Page 17 of Mister Lane

I was asleep on the couch, having finished my book a short time before, when the doorbell woke me up. I had been confused when I noticed red lights flashing against the walls, lighting up the living room through the large window overlooking the front yard. I hesitantly cracked the door open to see two police officers standing on the doorstep.

I’d learned that my family had hit a patch of black ice on their way back down the mountain after a fun day of skiing. The car slid off the road after losing control. After rolling down a hill, they ended up upside down in the icy river below. My entire family drowned.

What I had to live with was the realization that the only reason I was alive while my whole family was dead was that I didn’t want to spend the day with them. Instead of going out into the cold, I wanted to stay home where it was nice and warm... and safe.

That was how I lived my life for the last few years. I stayed in my safe bubble, not daring to take a chance, knowing that the worst could happen.

Until Brandon and Brayden came into it.

Now, I decided I no longer want to stay in my little bubble, where it was safe but also dreadfully dull and boring. I never forgot my mother’s last words to me. “Life is going to be beautiful.” I often couldn’t sleep without replaying that wholelast day in my mind at least once. But it was her words that brought tears to my eyes and hope to my heart. “When that something special comes along, I want you to take a chance, honey. It will be the biggest leap of faith you’ve ever taken. It will be scary, but I promise, it will be worth it.”

I wanted to be loved, and if that meant taking a chance, wouldn’t it be worth it?

“Please find me,” I whispered into the darkness.

I wasn’tsure if I was dreaming as I heard a sound that sounded like the elevator doors opening, since I’d been listening to the sound of the motor running all day. Each time, the lift went up and down past the floor, but never stopped on it. As I heard my name being yelled out, my heart began to beat against my rib cage so hard that it was almost painful.

“I’m here!” I croaked out, my voice raspy from the strain I’d put on it after yelling at the stairwell door for hours. “I’m here!” I tried again, as I struggled to my feet. “I’m here! Brandon, Brayden, I’m here!”

“I think I hear her!” I heard Brayden say, his usually whiskey-smooth voice sounding frantic.

“I’m here!” I stumbled, my hand dragging against the wall. My legs were numb from sitting for so long, and I was having trouble holding my weight. I wanted to curse at the weakness. Without giving my body time to recover, I tried to run. Before I could take more than a few stumbling steps, strong arms caught me, and I was wrapped up tight against a hard, warm chest. I pressed my face against the shirt and took a deep inhale, taking the scent of Brandon Lane into my lungs.

A second pair of arms wrapped me from behind, and Brayden’s chest pressed tight against my back. Together, they enveloped me, warming my cold body.

“Sunshine.”

“There’s my sweet girl.”

One nose in my neck behind my ear, the other against my cheek as they both breathed me in as if they couldn’t get enough of me.

“Mr. Lane,” I choked out.

“Shhh, sweetness. We’ve got you.”

“Nothing is ever going to hurt you again.”

Somehow, I believed them.

Chapter

Sixteen

Mr. Brayden Lane

“I’m okay, guys. Really.”

It was the third time she’d told us that since I’d physically carried her to Brandon’s office. I hadn’t let her go—couldn’t bring myself to loosen my hold on her delicate body. For my own peace of mind, I needed her checked over by the EMTs who should arrive any minute.

“That’s great, Sunshine, but you’re still getting checked out. It’s either going to be here in the office by the EMTs or by a doctor at the hospital. Your choice,” I said as I tightened my arms around her waist.

Brandon was standing at the doorway, not wanting to be far from our girl’s side, but also needing to oversee what was happening with security. He kept his eyes trained on what was happening in the lobby, but I knew his attention hadn’t left Emily.

Luckily, it didn’t take the team long to arrive with the police in tow. When Brandon and I had headed down to get Emily, security was on their way to escort Veronica to the main lobby.Apparently, they had caught Veronica red-handed in the act of trying to steal as much confidential company information as she could before she was fired. She stupidly hadn’t believed me when I’d told her that security was on their way. I was just glad they had been quicker than I gave them credit for. Our security would have ensured that Veronica never would have gotten away with the proprietary information; however, it still could have caused enough issues for the company that we would have needed to get our corporate lawyers involved. Nobody enjoyed that.

So now that attempted espionage, imprisonment, and possibly even attempted murder are on the list of what Veronica is being accused of. It went far beyond a case of simply being fired from within the company and being blacklisted throughout the corporate community. No, Veronica was being arrested, and from the sound of it, she wasn’t taking it very well.

“Get your hands off me! Do you know who I am? Ouch! That’s tight! I’m going to tell my daddy. He’s going to have your badge! Hey! That’s my phone! I don’t give you permission to touch my phone! Daddy!” Her screams were comical, but they were definitely getting annoying.