Free Unforgiven by Lorhainne Eckhart Page A

in the building, and then he thought of who was close enough. He started walking as he dialed. It rang only once.
    “This is Erin.” She sounded distracted.
    “Erin, this is Samuel.”
    “Hey, Samuel. Just how stupid are you, dumping this case—or should I say thank you? I’ve got to tell you, Rob was pretty pissed at you, as Mrs. Stowles didn’t want to deal with anyone other than you. With what she was paying this firm, this could end up costing you big as the golden boy you are…”
    He pulled the phone from his ear, as Erin was going on and on. He knew Rob was mad. It had been a stupid move, telling Rob he had to go because of a family emergency. Even he knew that as far as the partners were concerned, emergencies only happened when you weren’t in the middle of a big case, especially when you were only an associate.
    “Erin, stop. That’s not why I’m calling. I need you to go over to my place and knock on the door. Jill isn’t answering the phone, and I can’t get a hold of her. I need you to get her to call me.”
    “Seriously, Samuel? Give the girl a break. Maybe she doesn’t want to talk to you. Have you thought of that?”
    He jammed his fingers in his hair and pulled. “Erin, this is serious. I’m not there, and there’s a problem. The doctor is trying to get a hold of her. I’m starting to get worried that something happened with her, to her. Can you please, please just go there?” He had to grit his teeth so as not to yell at her over the phone.
    She must have picked up on his frustration—and he was really, really frustrated. She stopped and said, “Okay, I can hear that you’re upset about this and really worried. Yes, of course I’ll go over, but I don’t know Jill. Who should I say I am so she doesn’t think I’m some kook showing up like a crazy person?”
    “Just tell her I’ve been trying to call her, and so has the doctor. There’s a problem and she needs to call the doctor and then call me. Please stay there with her and make sure she calls me so I know what the hell is going on. The doctor wants her in the hospital. Do you understand?” He was running his hand over his head.
    “Okay, give me your address. But you owe me, Samuel. You owe me big.”
    He breathed a little easier, a little more relieved, as he rattled off his address and then hung up. When he turned back to his brothers, he saw that they too had finally gotten the urgency of the situation.
    ***

Chapter 14
    Jill really wasn’t feeling well, and as she took in the Stay and Save motel room with two double beds, she wanted nothing more than to have a shower and climb under the covers. She’d just spent the last hour in and out of the bathroom, puking her guts out. The only saving grace was that she’d finished her report and emailed it in before Samuel left. She really needed to evaluate what she was doing, but she also needed to feel better before she could make a decision that could affect her life, the rest of it, and the baby’s.
    After everything that had happened between her and Samuel, she couldn’t live like this anymore, feeling like the bad guy. She could only be with him if he wanted her, loved her completely as much as she loved him. And the baby—she needed to call the doctor. She should have heard back from him already. After all, he’d said he would rush the tests.
    She sat down on the edge of the bed and fished her phone from her purse on the other. The voicemail was full. She frowned when she heard Samuel’s urgent message. He sounded worried, demanding she pick up. Then there was the doctor’s office, asking her to call, that it was important—and a second one from the doctor. When she listened to the time, she realized the doctor had called yesterday and left the second message earlier today, and Samuel just a few minutes ago. She ran her hand over her face, pressing her thumb and forefinger into her brow as she felt a wave of dizziness hit her again.
    Her hand was shaking as she