Page 29 of The Devil’s Detail (The Greystone Family: Greystone Brothers #2)

Carter

I know I pop off like an out of control firework, but today has caused not just an employee to get hurt, but a friend. I hang my head in shame.

“It wasn’t your fault, okay. It was all them. They’re delusional and deranged. Let’s get home and we can debrief.”

The words play through my mind on the journey home. Jackson is trying to keep me calm. His big strong body is holding mine up, his aura blanketing me. I allow him to tell me it wasn’t my fault, but I know it was, and this debrief is going to be brutal.

“Is there anyone else to call?” Jackson asks me. We’ve already called Freddie, my publicists, the PR firm, all the lawyers—everyone who needs to know what happened.

I shake my head, feeling like the life is being sucked out of me.

Baz is finally off the phone with the hospital. Jackson and his big security guy are sitting in my kitchen at the beach house, both with coffees they’ve barely touched. They’re keeping Ash at the hospital for observation after having his head stitched up.

“How did they knock Ash out?” Baz asks me. His eyes are sharp, but his tone is soft. The debrief has started.

“It was one of the guys from the old security detail. Ash was shouting at him. He followed me. Was trying to get me out of the situation as Gary and John were trying to coerce me into the car.” I’m shaking my head, my eyes closed as I remember how fraught he sounded.

Ash was genuinely worried about my safety.

“It’s not your fault, Carter. But why did you leave without saying where you were going? Or at least let Ash drive you?”

I knew he’d ask. That was my fault.

I shake my head. How could I have been so gullible?

So stupid. “I was so annoyed. John called and asked to meet earlier than planned. He said if I didn’t show up when he wanted me there, he and Gary were going to come over to my fucking house, with another fucking camera crew, ready to spread the rumor that I was double-dealing them on a god damn contract.

Shafting them both out of millions. Because I need their money, right?

Well, I’d like to shaft them somewhere. I was so mad, I just left.

Didn’t think. And now Ash is hurt and in the hospital. ” I hang my head in shame.

“Did you hit him?” Baz asks. No accusation, just a solid question.

I shake my head in confusion.

“Then it’s not your fault. They didn’t need to do that. They obviously panicked,” he adds, cool as ice.

“They did. They said Jackson was tracking me, and that’s how Ash got there so fast. They were definitely panicking. Ash was shouting about assaulting a movie star. They seemed to come out of a trance, probably hit with the reality of what they were actually doing.”

Panic grips my chest as I realize they were one hundred percent intent on removing me against my wishes.

“Jeezus. I could have been whisked off to god knows where. I was manhandled and shoved into that car like a squealing piglet in a chocolate factory.” Jackson smiles a little at my dramatics.

Baz doesn’t. “They were waving at the diners in the cafe like they were royalty. I was frantically waving and shouting, too, but everyone just thought I was being enthusiastic.”

“Did they say they just wanted to talk? Without me being there?” Jackson's sardonic voice hits me and brings me back to earth.

“They chucked my phone out the window. I thought I was toast. I was sweatin’ like a ham in a sauna.”

Both Baz and Jackson roll their eyes. You’d think they’d be used to me by now. Would understand my sense of humor is a load-bearing structure. My only real defense mechanism right now. And I am on the verge of losing my ever-loving shit.

“Those two jackasses were trying to explain themselves. It was all a crock of shit, and they knew it. And then they hit me with a picnic. Are you kidding me? A fuckin’ picnic in the park.

With Hollywood's press pack!” My voice is in the rafters.

“I told them, let me go and we’ll forget this ever happened.

I was cool, I was calm. It was a fucking hostage situation.

” I can’t tell if Jackson is smiling or grimacing. Even Baz is looking astounded.

I stand up, and point at them both. “Gary, that idiot, had the audacity to tell me that he knew my PR team wanted some natural shots of me. I could thank him later for setting them up for me.” Baz snorts, and I couldn’t agree more.

“He’s a monster, a publicity whore. But I could smell the desperation—it drowned out his shitty aftershave.

” Yep, I’m in full theatrical mode now. Jackson is used to me, so he carries on drinking his coffee. Baz is hanging on every word.

“Why did you not just leave, Carter?” Baz asks.

It’s Jackson's turn to snort at that. “They wanted him to make a scene. Validate what they told the press. That it was a love triangle. It was on the radio, remember.”

My face falls. A love triangle. I’ll fuckin’ strangle them.

“Ha! Wishful thinking. He’s a damn mess. Gary believes everything that he’s saying. But it’s all phantasmagoric.”

I strike a very Gary pose, affecting a perfect copy of his voice. “‘Carti, it’s not my fault my show was cancelled. It’s just a picnic with your best friend.’”

I switch sides like I’m playing two parts and continue in my best southern drawl. “Well, I’m sure as shit it wasn’t my fault. And just because you’ve got a casserole, a shitty blanket, and we’re in a park, it ain’t a picnic if I’m here against my will.”

