Carter Reed 2(86)

They didn’t move and seemed to get even stiffer.

“Pretty sure the nerves are on both sides,” Amanda said. “They look like they’re going to meet a death squad.”

Andrea’s mother lifted her hand in a small wave. I returned the motion, but I didn’t open the door. I couldn’t bring myself to leave that car. It was familiar. It was friendly. It was safe.

Then Andrea’s head popped around the door. She said something to her parents, and her mom gestured to me in the car. Andrea turned her gaze my way, and a frown appeared. She stepped out, but paused and shook Theresa and Noah’s hands before pointing inside. All of them nodded and turned to go inside. Andrea’s father’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before moving to our car, but then he went inside as well.

Andrea stood on the doorstep and motioned for us to come inside.

I let out a deep breath. This was it.

“Come on.” Amanda squeezed my hand. “We’re right there. You’re not alone meeting them.”

That wasn’t it. I didn’t worry about an uncomfortable dinner. If that was the case, I would’ve had Carter come with me. I was the one who’d suggested he wait to meet Andrea’s family. Meeting me was one thing, but meeting Carter Reed was a whole other deal.

But as we headed to the house, I suddenly knew what I was scared of.

“Carter’s not coming?” Andrea asked as we approached.

I shook my head. “No. He had something to do tonight.”

“Oh.” Andrea’s smile was shaky, and she rolled her eyes. “You have no idea how relieved Kevin will be. The rumors and stories are getting to his head, and to my parents, too. I swear I think they were worried a mob hit would happen at dinner.” She grimaced. “Kevin suddenly wanted to learn how to shoot a gun this week...”

She faltered, and we stood in silence. Abruptly, she thrust her hand out to Amanda. “I’m Andrea. I know we met in the hospital, but I was half out of it that whole time. Figured it wouldn’t hurt to do another introduction.”

“Oh.” Amanda shook her hand. “Hi, I’m Amanda. Emma and I—”

“Go way back.” Andrea held onto her hand and pumped it up and down. “She told me all about you guys. You and Theresa. My dad knows Noah. Can you believe that? Small world, huh? Actually, he doesn’t like Noah, or he didn’t until he found out he was coming to dinner tonight. The hotels are rivals. My dad’s hotels aren’t as successful as The Richmonds. Not even close. Don’t tell my dad I said that, though. He’ll disown me. Okay, he won’t, but… Yeah…” She released Amanda’s hand and took a step backward. “Sorry. I’m a bit nervous.”

Amanda looked from her to me and began laughing. “It’s official. There’s two of you.” She pointed to the door. “I’m going inside. The dinner smells delicious, even from out here.”

Andrea smiled. “Yeah. Okay. I’ll tell the cook. I don’t know what my mother would do without Norma.”

Amanda smiled back at her before slipping inside.

Once we were alone, Andrea let out a sigh. “Down to two, huh?” She flinched. “I’m sounding like an idiot. I’m sorry. No wonder you’re not ecstatic about going in there—with me being a fool. I, just… My dad’s an ass with what he did, and I’m sorry he left you—”

I held up a hand, stopping her. “No. That’s not why I was in the car for so long.”

“Oh?” She leaned toward me.

“You were kidnapped.”

Her head bent down. “Oh.”

“They had you for so long, and I know you were tortured. I saw when I untied you.”

She stood there, frozen, like she wanted to disappear.

I could feel tears building. I could barely speak around them. “I am so sorry, Andrea. And I can’t…” How did I make this right? My face. That’s why she’d been taken. “I can’t make any of that go away. I—”

Andrea’s head came back up. Her eyes were stricken. “My dad left you behind. That’s been eating me up inside since I found out. I can’t, I can’t make that right. He’s been telling me more about our mom, and she sounds horrible. No wonder you can’t remember your childhood with her, and thank god your brother got you away from her. I—my dad left you there, and knowing you grew up in the foster system after AJ was killed? That haunts me. I can’t make that go away.”

My voice was soft. “You were tortured.”

“Not that much.”

“Andrea—”

“I wasn’t. Really. They left me alone most of the time. Yeah, they hit me sometimes, but they said it was for effect. They took a bunch of pictures, but then they left me alone.” She stopped and drew in a shuddering breath. “They were angry every day. I could hear them. They were arguing about me. They kept saying ‘it wasn’t working’—whatever that meant. Some wanted to kill me and be done with it, but others kept fighting back. They kept saying I was their ‘only leverage.’ I knew right away they thought I was you. I never told them I wasn’t.”