha has been cool and calm, trying to put me at ease.

“Drink some tea,” Alisha urges, picking up my cup and handing it to me as the intercom buzzes.

I take it from her and have a sip, wishing the warmth would wash away the worry as she gets up. I listen to her tell security to allow them up, and when the doors to the elevator slide open a few minutes later, Jamie steps out with Lozz, Jinx, and a man wearing a suit following them. My stomach bottoms out and my hands shake when I see the blood on Jamie’s shirt, the cut on his lip, and the black eye he’s sporting.

He comes to me and takes a seat on the couch at my side with Lozz and Jinx doing the same, the three of them looking somber as I absently hear Alisha tell the lawyer to follow her to Braxton.