Her Wilde Marines (Wilde, Nevada 4)

“Okay, Em. Whatever you say.” Larry had never sounded like this before, so understanding. “I’ll be there for the girls. I swear.”

She would also have to end it with Bane and Adam. It would take every ounce of courage and would rip her heart to shreds, but she must break it off with them now. She couldn’t drag anyone else down with her.

“Are you still there, Emma?”

She took a deep breath, bracing herself for the good-byes ahead. “Yes.”

“Why don’t you come back to North Dakota and we can work this all out together?”

“No. I’m never going back there. Ever.”

* * * *

Adam couldn’t bring himself to get out of the bed, though he’d been awake for a little while. He’d fallen instantly asleep after his shower.

He glanced over at the clock and smiled. Less than an hour before he would be with the woman of his dreams again. He hoped Emma had crawled into bed herself shortly after he and Bane had left. Tonight, he had big plans for her.

Bane came in with his cell in his hand. “Em’s on speaker. She wanted to talk to both of us.”

He swung his legs to the floor. “Hey, sweetheart.”

“Hi, Adam. I’m too tired to go to dinner tonight.” There was something in her tone that didn’t sound right to him.

“That’s okay,” Bane said. “Adam and I can go get takeout and bring it over to your house.”

He nodded to his brother. “We can stay in all night, Em. Just relax.”

“I really would like to be alone this evening, if you don’t mind.” Her voice was shaky. “And I know you two need more sleep. Thank you so much for all you’ve done for me. I can’t ever thank you enough.”

This sounds like a breakup call. “Em, we’re coming over now.” He pulled on his boots.

“What’s wrong, baby?” Bane was onto something. “Did you get another phone call that upset you?”

“No. Not a phone call.”

“Then what, sweetheart?” He hated to hear her sound so frightened. “It’s time you told us.”

“I–I have been avoiding this call for the past few hours, pacing around my house. This is hard, but you deserve to know everything. It’s only fair.” There was sadness in every syllable she uttered, crushing him and Bane. “I guess face-to-face is how it should be. It’s only right after all you’ve done for me.”

“Honey, just stay put,” Bane said. “We have no idea what is bothering you, but we will always be there for you.”

“I know you want to be, but it just wouldn’t be right.”

Adam felt his gut tighten. No way were they going to let her end it. Something was behind this sudden change in her. It was past time to get to the bottom of her fears. “Em, we’ll be there as fast as we can.”

* * * *

Emma clicked off her cell. She couldn’t stop trembling. How was she going to live without Bane and Adam? She’d already fallen in love with them, and for a while the voices had gone away. But now her mind was cracking again.

“I’ve got to be brave. I’ve got to do the right thing,” she said aloud to herself, trying to gather her courage. “I have to break it off with them. It’s the only way. As much as I want to be with them, they deserve better than me. A crazy person.”

“Listen to her, Lily.” Samantha’s voice returned, chilling her to the bone. “She’s finally admitting it.”

Her sister’s maniacal laughter rang throughout the house.

“You’re just like us, Emma,” Lily said. “Just. Like. Us.”

“No. No. I am not.”