Page 93 of Kissing the Boss (Fairy Tale Quartet 2)

Another charge of attempted murder? Ezra and I exchanged mystified glances.

Meanwhile, Lana didn’t heed the warning in the least. She glared at me, seething, spittle flying from her lips. “You were supposed to die, you little tramp. That bastard never would’ve questioned anything if you hadn’t been around to protect. Damn you. How could you do this to me? You bitch, cunt, whore piece of trash! You’ll pay for this. You’ll die just the way your worthless—”

“Enough!” Ezra roared before turning to one of the police officers. “What the hell is going on?”

But they only shook their heads, not answering.

So Ezra turned to Hayden as Lana was dragged off, still screaming obscenities at me every step of the way. “Carmichael?”

Finally showing some emotion, Hayden dragged a weary hand through his hair and blew out a breath. “I think you need to call your lawyers here, Nash. Just… Whoever you need, and meet us in the conference room as soon as possible.”

Ezra and I gaped incredulously at each other before we turned back to Hayden. “Why?”

My stepbrother reached out and clasped my arm, tugging me to his side, away from Ezra. “And you should come with me.”

But Ezra stepped forward, grasping my other arm, trying to keep me with him. “Seriously, what the fuck is happening right now?”

“I’m telling you,” Hayden bit back, narrowing his eyes and he tugged me away from Ezra again. “Go get your people, whoever you need, and meet us in the small conference room. You’ll learn everything there, because I only feel like explaining this shit once.”

Seemingly unconvinced, Ezra glanced my way. With our shared confusion and mounting worry mirrored in each other’s eyes, he slid his attention back to Hayden. “But, Kaitlynn’s—”

“She’ll be there too,” Hayden explained, making me whip my gaze to him and blink, because, honestly, I had no idea what he was talking about, no idea what was happening.

This time, he more-gently tugged me to him as he started inside, leading me along. I followed because I trusted him, but I couldn’t help but glance back at Ezra, wondering…

Ezra took a step after us, only to stop and shake his head, silently letting me know he’d follow Hayden’s suggestions and meet me in the conference room. I waved at him, a small wave that felt doomed, like maybe it was the last time I’d ever see him. But that was crazy, so I shook off the dread cloaking me and finally faced forward to watch where Hayden was leading us, wh

ich seemed to be directly to the small conference room.

“Just so you know,” I murmured without looking at him. “You have me really freaked out right now.” But I bravely lifted my chin to emphasize the point I was ready to face whatever he had going on, regardless.

From the corner of my eye, I saw him glance my way. “You don’t need to worry,” he murmured.

I gulped, unable to believe him.

Once we reached the conference room, the door sat ajar and the lights were on inside. When Hayden paused for me to enter first, I stepped forward, feeling totally different than I had on Friday, when we’d been here for the big portfolio presentation. That had been nail-biting and exciting. This was just… Frightening and confusing.

Inside, I found two men on the right side of the long conference table, wearing suits, one standing, one sitting as they studied something together on the screen of a tablet on the table in front of them.

The one standing, glanced up, only to straighten, smooth his hand down his chest, and step toward us. “You must be Kaitlynn. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Richard Sawyer.” He approached, holding out a hand for me to shake.

Following the formalities, I took his hand and told him it was nice to meet him too, though I had no idea yet if it was nice or not. That remained to be seen.

He smiled politely before nodding his head toward the seated man who was still reading something on his tablet. “And this is my associate, Mike. We’re the top legal team with Sawyer, Moore, and Associates.”

“So you’re…” I turned my questioning gaze to Hayden, “lawyers?”

“They’re your lawyers,” Hayden explained.

My… Huh?

I blinked at my stepbrother before turning back to Richard. With a nervous laugh, I tried to explain, “But no. No, I don’t have a lawyer.”

“You do now,” Hayden answered.

Except I didn’t need a lawyer.

Did I?

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