Page 71 of Nothing to Do

Maybe now her sister would understand why she worried on an almost daily basis. No one wanted people they cared about to be in potential danger. And, sheesh, Roman Lowe was constant potential danger.

“More bodies won’t help.”

“Bodies?” Alessia shrieked and thrust to her feet. “You think people are dead?”

“It’s a figure of speech. Having more people around won’t help.”

Maybe it would’ve been better to say it that way in the first place.

Though her view had been brief, it didn’t look like the deck itself collapsed. Luckily, only the side rail gave, not the front where the majority of—oh, who was she kidding? She had to be calm, to exude composure for her sister’s sake but—her throat closed.

There was just no way to be sure of anything. Her assumptions could be right, but they’d left. God knew what happened after they’d gone. Would Roman and Deacon have stopped fighting? Did Zane, Tripp, and Zairn have to go down onto the sand? What about the crowd? Were they mobbed?

Uncertainty kept her adrenaline alive. Zane.

“Oh, Thea.” Alessia rushed over to pull her into a hug. “I’m sure Zane is fine, he’ll have it handled.”

Any doubt about his safety wasn’t appreciated. At the same time, she couldn’t deny it was all that occupied her mind. She wasn’t usually a worrier, okay, when it came to her sister, maybe she was a little sensitive, but Zane… Anxiety itched her skin. She needed to see him, hear him, he could be in pain, alone, and on the island they wouldn’t have—

“I have to go,” she said, pushing out of Alessia’s arms. “I’m sorry, I know it’s… I don’t want to leave you on your own—”

A knock on the door interrupted. Alessia started to move, but she held her back. Yes, this might be her sister’s suite, but if there was danger, she didn’t want her sister facing it first.

Why would there be danger? What a ridiculous thought, they weren’t running from a crazed serial killer. The only maniac on the loose was Roman and he had other things on his mind than chasing down errant fans. Being on edge meant any little thing could feel like a threat.

Another knock. A little more insistent.

“I’ll get it.”

Alessia squeezed her lips together in time with her flat hands coming together beneath her chin. Yeah, pray, they might need all the help they could get.

She opened the door just an inch, and thank God she did. It wasn’t Zane, no, the man under the ball cap had a right of discretion.

“You know who I am?” he asked in a whisper. She just nodded. “Zane wants you at the house. Your sister’s friends are on their way here with security.”

“Was anyone hurt?”

“No one who didn’t deserve to be. Will you come with me?”

“Yes, just give me a second to—”

“Be quick, I can’t be out here when—”

“I know.” She closed the door because Alessia could not see the person on the other side of it or all hell might break loose. “Your friends are on their way, okay?” Hurrying to her sister, she hugged her quick. “If you need anything, tell the front desk and they’ll find me.” She stopped, holding her sister’s upper arms. “Are you okay?”

Alessia nodded. “I love you.”

Wow, maybe the night had shaken her sister up. “I love you too.”

They hugged quickly and she slipped out.

“Like cutting things close, don’t you?”

Except she wasn’t the one skulking around. Yet, despite a surge of annoyance, she couldn’t hold onto it. All she could feel was sorry for the man.

He shoved open the service door, holding it for her to go out first. “Why did they send you, Struan?”

The rabble of female voices quaked from the opposite end of the corridor just before the door closed behind them. Thank goodness they’d be distracting each other rather than checking out the rear view of her chaperone. Superfans would be capable of recognizing him, supposedly him, from any angle.

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