Page 117 of Held-

The surprise on Brayden’s face mirrors my own. Before either of us can respond, the front door opens again, and I hear Joe’s voice in the living room.

“Where is he?” Joe calls out.

“Back here,” Big answers.

Joe appears in the doorway, his suit impeccable despite the late hour. The briefcase in his hand tells me this isn’t just a social call. His sharp gaze sweeps over the scene, taking in Brayden’s battered face, the pill bottles on the nightstand, and the small crowd gathered around the bed.

“Everyone out,” Joe announces, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Except Cece. I need to speak with them both.”

There’s a moment of hesitation before Jillian starts herding everyone toward the door. “Come on, let’s give them some privacy. I’ve got soup in the kitchen.”

My father lingers, his expression meeting mine with a question I can’t quite decipher. I give him a small nod, reassuring him that I’m okay. He returns it and follows the others, closing the bedroom door quietly behind him.

Joe waits until their footsteps fade before setting his briefcase on the foot of the bed and clicking it open. “I came as soon as I heard. Sheriff Miller called me directly.”

“How bad is it?” Brayden asks, his voice strained as he tries to shift into a more upright position. I quickly adjust the pillows behind him, my hand lingering on his shoulder.

“For Ethan? Very bad.” Joe's expression is grim but satisfied. “Multiple felony charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, violation of a protective order, attempted kidnapping, and driving under the influence. His blood alcohol was nearly twice the legal limit.”

“No chance of his father bailing him out?” I ask, relief and disbelief warring inside me.

“Not this time,” Joe says, pulling out several documents from his briefcase. “Mayor Kincaid may have influence, but the sheriff has dashcam footage of the end of the attack. Even Richard Kincaid can't make this disappear.”

“Good,” Brayden mutters, wincing as he tries to adjust his position again. I place my hand gently on his shoulder, silently urging him to stay still. The bruises on his face look even worse in the soft bedroom light, stark against his pale skin.

“There's more,” Joe continues, his expression serious. “The DA is considering adding attempted murder to the charges. The use of a tire iron shows deliberate intent to cause serious harm.”

“What about Brayden? He was defending himself—defending me.”

Joe nods, shuffling through his papers. “The sheriff's report clearly indicates self-defense. You won't face any charges,” he says directly to Brayden. “In fact, your actions may have saved Cece from serious harm.”

Brayden's hand finds mine.

“Ethan had handcuffs, chloroform, and ropes in the truck of his car.”

My blood freezes in my veins. “What?”

“The trunk search was conducted after his arrest,” Joe continues. “Sheriff Miller believes Ethan was planning to abduct you, possibly take you across state lines.”

The room reels around me. Chloroform. Ropes. The images slam into me—everything that might have happened if Brayden hadn’t arrived, if the police hadn’t intervened. My knees give way, dropping me onto the edge of the bed beside him, all strength draining from my limbs.

“Jesus Christ,” Brayden whispers, his fingers tightening around mine. Even through his pain, I can feel the protective rage radiating from him. “That son of a bitch was going to?—”

“He didn't get the chance.”

Joe sets the papers down on the bed, his expression grim. “The evidence suggests this was premeditated. The restraining order pushed him over the edge, but he'd been planning something like this for a while.”

“How do you know?” I ask, struggling to breathe normally.

“The receipt for the chloroform was two days prior to the attack at the pizzeria,” Joe recalls.

My stomach lurches. I press my hand against my mouth, fighting the wave of nausea.

“Which brings me to your charges, Ms. Montgomery. In light of the circumstances, the charges against you have been dropped.”

“Good riddance,” I mutter, still processing the horror of what Ethan had planned.

“The prosecutor is pushing for denial of bail at the arraignment,” Joe continues, organizing his papers. “With this evidence, I don't see how any judge could grant it. Not even with Kincaid's influence.”