Page 29 of Fighting My Demons

“Fine. I will tell you something, then. I pulled your files, I did a background check on you, and something doesn’t add up. Your records are clean, and your brother is a criminal, yet you bow to him every time he calls, so what is he blackmailing you with?” he says, my eyes snapping to him.

“Why would you do a background check on me? You have no right to snoop into my private life.”

“Then, care to explain why you have a gun in your handbag?” Latham asks.

“You went through my bag?”

“Answer the question, Bella. What’s he got on you?” Latham says, stepping toward me, and I take a step back.

“He has nothing on me. You just need to stay out of it, please. Just back off, all of you,” I tell him.

“No, he scares you. I want to know why. I want to know why you are shoving us out, but let him in.”

I shake my head before realizing the elevator isn’t moving. I reach around him to see the stop button glowing. I switch off the stop button before hitting the foyer floor when he snatches my hand away. The anger in him ripples through the air, the elevator smothering me when he presses closer.

“You will tell me,” he says, his voice almost growling the words out as he presses me against the elevator wall.

His entire body crushes mine when his hand snakes into my hair, tugging my hair and tilting my head up.

“I can make you tell me,” he says, his lips hovering off mine.

Why do I believe him when he says that? Why do I have no doubt he can make me tell him? That strange fogginess I get only around them slips over me.

“Tell me your secrets, Bella, and I will tell you all of mine.”

His voice is rough, and the heaviness of the fog clouding my mind makes me want to believe I can trust him, that he won’t think differently of me if he knows. His breath caresses my lips, his scent overwhelming me. He smells so good, like danger and burning embers.

I freeze in place, unable to look away, but the longer he traps me, the more the strange urge to trust him washes over me. It is ludicrous because he has me pinned against the wall; yet, I want to tell him everything and bleed my soul bare for him. My lips part to tell him what he wants to know, trusting him with my darkest secret, my biggest sin.

The doors suddenly open, fresh air brushing over me, and Latham steps back, letting me go. The fog lifts off me, and I shake my head, wondering what the hell’s just come over me. Latham is breathing heavily, and I can feel eyes on us as those waiting to get in the elevator wait for us to get out. Latham is staring at me, his eyes burning into me, and I adjust my bag, stalking off toward the exit.

Chapter Eighteen

I try calling my brother multiple times in the taxi before giving up and sending him a text message apologizing for what Xavier’s said. He doesn’t reply, but I see my car down the street when the cab pulls up. I pay the driver before climbing out, and my brother is leaning on the mailboxes just off the property grounds. I instantly know why when I see Jack leaning against the office wall outside, watching him.

Brian isn’t stupid enough to step over while Jack is watching. He knows Jack will call the cops. Brian whistles and waves me over. I see Jack push off the wall before walking over in our direction.

“Can’t do anything, Jack. I am not on your property. I am just here to see my sister.”

“You are still loitering, Brian,” Jack snaps at him behind me.

“I tried ringing you,” I tell Brian as I stop in front of him.

“Left my phone at a friend's house,” he says with a shrug.

He actually seems calm today, and it unnerves me.

He knew I was at work. Was he planning on waiting all day for me, or was he hoping that Jack wouldn’t be around so he could break into my apartment again?

“Have you got fifty bucks?” he says, and I roll my eyes, digging out my purse from my handbag.

I can feel Jack watching in case anything happens; it worries me knowing how willing Jack is to step in because I know Brian would hurt him if Jack gets close enough.

“Where are you staying?” I ask him.

“I am helping a friend, so staying with him. I owe him some money, but I have come to a new arrangement with him.”

“What sort of arrangement?” I ask him, but he shakes his head.