Stealing Her (Covet 1)

I sent a quick text to Izzy.

Me: I miss you today.

Izzy: I miss you too. I’m headed to the hospital to do some reading with the kids then I’ll see you tonight?

Panic seized my lungs.

Me: Sounds fantastic, love you.

Izzy: Love you too.

I buzzed Kelsey back into my office.

“Okay, when I said anytime, I didn’t mean every few minutes after you fire the only other person who answers phones,” she teased and then did a double take when she glanced at my face. “What’s wrong?”

“Call the hospital. I don’t care what we have to donate, tell them nobody, not even volunteers or nice grandmas, gets into the old ICU wing.”

“Right away.” I knew she didn’t need an explanation, but I gave her one anyway.

“Izzy’s headed there.”

“Say no more.” She speed-walked back to her desk and the door shut behind her.

And all I kept thinking was Let it be over.

Let it finally be over.

Izzy texted me throughout the afternoon and acted completely normal. It was still early, but I missed her and I was nervous about her being at the hospital, so I texted her to let her know I was headed back early.

Me: Coming home early, how are you?

Izzy: Good, I have questions.

Me: Questions?

Shit, shit, shit, she saw him at the hospital. She knew.

Izzy: I would wear a cup.

I started to immediately sweat. I was torn between being relieved and being panicked that I would lose her.

Forever.

Did I ever even have her, though?

Me: What’s going on?

Izzy: I may tie you to a chair.

Could this day get any worse?

I let out a rough exhale and typed back.

Me: Just make sure not to break any more ribs, I’m in short supply.

Izzy: No promises.

Shit! What the hell happened at the hospital? Did a nurse talk? Did they let her in despite the free lunch we delivered along with another heavy donation?

I hated how much I actually needed my brother in that moment, would have done anything to reach out and punch him in the face then ask him why, why did he bring me into this? Was he planning on contacting me? Was he going to tell me about the trust fund?

My mind wandered to when we were kids.

“Julian, come get me!” I yelled and ran through the backyard while Mom watched us play hide-and-seek. I quickly found a tree and hid behind it.

He chased and tripped over his feet and then started crying.

I rushed over to him. “Jules? Jules, you okay?”

“It hurts, it hurts!” He rocked back and forth while Mom came running.

I grabbed his hand and held on. “I’m your big brother. I’ll always keep you safe, always.”

Tears fell from his eyes as he looked up at me. “Promise?”

“I promise. I’ll always be there for you, even when it’s weird.”

He laughed at that. “You’re weird.”

“You’re weird!”

By the time Mom made it to us, we were both laughing even though his ankle was turning purple and blue.

Our father chose that moment to come out of the mansion and yell at us to come inside. “Hide-and-seek is for babies, get your asses in here, your mom has coddled you enough.”

I stiffened. So did Julian.

“Will you protect me?” he asked in a small voice. “Even from him?”

He’d never alluded to our dad being anything but nice to him. I was the one that he treated like dirt.

The tears were back in his eyes.

So I nodded. I made that promise. “Even from him, Julian, even from him.”

“Forever?”

“What?”

“Say it, say forever.”

Mom was quiet as we talked.

“Forever,” I whispered, gripping his hand in mine as I helped him limp back to the house.

I looked up at Mom just in time to see a tear fall from her face.

And true hate for Edward Tennyson was born.

The car pulled up to the apartments. I didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was I was going to be on the receiving end of something I probably hadn’t done, which meant that after I somehow got us out of this mess, I was strangling my brother.

I needed to keep thinking he was waking up.

Because when I didn’t, I couldn’t swallow.

I couldn’t breathe.

I couldn’t live.

I made him a promise, one I’d conveniently forgotten, and I’d let that hate for my father seep into him.

The elevator moved slowly.

The front door was unlocked.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside. Izzy wasn’t in the living room. I checked the master and spare, and then called out. “Izzy?”

“Office.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. Shit.

When I walked in, she had her heels on my desk and looked so sexy in a black sleeveless dress that I wanted to sweep off the contents of the desk and have my way with her across it.

“Rough day?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“Why?” She held up a glass. Oh good, day drinking. I could get on board with that after my day. She took two long sips. “Why did you do it?”