My phone rang and I was reminded playing with Mr. Arrogance hadn’t been on my agenda today. “Look, I shouldn’t have taken the Ferrari without asking you. I was miffed with what you said this morning. However, I don’t have time to argue about this. Donovan is waffling about rehab and that just can’t happen.” Thank God, the phone stopped ringing.
He sighed. “I know you will find it hard to believe, but I really am sorry you’re dealing with this.”
“Not so sorry you didn’t use his arrest to con me into marrying you.”
He took a deep breath. “I deserved that.”
“Yeah, you did.” My phone rang again. “I need to see who this is.”
“Go ahead.”
Backing away, I hated the fact I was still so attracted to him. He was far too good looking to ignore. Reaching inside, I noticed Amelia’s name and number. Something was wrong.
“Amelia. What’s up? I’m not coming into the office today.” I heard a loud noise. “Is someone screaming?”
“You need to come in,” she implored. “Your brother is here and he’s about to tear up the place.”
Fuck. This was the worst scenario possible.
“I’ll be right there.” I was already shaking. As soon as I hung up the phone, Christian was right behind me. “Don’t say anything right now. Nothing. I know this is all just one big ruse to you that you can use against me, but Donovan is in real trouble andI’m the only who can help him. Please, just leave me alone right now.”
I wasn’t expecting him to place his hand on my arm with such tenderness, I automatically shifted toward him.
“What’s wrong, Wildcat? Talk to me.”
“He must be high. He’s at my office threatening to tear up the place. I need to go.” As soon as I tried to pull away, he tightened his grip.
“I’m going with you. Whether you like it or not, your family is now my family, and I’ll do everything I can to protect you and your brother. If you allow me in. Can you do that?”
As I looked into his eyes, I saw sincerity for the first time. I had no one to lean on other than my friends and they weren’t equipped to handle this. There was no other choice, no one I could turn to.
So I had to make a judgment call. “Yes.”
CHAPTER 20
Christian
No one would ever accuse me of being a nice guy or someone with compassion.
If it was anyone else, I might have been one of those shitholes of men who made fun of the situation. That’s how jaded I’d become in my life. Yet with Vanessa everything was different. I no longer wanted to just be that guy, the one you couldn’t count on.
She was hurting. Her eyes reflected years of dealing with gut-wrenching pain.
I followed her to her office, uncertain how I was going to help or handle the situation. She drove like a bat out of hell in the Ferrari. I admired not only her spirit, but her determination to get to her brother.
Even if she’d disobeyed me.
Maybe a part of me had known she would. Maybe I’d even wanted her to.
Another reason to punish her.
Right now, my thoughts were about controlling the situation in the right way. If I fucked it up, Donovan would be sent to prison.
She’d barely parked before jumping from the car, the tennis shoes she’d chosen to wear allowing her to sprint to the building. The elevator doors almost closed before I managed to drive my arm inside, pushing them open.
She was panting, her eyes filled with tears. What the fuck had happened to Donovan? She huddled in the corner when I entered, refusing to look me in the eyes.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” I told her, which was completely the wrong thing.
