Reflected in You: A Crossfire Novel

closer to the bed and spoke to Cary. “Tell me what happened.”
    Cary sighed. “Trey and I went out Friday, but he had to bail early. I walked him out to grab a cab, but it was nuts right in front of the club, so we went around the corner. He’d just taken off when I got nailed in the back of the head. Took me straight down and whaled on me a few times. Never got a chance to defend myself.”
    My hands began to shake, and Cary’s thumb rubbed soothingly over the back.
    “Hey,” he murmured. “Teaches me. Don’t stick my dick in the wrong chick.”
    “What?”
    I watched Cary’s eyes drift shut, and a moment later it was clear he was sleeping. I glanced helplessly across the bed at Gideon.
    “I’ll look into it,” he said. “Step out with me for a minute.”
    I followed him, my gaze repeatedly turning back to Cary. When the door closed behind us, I said, “God, Gideon. He looks terrible.”
    “He got knocked around good,” he said grimly. “He’s got a skull fracture, a nasty concussion, three cracked ribs, and a broken arm.”
    The list of injuries was horribly painful to listen to. “I don’t understand why someone would do this.”
    He pulled me close and pressed his lips to my forehead. “The doctor said it’s possible Cary will be allowed to leave in a day or two, so I’ll make arrangements for home care. I’ll also let your work know you won’t be coming in.”
    “Cary’s agency needs to know.”
    “I’ll see to it.”
    “Thank you.” I hugged him hard. “What would I do without you?”
    “You’re never going to find out.”
    * * *
     
    My mother woke me at nine the next morning, gliding fretfully into Cary’s room as soon as visiting hours began. She pulled me out to the hallway, drawing the attention of everyone in the immediate area. It was early, but she looked amazing in eye-catching red-soled Louboutins and an ivory sleeveless sheath dress.
    “Eva. I can’t believe you went the entire weekend without your cell phone! What were you thinking? What if there had been an emergency?”
    “There was an emergency.”
    “Exactly!” She threw up one hand, since the other arm had her clutch tucked beneath it. “No one could get hold of you or Gideon. He left a message saying that he was taking you away for the weekend, but no one knew where you were. I can’t believe he was so irresponsible! What was he thinking?”
    “Thank you,” I interjected, because she was getting wound up and repeating herself, “for taking care of Cary. It means a lot to me.”
    “Well, of course.” My mother took it down a notch. “We love him, too, you know. I’m devastated this happened.”
    Her lower lip trembled and she dug in her bag for her ever-ready handkerchief.
    “Are the police investigating?” I asked.
    “Yes, of course, but I don’t how much good it will do.” She dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “I love Cary dearly, but he’s a tramp. I doubt he can recall all the women and men he’s been with. Remember the charity auction you attended with Gideon? When I bought you that stunning red dress?”
    “Yes.” I’d never forget it. It was the night Gideon and I first made love.
    “I’m certain Cary slept with a blonde he danced with that night—while they were there! They disappeared and when they came back . . . Well, I know what a satisfied man looks like. I would be surprised if he knew her name.”
    I remembered what Cary had said before he fell asleep. “You think this attack has something to do with someone he slept with?”
    My mother blinked at me, seeming to remember that I didn’t know anything. “Cary was told to keep his hands off ‘her’—whoever ‘her’ is. The detectives will be coming back later today to try to pull some names out of him.”
    “Jesus.” I scrubbed at my eyes, needing my face wash badly and a cup of coffee even more. “They need to talk to Tatiana Cherlin.”
    “Who’s that?”
    “Someone Cary’s been seeing. I think she’d get a kick out of something like this. Cary’s boyfriend caught them together and she ate it up with a spoon. She loved being the cause of the drama.”
    I rubbed at the back of my neck, then realized the tingle I felt was for another reason entirely. I looked over my shoulder and saw Gideon approaching, his long legs closing the distance between us with that measured stride. Dressed for work in a suit, with a large cup of coffee in one hand and a small black bag in the other, he was exactly what