Carter Reed

and me. I sent it and then another one. u 2.
    U need to come back. She needs u.
    As I read it, tears threatened to spill, but I walked all the way to the end of the line. I heaved a ragged breath. This was what she needed. If I had to wait all night and through the next day, I would. I had to see Carter. He was our only real hope.
    I responded to him. Mite be gone awhile. Doing something to help. Trust me.
    She’s flipping out, Emma! Get back now!
    I felt more tears coming, but I couldn’t let them spill. This was on me. No matter her emotional trauma, I had to do this to ensure that we both lived. Ben didn’t understand that. He was thinking of the here and now, how Mallory had cried through the rest of the day and how Amanda and I had to help her shower because she’d been so sore.
    Her cuts and bruises would heal. The soul would as well, though it would take longer, but what I was doing would make sure that she had a chance to heal.
    I texted back once. U won’t hear from me for awhile, but I’m doing this so we can stay alive. Phone will be off for awhile. Sorry…
    As I started to power my phone down, a text flashed at me before my screen went blank. Bitch!
    I rolled my eyes. Mallory knew how to pick ‘em.
    The line moved at a snail’s pace. A few times bouncers would roam up and down the line. They would pick some of the better-looking girls and lead them to the front. As the hours went by, I noticed that they would pick eight girls to two guys. I checked my phone a few times and when it was around two, the line had shortened enough so that I was finally around the corner. I watched as cars drove up and people would hop out and dash inside. It seemed like an impossible job for me to get there, much less close to Carter. But every time I considered leaving, I remembered Mallory. The image of Jeremy with his hands on her throat flashed in my mind. I couldn’t go anywhere else.
    I had to stay and wait it out, but two hours later when the club finally closed, I hadn’t moved farther down the line. Most people left, but a few stayed like me. One of the girls in front of me told the other that celebrities would stumble out. Sometimes they would peruse the line and pick a girl to take home. Her friend squealed in excitement.
    Sure enough, as everyone started to leave, celebrities swooped out just as the girl said they would. However, they didn’t linger to look over the line. They had girls with them.
    An hour later, after everyone had finally left, I was the last in line.
    I had no idea where to go.
    The bouncer from earlier came out of the door. He noticed me and frowned. He came over and asked, “You crazy, girl? What are you waiting for? We don’t hand out numbers for the next night. You have to come back, and get in line. Maybe you should come earlier next time and dress a little less, if you know what I mean.” He sneered at me. “You’ll have no problem getting inside.”
    “I need to see Carter Reed.”
    His head went back, and he rolled his eyes. “Are you serious? You’re still on this?” He laughed. “Do you know how many girls come up to me and say they know the boss? I mean, really, take a guess.”
    I stiffened under his amusement, but I had to endure it. This was the only way. “I do know him. He was best friends with my brother.”
    “Say what?”
    I looked back up and spoke clearer, “He was best friends with my brother. I haven’t talked to him in years, but something’s happened. AJ told me to go to Carter if I ever needed something. He said he would help.” My throat burned. “I have nowhere else to go.”
    He heaved a deep breath as he looked me up and down. Somehow, I saw a twitch of pity enter his eyes. Then he mumbled under his breath, “I can’t believe I’m doing this. What was your brother’s name?”
    “AJ Martins.”
    I didn’t blink. I didn’t stutter. My brother’s name was spoken with respect.
    One of his hands came to the back of his neck as he stared again, long and hard. He rotated his head around before his hand fell abruptly back to his side. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” But then he took out a radio and pressed the button. “Rogers, you still there?”
    He let go of the button.
    “Yeah. What’s up?”
    He shook his head, but he pressed it again. “Can you get a message to the boss for me?”
    “What about?”
    He cursed under his breath, rolling his eyes. “Can you ask him if he knows the sister of AJ Martins? I’ve got her on