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

been in here over thirty minutes and I know I need to get back to my desk but I just can’t stop crying. Why the hell is he here? How can this be happening? My whole life was rearranged so that I would be away from him and now he is here. As I hear the bathroom door swing open, I cap my hand over my mouth to stifle my sob.
    “Sheridan, honey, are you okay?” I hear Caroline’s concerned voice.
    I take a deep breath and try to sound as normal as possible, “Yeah, I’m fine.”
    “Honey, are ya sure. Blade said you were sick and sent me in to check on you. You don’t sound okay.”
    “I’m okay. I’ll be right out.” I wait until I hear the door open and close again then I exit the stall. I clean my face up as much as possible and regain my composure before heading back to my desk.
    Blade is waiting just outside the door. “Damn it, Sheridan. You’re not okay. Get your things, I’m taking you home,” he orders. I’m not sick but I’m damn sure not going to tell him the truth. So I don’t resist and I gather my things. The car ride home is quiet and I’m thankful. Talking would probably only lead to crying and I don’t know how I would explain that. Blade is holding my hand and stroking it with his thumb, as usual.
    I’m still trying to process the fact the he’s here in New York and was standing right in front of me. Just before we get to the apartment, Blade speaks up, “Baby girl, I’m taking the rest of the day off. I’m gonna stay with you to make sure you’re okay.”
    “That’s not necessary. Donna is here for the week and I’m sure she will look after me.”
    “We’ll see. I’m at least walking you to the apartment. You’re not well and I’m not leaving you alone,” he insists. I decide not to be my normal stubborn self and just accept him caring for me.
    We enter the front door and I think we startle Donna as she’s making herself a drink. Donna and Blade greet each other with a hug. “I think we have a sick girl on our hands,” he says to Donna as he returns to me and leads me to the couch. “I just wanted to make sure she wasn’t going to be here alone.”
    “Of course, I’ll be right here with her,” Donna insists. I wish the two of them would just stop. They have no idea what’s going on.
    “I’ll check on you later, baby girl,” Blade kisses my cheek and turns to go. He and Donna have a quiet and brief conversation at the door before he leaves.
    “Hmmm, baby girl,” she grins at me, “this guy really does have it bad for you.” I shrug it off. “What’s wrong Sheridan? I know you and you’re not sick. What’s going on?” she questions as she sits down on the couch beside me. I try to keep it together but it’s no use. I lose it completely and begin to sob a deep, gut wrenching sob. “Jesus Christ Sheridan! What the hell?!” she pulls me into her and hugs me tight. I’m crying so hard that I couldn’t answer if I wanted to. Donna holds me and just lets me cry for what seems like forever.
    “Come on. Let’s get you into some pajamas and to bed,” she finally insists. She practically leads me around like a child and I don’t think much of it. I feel disconnected from everything. She puts me in bed and crawls in beside me. She holds me like a child and says, “Now, I know that something is very wrong and you’re gonna tell me what. You haven’t been yourself since before you left to come here. You’ve been distant and sad.” The tears begin to stream down my face and she holds me tighter. I can’t. I can’t tell her. I can’t tell anyone. What will she think of me? “You go ahead and cry all you need to. I’m right here with you but you’re going to tell me,” she demands with great love in her voice.
    “I ca..I can’t,” I cry.
    “Yes, you can and you’ll feel better if you let it out.”
    Maybe she’s right. I don’t know. Hell, I don’t feel like I know anything at this point. I take a deep breath and through deep sobs, I begin to