Page 118 of Mr. Edwards

He checks all her vitals, which is something I didn’t do, and when his tormented eyes move back to me, something deep inside me shatters.

“There’s nothing I can do,” he says. “She’s gone, Carlee. Who knows how many drugs are in her system.”

“No.” I shove him out of the way as I resume mycompressions. “Wake up, Roxy,please… please don’t leave me,” I beg.

Tears are streaming down my face as I frantically try to bring her back. I’m racked with guilt;I should’ve protected her. She needed me and I let her down.

Reece makes no move to stop me, even if my efforts are futile, he probably knows I need to do this, and I respect him for that.

Eventually, my arms fall limp by my sides. “I’m sorry, Mom,” I whisper, choking on a sob. “I’m so sorry.”

My head drops forward as two strong hands wrap around my waist, lifting me to my feet.

“Carlee,” Grayson murmurs, turning me in his arms and crushing me to him. “This isn’t your fault.”

Balling my hands into fists, I start to pound on his chest. Deep down I know this isn’t his doing, but I’m not thinking rationally in this moment.

“You shouldn’t have come here.”

“Carlee,” he says, wrapping his fingers around my wrists, halting my blows. “When you ran out of the café, I knew something was wrong. I had to come.”

“Not here… Temecula. Near me!” I scream. “I said you couldn’t be here, but you didn’t listen. Why didn’t you listen?” I shove his chest, and he stumbles back. Clutching my middle, I bend myself in half, my body racking as I completely break down. “He said he’d kill her if I didn’t stop seeing you.”

“What?” I hear both Reece and Grayson say in unison.

Ignoring them, I drop to my knees, completely overcome with grief.

It’s been years since I’ve spoken to my mother, choosing instead to hold a grudge for every poor choiceshe’s made, and now I’ll never get the chance to make things right between us.

Grayson crouches down in front of me, gently lifting my face to meet his. “Who threatened to kill her?” he asks. I clench my eyes closed because I can’t do this. “Look at me, sweetheart. I need you to stay with me.”

His words are spoken so softly, so sweetly, my eyelids immediately flutter open. There’s no point in hiding it now, at the very least I need to warn him… I can’t lose him too. “Bobby.”

“Bobby?”

I nod my head.

“Who the fuck is Bobby?” Reece snaps.

“One of Carlee’s mom’s exes,” Grayson answers, never taking his eyes off me. The anguish on his face is profound. “Why would he warn you to stay away from me, Carlee? It doesn’t make sense. I don’t even know this guy.”

I swallow thickly, trying to get air into my lungs. “I found out a few years ago his real name isn’t Bobby,” I whisper.

“What is it?” he asks.

I turn my head to the side, gazing at the wall. I can’t bear to see the look on his face when he learns the truth. “It’s Jason.”

“Jason?”

“Your uncle,” I confess.

His body jerks back and he intakes a sharp breath. My mind flashes back to that day at the cabin, to the moment when my past collided with my future, and my life as I knew it fell apart.

Chapter 27

Carlee

Two and a half years ago…