I drop to the couch in exasperation. “He even shoved a deviled egg in my hand for authenticity when a pap jumped out of the bushes,” I say in disgust. “And as for John, he was tryin’ to tell me that contract he brought to us was pre-contract terms. Just a discussion point, not the real deal.

” I curl my lip. “He must think I was born yesterday.” He tried to dupe me.

Use our friendship. The joke is on him. I might have given him more if he’d just asked.

“I was at the end of my rope and just about to smash that damn egg in Gary’s face, publicity be damned. Then you came, Jackson. I have never been happier to see anyone in my life. If my ass had to stay put on that blanket one more minute, it would have exploded.”

They both grin. “I’ll bet Gary and John shit the bed,” Baz states with glee. “You took out that security detail like skittles, Jax.” Baz is laughing now, and Jackson’s grin gets even wider.

“I knew you’d know what I was doing. We talked about it after that film we watched the other week.” He turns that smile directly on me, and I melt.

“Yes, the distraction technique. Well, I did get a bit of a shock when your brother was on the other end of the phone tellin’ me off.” I laugh, but he’s scary.

I stand back up and do an impression of Jonno.

The growl, sexy yet menacing—they both do it perfectly.

“‘You’re in big trouble, Maywood.’” Jackson howls with laughter.

“I shouted ‘no way’ and he goes, ‘Yes, fucking way. It’ll be more drama than you can handle if you don’t start doing what my brother tells you.

’” I add the snarl and then the snort. I knew he was being nice, really.

It was a Greystone declaration of love. Jackson is laughing so hard.

“Wait til I tell him you can copy his voice, Carter. He’ll love it.”

“Well, he said he’ll deal with those two idiots. That you should have let him loose earlier.”

Jackson shakes his head at his brother's scary tendencies. “Maybe I should have. You might not have been picnic-napped on live TV.” He smiles at me again, and his dimples pop. I’m getting his full repertoire tonight.

Maybe I need to be kidnapped more often.

“I’ll get off now, Jax,” Baz says, and I practically forgot he was here. “Everything is back in play. We’ll watch everyone. And I’ll keep you posted on Ash.”

Jackson nods. “I’ll go see him.”

He stands to show Baz out, and by the time he comes back into the room, my adrenaline has slumped again and I’m laid out on my kitchen sofa. “Do you want me to phone anyone for you? Get someone over?”

I look up at him, blowing out a breath. “Freddie’s out of town. I don’t have anyone else.” Sadness starts to take over his expression. And don’t I know it.

I start to shake and I can’t seem to stop it.

Who is coming for me? Who is coming to comfort me?

No one. Not one person to call. What a sad state of affairs.

A-list fucking actor. The most outgoing man on the planet.

One of the most popular actors ever. And I have no one.

Absolutely not one single solitary person to call and say, ‘C’mon on over. I need to talk. I need help.’

“I’ll go fetch my stuff if you want.” His voice is like bourbon over ice.

“Ash might be out of action for a few days. And, to be honest, with his family just coming out to LA and now this… I’d like to give him the week off if that’s okay with you.

Or I can arrange for someone else to come look after you. ”

He’s up close and personal now. And I want more than anything to throw myself into his big strong arms.

“I’m happy to give my little hummingbird some time off. They hit him real hard. He went down with a bang.”

“Did they hurt you, Carter? I know you’ve put on a brave face, but you must have been worried.” His voice is so low now, and he’s sitting so close.

I shake my head, but then smirk, trying to lessen the tension that’s starting to strangle me.

“Only my ass suffered. It had to sit on that godawful ugly plaid blanket. For a man who makes a livin’ puttin’ shit together, you’d think he could rustle up a nicer blanket.”

He cracks into a full smile. I consider taking it further and suggesting my ass needs a rub, but I’ve had enough hassles for one day.

But I must have hit a sore spot, because I can see his pent up anger bubbling to the surface again. He gets up and starts to pace. “There was no need to hit him. They could have just overpowered him, tied him up. But to hit him over the head… So fucking reckless.”

I’ve never seen this side of him, and to be honest, it’s a bit scary. I only ever see the CEO, the polished veneer. For the first time, I know I’m getting a glimpse at the soldier, the ruthless security man beneath the effortless charm. He turns his big brown eyes on me, shuttering the anger.

“If you don’t want anyone else, I can stay over for a few days. But I need to be in the city during the day on odd days. I’ll get Baz over then. Until Ash is up and running again.” He points outside the house. “I can stay in the guest bungalow. I won’t be too intrusive then.”

“Jackson, no. You can stay in the house. Ash does on occasion.” Well that is a bit of a lie. He stayed once, when I was drunk, to make sure I wasn’t sick. “So I’ll get the guest room set up for you.”

I have to stop staring at him. I go for cool, channelling all my acting skills. Christ, this is like a runaway freight train coming at me. He’s here in my house overnight. It’s unstoppable. And to be honest, I’m happy to be squished. Please, squish me harder… And faster.