Free Broken In Pieces: Billionaire Stepbrother Romance (Wounded Hearts Book 1) by Sierra Rayne

work on those copyrights,” Styx says. Aces and Shaft seem to agree. We set our practices for next week and say our goodbyes.
    That night, sleep does not come easy. I keep thinking of Jade and all the pain she has had in her life. I try as hard as I can but I can’t imagine losing everyone the way she has. I am ashamed of myself for wallowing in the pain of my life when there’s someone that has gone through so much more. I know she takes the drugs to numb the pain and I’m not sure I wouldn’t do the same. She’s broken into more pieces than I am.

CHAPTER 6
    Revealed
    T he next week passes quickly with work and band practices. Blade has continued going to practice with me even though he has to know it’s safe by now. I’m okay with it because we have become friends. I think he wants more, but I just don’t have it to give. I don’t know if I’ll ever have it to give. And besides, he is my step brother, which is a little odd and kinda taboo. Mother and Carter would have a coronary and I’m sure people would have a lot to say.
    On Saturday, Donna arrives for her week with me and I’m so excited. I’ve missed her beyond belief. I pick her up at LaGuardia airport after work and we head for the apartment so she can get settled in. We spend the evening catching up. She’s excited about her move to the University of Kentucky and she has found a roommate she thinks she can stand to live with. I catch her up on all the goings on at work, Blade and the band. “I can’t believe you got up in front of a room full of people and played. You’re really coming out of your shell. Being in the big city has really changed you.” I hadn’t really thought about it until she said it. She may very well be right. It has definitely changed my life.
    The weekend flies by and its back to work for me. Donna has plenty of shopping and sight-seeing to do, so I don’t feel so bad about leaving her. When I arrive at the office, Blade is already there. I hear several voices coming from his office so I prepare his usual but also make a tray of coffee for the others. I have my hands full so I knock on the door with the edge of the tray and Blade opens it, almost immediately. He smiles a huge smile and takes the tray.
    “Come on in, Sheridan, I’d like for you to meet someone,” he says as he is placing the tray on the table. I enter the room and I am instantly sick. “Sheridan, this is Jarrod Davis. He just started in our legal department today,” Blade continues. Oh God no! The devil himself is standing before me and I am in shock.
    Jarrod reaches out to shake my hand and I hesitate. “It’s nice to meet you, Sheridan,” he smiles his evil, sadistic smile.
    My knees immediately begin to buckle and Blade rushes over to steady me. “Sheridan, are you okay?” he says with concern in his voice. I don’t say anything as he leads me over and sits me down on the couch. “Gentlemen, if you will please excuse me, we’ll continue this later,” he ushers them out of the room. Turning his attention back to me, “Sheridan, what’s wrong?” I remain silent, almost in a daze. He comes over to sit beside me on the couch. “Talk to me. Are you okay,” he asks again.
    “I…I just don’t feel well,” I murmur back.
    “Do I need to get you to the doctor? Or do I need to take you home?”
    I shake my head no, “I’ll be fine.”
    He brushes my hair back with his hand and a chill runs over me. “I’m not sure you’re okay,” he says when he sees me shiver.
    “No, really, I’ll be fine. I just need to get back to work.” I stand to leave the office and I feel like all the energy has been drained from my body.
    “If you keep feeling this way or start feeling worse, I want you to let me know,” he orders as he walks me to the door. I nod in confirmation and head for my desk.
    As I sit here, still in disbelief, I feel instantly sick and the tears begin to flow. I rush to the bathroom and lose all my breakfast. I’ve probably