Billionaire Untamed - Tate(34)

Lara gave Tate a warning look, and changed the subject. “Some of the agents brought Tate’s truck here to the hospital. I can take him home when he’s finished here. I know this has been a stressful day. Maybe you should all go get some rest.”

“I’d like to see Marcus.” Aileen finally spoke in a tremulous voice.

“He’s already being transported back to the FBI headquarters in DC. He’s a bit of a special case, and the Denver agents said they got orders from higher up the ladder to get him to Washington as soon as possible. I’m sorry, Mrs. Colter. He’ll get a trial, and you’ll be able to see him eventually.” The pain in the older woman’s eyes made Lara want to weep. Marcus’s crimes had literally destroyed this whole family. They were all broken apart. The Colters were a respected family, an admired family, and they would all end up being hurt by what Marcus had done.#p#分页标题#e#

“I have to get to Washington, too,” Blake said in a quiet, grave tone. “They want me for questioning. I wouldn’t be surprised if we all end up needing to testify eventually.”

“Are you under suspicion?” Tate asked angrily. “Guilty by association. Shit. This will kill your career once it gets out, Blake, even if you’re not guilty of a damn thing.”

Blake shook his head slowly. “The last thing I care about is my political career right now,” he answered, his eyes full of sadness and concern. “I know you saw it with your own eyes, Tate, but I guess I still want to be in denial that Marcus is guilty.”

“Me too,” Aileen whispered in a tearful voice.

“And me,” Chloe added.

Blake put an arm around his sister and mother, his expression bleak.

“I wish I could say the same,” Tate uttered regretfully. “But I did see the whole thing, and he isn’t the brother I’ve always known. I don’t know what happened to him.”

Lara reached out and clasped Tate’s hand, feeling his emotional pain. Dear God, no matter how quickly he’d capitulated to her in exchange for sensual pleasure, Tate had to resent her somewhere deep inside him for tearing his family apart.

Chloe and Aileen moved to the other side of the bed and gave Tate a gentle embrace as Blake announced that he wanted to get his mom back home. Gabe offered to drive Chloe.

“Somebody needs to watch over Tate,” Chloe said adamantly. “He might act like a hotshot, but he’s going to need some help. I’ll stay with him.”

“Lara will stay.” Tate kissed his sister on the forehead before she straightened. “Could you have some of the staff gather her belongings from the resort and send them to my place?”

“Gabe and I will handle it,” Chloe agreed as she looked at Gabe for confirmation.

Gabe nodded quickly in agreement.

“Thanks.” Tate looked at his family as he spoke. “This isn’t going to break us. We’re Colters, and we’ll ride this out together.”

Lara watched as Aileen’s backbone straightened. “Yes, we will.”

“Damn right we will,” Blake acknowledged.

“We’ll get through this,” Chloe affirmed.

“Your friends will help.” Gabe slapped Blake on the back.

Lara marveled at the strength she could feel in the small room. There was sadness, but a resilient spirit was also present. They all grieved right now, but she had no doubt they’d fight their way through this storm.

She watched them until they all left the room and closed the door behind them.

“You’ll really stay with me?” Tate asked with atypical vulnerability in his husky voice.

Lara had already spoken with her boss, told him she needed time to heal and to help the Colter family. He’d told her to take some time off. “As long as you need me,” she replied. Her eyes met his; she wished she could absorb some of the hurt that was still reflected in his gaze.

“Were you serious about that blowjob?” he asked hopefully.

“When you’re healed.” She tried to suppress a small smile.

“No…when you’re healed,” Tate answered hotly. His eyes roamed over her swollen face.

She moved closer to him, and rested her head gently on his abdomen, on top of the pristine white sheet. She felt emotionally wiped out, and so damn grateful that Tate was still alive. “I was scared,” she admitted in a guilty whisper.

Maybe she wasn’t supposed to feel that afraid as a federal officer, but she’d been terrified that Tate would end up dead. She took that risk herself every day doing her job, and she’d meet her fate if that’s what it took to get terrorists off the street. But her fear and guilt she’d felt about getting Tate involved was the part she couldn’t get over. To her, he was technically a civilian, and she’d gotten him involved in an FBI investigation that had nearly gotten him killed.#p#分页标题#e#