Page 126 of When He Plays

“He couldn’t. He was working undercover.”

“Like you?” Harper’s head turned as she eyed Charlotte.

Charlotte had flat-out refused to wear a hospital gown. She was still on her feet. Dressed in borrowed sweats and a t-shirt. As far as she was concerned, she was pulling guard duty with Harper. Until Harper’s family arrived, Charlotte intended to keep a protective watch on the woman. “Sort of like me,” Charlotte agreed. Not like she could confess to being a spy.

“Thank you for saving me,” Harper murmured. Her hands—with nails broken and fingers covered in small cuts—twisted in front of her.

“Hey, you were the one who had the great idea of choking the bastard with the rope.” Charlotte flashed her a wide smile. “Thanks for saving me.”

Harper started to smile back at her. Some of the shadows in her eyes seemed to lift.

The hospital room door opened. Jezebel poked her head inside.

Relief swept through Charlotte and she had to ask, “Logan?” Tell me you got him away from the cops.

“Your husband is in the waiting area,” Jezebel assured her. “Got that business all straightened out.”

A fast rush of air left Charlotte.

“You’re…you’re FBI, aren’t you?” Harper asked Jezebel.

“Um.” Not a yes. Not a no.

“Do you have any updates on Sebastian?” Harper inquired quickly. “Is he okay? I-I want to talk to him. I need to see him.”

“That’s just not possible.” Jezebel’s very definite reply. “I’m sorry.” She looked over her shoulder. Seeming to stare at someone outside the room before looking back at Harper. “Your parents are here, Harper. They want to visit with you.” A wave toward Charlotte. “She’s safe now. You can leave her.”

Charlotte wanted to rush out and see Logan but…

She still found herself hesitant to leave Harper.

“Why isn’t it possible to see Sebastian?” Harper’s voice cracked. “Is he still in surgery?”

Jezebel inched toward the bed. “I’m sorry.” She didn’t look directly at Harper. “He…he didn’t make it out of surgery.”

Harper’s mouth opened. She tried to suck in air but couldn’t seem to accomplish the task. Her eyes widened. She gasped. Choked.

“I’m sorry,” Jezebel said again.

Harper crumbled.

Charlotte hurried to her. She wrapped her arms around Harper. Around the woman who’d been through hell. Charlotte held Harper as she broke.

“Where in the hell is my wife?” Logan glared when Jezebel left the hospital room and approached him.

An older couple stood to the side. Well-dressed, silver hair, haggard expressions.

Jezebel motioned toward the room she’d just left. “Mr. and Mrs. Channing? Your daughter needs you.”

They practically ran for the room. They went in. The door shut behind them.

But it didn’t reopen.

Still no Charlotte. His wife did not come out.

“She’ll be out soon,” Jezebel promised. “Harper needs her a little longer.”

Alarm flared through him. “Why? What happened?”