Carter Reed(48)

Just like that, my stomach dropped, and I knew something horrible had happened.

“Emma?” Amanda was frowning at me. She was pale now. “You don’t look so good.”

“I have to go.” I turned on my heel and walked out of there. I would’ve run if it hadn’t looked suspicious, but as I went, my heart dropped again. Everything had changed. Jeremy Dunvan changed everything. Carter was right. This had been done to me. I lost my friends because of what he did to Mallory.

My jaw hardened.

I was done with waiting and hiding. I had taken care of Mallory before Carter came into my life. I wasn’t helpless and he needed to start telling me what was going on. This was my life too.

As soon as I cleared the cafe’s entrance, I was whisked into a car waiting for me. Mike pushed me inside and climbed behind me. Another door shut in the front so I figured the guard by the bathroom sat by the driver. I glared at Mike and rubbed my arm, where he had gripped me harder than he ever had before. “Ouch.”

He growled, then blanched and sat up straight. “Is your arm okay?”

“It’s fine.” I eyed him. I’d never seen Mike as anything other than professional, but he quickly switched, oozing it again. “You’re mad at me?”

He stiffened.

I corrected, “You’re all mad at me, aren’t you?”

He didn’t respond.

That was my answer. I sighed and scooted down. “I just missed her. I’m sorry.” And I wouldn’t do it again. I knew that much. They were only doing their job, and I had gotten mad. I was still mad, but I was going to take it out on Carter. And when I said take it out on him, I let out a deep sigh and knew I wouldn’t say a word. He was protecting me. I shouldn’t forget that and I had, for a little bit that afternoon.

“When you deviate into an unmarked room without us, you’re going in blind. We were not prepared for the back room of that café.”

Oh. Huh? “When you say unmarked, you mean…?”

“We’ve been over every room in your work building. We’ve even planned for the café, but you went into a dark room. We didn’t have a guy in the back ready because we didn’t think you would follow her. We thought you would stay in the front room.”

“So a dark room is somewhere that you guys haven’t mapped out yet?”

“Planned for.”

“What’s the difference?”

He grimaced. “We will be better next time. I promise.”

I blinked at him for a moment. Why was he apologizing to me?

He saw my look. “If something had happened, if someone had grabbed you, it would’ve been our fault. We weren’t ready. We have to always be ready.”

“Oh.” And the Shame of the Month Award went to me. I was flooded with guilt. “I won’t go into rooms like that again. Would that help?” There was so much about what they did that I didn’t know about. “Maybe you guys could help me learn about how you operate. I don’t really know that much, except that Carter told me to call 09 for when I’m ready to go home. I never call it, but you guys always seem to know. He said you guys have been watching me for a long time.”

He shrugged. “We have a blending technique, but you don’t need to really understand that. We’ll do better next time.”

“Okay.” I wanted to know. I wanted to help, but I sensed that Mike wanted the conversation to be done. I let it go.

It was later that I wondered about all the security guards again. I had showered, changed clothes, and my stomach was rumbling. When I heated up food, I saw one of the guards turn suddenly away from me. His hand grabbed at his stomach and I knew it hadn’t been mine that was rumbling. I wondered when the last time these guys ate, but no—they must’ve had breaks at times. Still, I looked at the huge casserole in front of me. There was too much for me so I dished it onto three plates and handed one to the guy. A fork was next. He was startled, but shook his head. “No, ma’am. That’s alright.”

His stomach sounded again. I rolled my eyes and pushed it into his hands. “I’m not going to die in the two minutes it’ll take you to eat that. Go ahead.” I lifted the other plate. “Where’s the other guy?”

He hesitated, but gestured with the fork to my floor. “He’s outside by the elevator.”

“Eat.” I pointed to his plate as I started towards the stairs.

The other guard had a similar reaction except he dropped his radio. It hit the floor with a loud screech and he grabbed it, muttering apologies at the same time. I left the plate on the bench beside him and waved. “Have fun. Eat up.” I scanned the small hallway. No Mike. “Where are the others?”

His head jerked up. “Ma’am?”

I sighed. Why did they all have to call me ma’am? “Mike and the rest of the guards. Where is he and how many are there? I’ll cook something for everyone. They can eat it when you guys take your breaks.”

I could tell he hadn’t expected that. He almost dropped his plate. “Mike got called away for a transport and there are eight others.”

Eight? Really? “Okay. I’ll make more.”

I didn’t ask what a transport was. I was starting to figure out what they would tell me and what they wouldn’t. Whatever a transport was made the list of Things Not To Discuss With Emma. But when I went back to the kitchen, I was surprised at how many guards Carter had enlisted. That meant there were ten security guards around me at all times. Ten…my stomach dropped and I sat down with a plop on the counter stool. I swallowed a lump in my throat. Ten guards. I had known there were a few, but ten—it was serious. My situation was serious. Carter wasn’t one to waste anyone’s time. Then I remembered what Amanda had said about Ben and Mallory.