"And we've been spending to keep her off of us," Marvsaid.
Texas nodded in acknowledgement before continuing. "Turns out, she was already in massivedebt."
I turned back to Grayson. "Did you know?" Iasked.
He shook his head. "I suspected, of course," he answered, "but I didn't know it was thatbad."
“So, what happens now?” I asked. “Where is she? How did y’allwreck?”
“She called and demanded that I pick her up from a‘friend’s’house,” Grayson said. “She’s been sleeping with some men—married or otherwise, doesn’t matter—to get money. She’s been blackmailing people to keep money in heraccounts.”
“Yup. Can confirm,” Texasagreed.
Grayson nodded. “When I went to get her, it was apparently because he had called things off. I’d never seen her so disheveled,” he admitted with a grimace. “She started rantingand…”
“And what?” I prompted, hurrying him along. I was tied to his every word. “Whathappened?”
“Well, it was kind of my fault,” Grayson said on a sigh. “I’ve only been with her for a few days, but I just thought it was just poetic justice, youknow?”
“Youtoldher?” Marv asked. He gaped at Grayson with a mixture of horror andconfusion.
“Yeah, it just kind of slipped out,” Grayson said. “I told her she was getting what she deserved for all the shit she’d been pulling. She screamed at me, blamed Harlow…she said some things and then she attackedme.”
“What did she say?” I demanded, my hand contracting on hisangrily.
Grayson thunked his head back and huffed. “Just shit talk,” he said. “She called you a gold digger, a whore,etcetera.”
“And then she attacked you?” Bellamyasked.
He nodded. “She just started hitting me. It didn’t hurt—she’s so fucking small—but I wasn’t expecting it and I veered into the other lane and…well, you know therest.”
“So…” Texas looked around as if expecting her to appear at any moment. “Where is shenow?”
Grayson waved his one good hand—with mine attached to it. “She’s here somewhere. Last I heard they had to sedate her. She washysterical.”
“I’ll bet,” Marv said with a shake of hishead.
“How long do you have to stay?” I asked. “When can we take youhome?”
Grayson looked at me, meeting my eyes and his expression softened. “I’d really like to go home,” he said. “Myrealhome.”
I squeezed his hand and brought it to my chest, holding itclose.
“I’ll go find out,” Knix said. “Bellamy, join me, it’s far too crowded in here as itis.”
Bellamy and Knix disappeared out the curtain, but not before Knix tossed the SUV keys to Marv. Marv deftly caught them and deposited them in his pocket. “You hungry?” he asked Grayson. “Thirsty?”
“Yeah, actually. I asked for a water, but the nurse hasn’t come back yet,” Grayson answered on a grimace as he shifted in thebed.
Marv shook his head. “Fuck water, I need some fucking coffee. I’ll grab you something while I’m in thecafeteria.”
“Thanks,man.”
Marv nodded and snagged Texas’ arm, dragging him out behind him as they went. “Hey, what’s the big idea!” Texas whined as he was pulledaway.
I sighed and released Grayson’s arm to get up and close the curtain. I snapped it shut and though it didn’t do much, it did muffle the noise from down thehallway.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” I said as I went back to Grayson’s bedside. “When Marv woke me up and told me you were here…” I trailedoff.