Page 62 of Entice

Jordan stared at her.

“Nothing more than getting cleaned up and getting to Sage. So wipe that look off your face.” She grinned at him.

His heart lightened. Crystal was good for him.

* * * *

Forty-five minutes later, Jordan was knocking on Sage’s front door. Pounding was more like it. Crystal understood. He was worried. She put her hand on his tense arm as the door opened.

“Thank goodness,” Sage said. “Get in here.”

They stepped inside her house. Sage’s face was tear-stained, her voice a bit wobbly.

“What’s happened?” Jordan asked.

Crystal’s gaze snapped to the person sitting on the sofa, huddled under a blanket. “Brady,” she said softly.

Jordan swore. “Sage, I thought you two agreed to keep your distance while this case was going on.”

“Fuck that,” Sage bit out.

Crystal ignored them and walked over to Brady. “Hi Brady, I’m Crystal. I’m not sure if you remember me from court.”

“I do.” Brady was a good-sized man, but she could see his hands were trembling. Something was off here.

“What can we do to help you?” she asked softly. Asking if he was okay wasn’t an option. It was obvious he wasn’t okay. Lord, how many times had she seen this with her own family. The absolute fear. Her heart clenched along with her stomach.

“They’re going to kill me,” he whispered as his gaze went to where Sage and Jordan stood arguing.

“Who Brady?” Her nerves twitched.

“My family.” His eyes were huge. “I thought they’d come around. Damn it, I’m an adult, a physician, old enough to have my own life.” His tone emphasized the depth of his anger.

Not good. There was something very wrong here. “I’ll be right back.” Crystal strode over to Sage and Jordan. “Sage, is there another room I can take Brady into while you two hash this out?”

Sage’s gaze went to Brady, then back to her. The concern and worry in those brown eyes warmed Crystal’s heart.

“There’s a guest bedroom down the hall and to the left. It has its own bathroom,” Sage said.

“He shouldn’t stay,” Jordan said.

Crystal looked Jordan straight in the eye. “This isn’t about the damn case; it’s about Brady.” If he didn’t understand the situation, then they might not be as compatible as she thought. Not giving Jordan time to say anything, she went back to Brady. “Come with me, Brady. Let’s get you cleaned up and warm.” She coaxed him into standing, and with her arm around his waist, she walked him to the spare bedroom. Doctor or not, he needed emotional support.

Crystal helped him into the bathroom. “Would you like a shower?” Something normal would help him recover his equilibrium.

“I would, but…” His gaze fell to the floor.

To see this strong man’s distress hurt her heart. “Brady, I want to help.” She blew out a breath. This wasn’t going to be good.

He nodded and released his blanket.

“Those bastards.” There were bruises and marks all over his arms. His clothing was torn. It was obvious he’d been fighting for his life. Anger welled up in her. Anger at Brady’s family, anger at her own, anger that the world couldn’t accept people who were different.

“I fought back, but they ganged up on me.”

His words sent an arrow straight into her gut. “I’m sure you did.” She put her arm around his shoulders. “Brady, I know this is hard, but will you allow me to take some pictures? This needs to be documented.”

“No police.” His voice ratcheted up a notch.

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