Page 16 of Love Fire

“Okay,” he says with a deep sigh. “I wasn’t sure if I should tell you, it’d just make you paranoid. But if you’re being followed, you should know. Last I heard, Father got some information that there is a rat in the organization.”

“Oh my god.” The panic inside starts to build. If my father already thinks that, and one of his men spots me with Brent, I’ll all be over. My father will label me as the rat and I’ll be as good as dead.

I slow my breathing. I can’t let the panic take hold of me. Not yet and not here. For all I know, one of my father’s goons is watching us right now. There can’t be any hint to them that I’m nervous.

“Listen, I have to get back to work,” Nate finally says. “If I hear anything about your friend, I’ll let you know.”

“Thank you,” I say as I pull Nate in for a hug. “One last thing, have… Have you seen Leanne?” I can feel Nate’s body stiffen against my arms and hear him give an annoyed sigh that I’m all too familiar with.

He pulls away from me. “Not this again. You need to let Leanne go. She isn’t coming back, Erin. No matter how much you or I might want it. She’s gone. Accept it.”

I can’t believe he’d say that. She was our sister and Nate has already given up on her. It’s only been a year, she could still be out there and need our help.

My panic about my father is replaced with rage towards Nate. I just can’t believe he’s so quick to forget about her. I turn away and start heading back towards Brent, I’d rather be with him right now than my brother.

Nate grabs my arm and holds me back. I can see Brent tense up, ready to jump in. I look back at my brother.

“Are you in danger?” He looks past me at Brent.

“No, I’m fine,” I say. I don’t even know if I believe that, but I need Nate to so I can get the hell out of here.

Nate sneakily places something into my hand. “Take this burner phone,” he whispers. “I don’t know what will happen next, but we need to stay in contact. Call me if you need anything.”

I nod and slip the phone into my pocket. Nate let’s go of my arm. He gives me a nod and disappears into the commotion of the hospital. My anger towards Nate subsides, he really is just trying to protect me. He just doesn’t want to lose another sister.

As the anger leaves, the panic returns. If the escalade was already watching me when we picked up Maria, then my father knows about Brent. With his resources, it will take a matter of moments for my father to know Brent is with the Draconis Fire. Once he knows that, I’m labeled as the rat.

Everything was so much simpler just a few days ago. Sure, life was still terrible, but it was simpler. Now I have no idea how to get out of all this.

Maybe Brent is the key? He wants to stop iridescent production, that means stopping my father. Which means freeing me from his grip. Brent might be my ticket out.

But it can never be that easy, can it? There is still so much that I don’t know about Brent. How do I know if I can trust him?

16

BRENT

We return to my estate. I gently guide Erin through the entrance holding her hand. She doesn't snap at me for touching her. Not that I’d listen.

I sit her down on the couch without a peep. She stares at the floor. Her eye bags resemble mine when I have sleepless nights. All the crying and yelling are apparent on her lovely face.

“Do you like coffee?” I ask.

She doesn’t respond. I take it as a yes and go make a pot. When I return, Erin’s in the same upright position as I left her. My heart wrenches at how dull she looks. I’d rather she scream at me for whatever stupid thing I do.

I sit next to her, a cup in hand. “I didn’t know how you liked your coffee. So I didn’t put anything in it.”

She forces a chuckle and takes the cup. “It doesn’t matter.”

She takes a small sip, tasting it first. The aroma of the coffee fills the living room. It creates a warm and calmer atmosphere between us. Her shoulders relax and she isn’t clenching her jaw as tight.

“Do you feel better?”

She shrugs. “I’m not sure. I think I exceeded the amount of emotions I can feel in such a short time.”

I’m not sure if she’s joking or not. I offer a sympathetic smile just in case. This calm conversation feels unnatural. Like the calm before the storm as they always say.

Erin doesn’t look like she’s thinking the same as me. She takes a small sip and stares off into space, like an animatronic. How stupid of me to even worry about such ridiculous things, when I should be doing my damn job.

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