Page 8 of Beaten

I miss having that. Will I ever have it again?I shook my head to clear it, there was no point in thinking about it. I had to focus on helping Emily.

I summed up the situation, but didn’t tell him it was for Chris. Jack and Emily had hung out in the same circles and had graduated together, it’d be just as hard for him to be impartial as it was for me.

I leaned back and turned my laptop so Jack could read the files on my screen. “So, what do you think? This guy likely to be a problem?”

After scanning the files, he answered, “Yeah, he fits the profile.” Then he stood back and looked at me with one eyebrow raised. “Want to tell me why you need me to confirm something you already know? What’s going on?”

He sounded both annoyed and intrigued. He knew I’d only be asking if I doubted my objectivity, which I rarely did. This was why working with family could be a blessing or a curse. We always had each other’s backs, a sentiment that included our team members, but we also called each other out on our bullshit.

“You remember Emily Taylor?”

“Chris’s sister? Yeah, or course, we went on a couple of dates but didn’t click.”

I’d forgotten about that. I hadn’t thought it was a big deal, but Chris had a fit. It hadn’t mattered that he’d known Jack forever and knew he was a good guy—no one was good enough for Emily in Chris’s eyes. Thinking back, I’d felt the same way about Madi. No one was good enough to date her, and I wasn’t shy about saying it, nor did I care that it irritated her to no end.

“We lost touch after graduation.” Jack shrugged. I saw his jaw clench when he put it together. “Tell me this asshole didn’t hit Emily?” He asked through gritted teeth.

I nodded. “Chris and I had drinks earlier, and he asked for my help. He’s worried about her.”

“Did she press charges? File a restraining order? Where is she now?” Jack threw a handful of questions at me without giving me a chance to answer.

He may not have stayed in touch with Emily, but that wouldn’t stop him from stepping up and helping her. I filled him in on what little I knew, and said I was expecting her to stop by the office tomorrow around eleven-thirty. Jack said he’d have Meg add them to our schedule.Not mine, ours.

“Thanks.”

Meg was our administrative assistant at Sheppard & Sons Investigations (frequently shortened to SSI). Dad had poached her from Ma earlier this year and happily suffered the endless teasing saying it was worth it. Meg was an asset we hadn’t known we needed. She was great at putting our clients at ease with her warmth and compassion, which was exactly what they needed. Not that the rest of us lacked compassion, but we were the strong silent types, whereas Meg was the friendly, outgoing type and she put people at ease just by being herself.

Jack’s a lucky guy. Meg was the love of his life, and the perfect partner for him. Jealousy washed over me. I missed having someone to share my life with.Maybe it’s time for me to think about taking my ring off.I shrugged off the thought. I wasn’t ready to date again, or even think about it.

“Earth to Jamie.” Jack snapped his fingers in front of my face. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I was just thinking it’ll be helpful to have Meg there to greet Emily, help put her at ease. I’m sure she’s still pretty shaken up.” I was still fiddling with my wedding band, a fact that hadn’t gone unnoticed by Jack.

“Sure.” He nodded towards my hands. “When you’re ready to talk about what was really going on in that head of yours, let me know.”

Asshole. I hated it when he called me out. Though I supposed I deserved it, I’d done the same to him more than once. “Thanks.”

Jack probably knew me better than anyone, despite having grown apart after high school - I’d been a rookie on the police force, eager to prove myself, and Jack was overseas serving in the Army. But we’d grown closer than ever since he moved in with me a couple of years ago. I’d made the offer under the pretense of saving him money while he worked off his partnership, but in reality I was lonely in the home I’d built with Isabelle and I wanted the company. Not that I’d ever tell him that.Not that I need to.

Chapter 4

Emily

Iwas sitting in my brother’s car, twisting my thumb ring, as he drove us to the SSI office. He thought I’d be less nervous telling someone outside the family about what happened, but I was actually more so. Jamie might not be family, but I’d known him most of my life and he’d been like a second brother growing up, much to my disappointment. Because of the whole I had a crush on him issue. Knowing Chris had filled him in last night, didn’t make it any easier, but it did make me question why I had to embarrass myself by talking to him. When I asked, Chris said there were questions he couldn’t answer, plus Jamie had some information for us.

WillJamie think I’m weak and stupid for staying with Craig for so long?Not that I could blame him, I thought it too. I never should have moved in with Craig, but I thought it’d make him happy, less jealous, if I did.I was wrong. So very wrong. He got worse. Not only did he act more jealous afterI moved in, but he became controlling and eventually ended up hitting me. I should have known better, it’s not like there aren’t thousands of stories out there about this exact situation. All the signs were there, but I thought it’d be different for me.How could I be so blind, so stupid?

Overcome with nerves, I blurted out, “We should go home.”

Chris turned towards me for a moment, then back to the road, but didn’t say anything.

“I’m sure we’ll just be wasting his time. I mean, you told him everything last night and I got the restraining order so Craig can’t come within fifty feet of me so it’s not like I need protection.” I was wound up and rushed the words out. There was a pit in the bottom of my stomach, and I wanted to go anywhere except the SSI office.

“Emily, you know Jamie wouldn’t have asked us to come to the office if he thought it was a waste of his time.”

Instead of answering, I stared at the houses as we drove by, wondering if anyone inside was suffering behind the closed doors, like I had.

When I didn’t respond, he continued, “Look Em, I know your embarrassed, but you shouldn’t be. None of this is your fault.”

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