Page 112 of Heir

She wrapped her arms and legs around me as I walked us over to the small couch against the wall by the door.

I sat down with her in my lap.

“Tell me,” I said. “Tell me who I need to kill for putting this look on your face, baby.”

She made a small, pained noise, and I squeezed her tighter to me.

“Shh, it’s okay. You don’t have to tell me now, okay? We can talk when we get home. I’ll just hold you in my arms for a bit. How does that sound?”

Another noise came out. This one was in agreement.

So that was what I did.

I held her close in my arms until I felt her go slack against me and her breath even out, indicating she had fallen asleep. She wore herself out crying.

Poor baby.

I turned my head and kissed the side of her head before, slowly, I set her on the couch. I lifted her legs and took off her shoes. I walked over to the cabinet near the desk for the small throw blanket Dad had stored there for the few occasions he had taken Emmy to work with him.

I covered her with it, and I cupped her face. Even in sleep, she was frowning a bit.

I leaned down and kissed her forehead before quietly making my way out of the office.

The music in the bar was on, but it wasn’t as loud as we set it at night when most of our customers came in.

I didn’t think it would wake her up, but I quickly shut the door behind me, my eyes finding Dad and Blue right away.

Blue stood up as soon as I neared. “How is she?”

The concern in his voice was evident.

“She’s sleeping now. But she was crying and scared when she got here,” I said, my voice low. “I need you to tell me everything. What is she running from?”

He cupped the back of his head with one hand. “I don’t know.”

I shook my head and moved closer to him. “She’s fucking scared out of her mind, Blue. You need to come clean and tell me everything.”

He stood up, anger in his eyes. “Why the hell would I hide it from you if I knew? I’m not lying. She wouldn’t tell me what she was running from, but she had been avoiding her mom. She refused to talk to her, so I’m thinking this has something to do with the bitch.”

Frustration made my skin tighten. This was the second time Blue mentioned Gemma’s mom, and none of those things was said in a good light.

I turned to Dad, helplessness in my eyes. How the fuck was I supposed to protect her if we didn’t know who the fuck was trying to hurt my girl?

“I care about her, too,” Blue said.

My nostrils flared, and I grabbed the collar of his shirt. “You need to know that she’s mine.”

He pushed me away. “I already told you, it’s not fucking like that, so you don’t need to get up in my face.”

I closed my eyes, trying to rein in my control.

Fuck, but this was fucking with my mind.

It wasn’t like that between them. I just didn’t want another man getting up in what was mine, even if he was someone she only saw as a brother.

I shook my head and sat down.

“Sit down, Blue,” Dad said when he stayed standing, watching me warily.

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