Page 201 of Sin With Me

Chapter26

Eric

When the phonerang and I saw the New Jersey area code, I nearly jumped out of my pants. I’d been pulling my hair out since the day Emma had left, calling her dozens of times and sending her a few messages each day; all had gone without an answer. I’d ruined the one chance I’d had to be with her, and now, unshaved and stinking like a fucking wet dog – I was simply lost without her and couldn’t bring myself to do anything other than work and eat. Sleep only came when I passed out from exhaustion. And that was when I wasn’t at my parents, easing their worries and double checking the locks every night.

“Emma?” I asked, full of hope, my body shaking with pure need to hear her voice.

“No, it’s Julian.”

I pulled my fingers through my hair again, shutting my eyes. “What can I do for you, Julian?”

“You can tell me why my sister is upset, refuses to talk to us, and is drinking obsessively. Eric, she’s worse than when we hired you. What the fuck did you do to thatgirl?”

I sighed heavily, wondering whether honesty was the best policy. It had to be in this case. If her brothers wanted what was good for her, then they’d help me get to her, because I was it. I knew this deep in my heart. I couldn’t live without her, and I was sure she felt the same way about me – she hadto.

“Emma and I became closer than I thought we would.”

The grunt on the other side of the line vibrated against my ear. Something smashed in the background. “Did you sleep with my sister?”

“With all due respect, that’s a bit private.”

“You fucking did! I swear to God, Eric, if you hurt her, I will personally castrateyou.”

“I love her, Julian. All right? I fucking love her with all that I am, and I screwed it all up when I went behind her back and took this job. So if there’s anyone to blame for this, it’s you guys. If you hadn’t asked for my help, I would have met her at that strip club the way I was supposed to and started off on the right foot instead of with a bunch oflies.”

“As I recall, it was you who needed our help,” he replied.

“That was just a bonus. You know damn well I could have gone with any other agency. But I promised Hunter, and I am not someone to break a promise.”

“Wait, you met her where?”

“Look, it doesn’t matter. I didn’t know she was your sister. Is she all right?”

“I don’t think so. Right now I’m watching her drown her sorrows in tequila and grind against a guy I’m pretty sure is thinking he’s getting lucky tonight. Come to think of it, all the ladies are jealous that Emma’s stealing his attention. He’s quite into her, if you ask me. From what I know he’s quite the bachelor. A rich bachelor. I doubt there are many places of Emma’s skin left for him to discover because the way his fingers are skimming her curves – he’s definitely hoping to get lucky.”

“Get that fucker’s hands off her!” I barked.

“If you really feel that way about her, why don’t you do it yourself? The jet’s already waiting for you at the airport.”

I slammed the phone down without saying another word, grabbed a duffel bag and stuffed it with fresh clothes and toiletries, and within thirty minutes I was in the air, showering and shaving on a damn plane, getting ready to rip apart the bastard who had his hands onEmma.

That’s how I ended up in NewYork.

And now I was sitting on a chair in the corner of her room, watching her sleep, splayed out on her bed with her mouth wide open. She looked so peaceful, it took every ounce of strength I had not to scoop her into my arms, cuddle her against my body, and take away that massive headache I was sure she’dhave.

I wondered whether she even remembered falling into my arms at the club. And thank God she had, otherwise my fists would have had no choice but to connect with the asshole who was touching her bottom, beautiful curves, and face. One look from me was all it took for him to walk away. When I tried to carry her out of the club, the bouncer stopped me, ready to tear me apart. Thank God Julian had stayed at the club and came over when I needed him. Either way, I wouldn’t have let Emmago.

“He’s good. He can take Emma home,” he confirmed, “But fucking update me on her condition when she wakes up without tellingher.”

“Look, I’m done with the secrets. You may do your business that way, but I can’t do life that way. Emma’s gonna get the full truth from now on, because knowing her the way I do, I’m sure she’d preferthat.”

Julian’s jaw tightened. “Fine. But only because Hunter says you’regood.”

Poor Emma. Hurt by her brothers, betrayed by the first man she’d been with since her boyfriend passed, deceived by so many people who loved her when all she’d wanted was a little freedom, trust, andlove.

Her breaths were deep. If I stared at her any longer I’d end up right beside her, right in that warm bed, sinking into her. When she finally moved at ten in the morning, my heart jumped. The sound of pain that came out of her mouth drove through me like shrapnel, breaking right in my chest.

“Emma, are you all right?”

---