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"We'll go with her," Galen suggests, stepping forward.

"No!" I grumble.

We watch Carter go down. "I have to try. Don't let David see you." I rush into the fray. "Hey, assholes!"

The men freeze. "Who the fuck are you?"

I glance at Jonas as I approach Carter. "He knows who I am, don't you, Jonas?"

"Fuck! She's the boss's daughter."

The sound of a speeding car reaches our ears. The four guys freeze.

I stand between them and Carter, my knees shaking and my heart pounding with fear. "I called the sheriff."

The bigger man steps forward. "We were paid to do a job."

I narrow my eyes. "Tell Richard Lincoln to leave this man alone and tell him the message is from his daughter!" I spit out the last word as David's cruiser comes to a screeching halt in the parking lot.

I sag in relief, and when I look around, I don't see Violet and the guys.

The men in front of me brace themselves. "Get out of here!" David shouts.

As soon as they scatter, I turn and crouch over Carter. "I don't know how to help you."

"Help me stand."

I take one hand and David comes over and takes the other. Once he's on his feet, David grumbles. "What the hell are you thinking? Coming here?"

"She was my sister," Carter hisses at David, spitting blood from his mouth.

"Oh!” I didn't see that coming. I had no idea my mother had a brother. Tears well up in my eyes as confusion and pain wash over me.

"Bea," David says, "why are you here?"

"I wanted to know who he is. I met him at the funeral," I admit quietly.

"I saw that... I’ll take you home."

"I'm not going. Carter needs help. I'm going to talk to him. Tell them to stay away from him, David. I mean it. No more. This stops right now!"

David winces. "I won't be able to cover for you tonight because I told you to interfere. Richard and Judge will know you know about him." He runs his hands through his hair. "I've got a first aid kit in the car. Let me get it."

Swallowing hard, I say, "Okay." I hold onto Carter's arm as we make our way to the hotel.

David shouts, "Bea, tell Violet and the Redds there is no need to hide."

"Shit!" I mutter.

My friends obviously heard David because they came over to me. Galen takes over helping Carter while I exchange glances with Essex.

"I'm so mad I could scream," I admit.

Carter chuckles, ending in a wince. "My feisty niece, huh?"

"Don't think because I'm helping you that I'm not angry that you didn't tell me who you are."

"I didn't lie to you, Bea. I am an FBI agent. To tell you the other shit would have taken too long." He moans. "I should have known your father would send men after me."

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