Free Escape: A Stepbrother Romance Novella by Stephanie Brother Page A

down on my plate
and take a big drink of iced tea, trying to wash my mouth clean.  I glance back
at the TV but I can’t seem to focus on the screen and I’m suddenly really hot.
    I
don’t feel good.  I must say it out loud because the man next to me puts his
arm around my shoulder protectively and says I must need some fresh air.  He
offers to help me back to my office.  I feel an arm putting pressure on my
back.  Then I’m on my feet and walking toward the door.  The air outside is
muggy.  I feel like I’m underwater.  The man has his arm tightly around me
now. 
    “It’s
okay.  I’ll take care of you,” he says.  That sounds good because I don’t know
where I am…I can’t seem to figure out how to take care of myself.
    A
car horn hoots but it sounds muffled.
    My
feet feel like they’re dragging.
    The
traffic next to us blurs. 
     

 
    Chapter 10
    Brandon
     
    I leave the hotel
wearing my dirty clothes from the day before and go straight to Adam’s place. 
It’s early and he’s still in his night shorts with bed hair and a sleep-creased
cheek. I’m surprised he hasn’t got a woman with him.  His appetites don’t seem
to wane with age.
    “You’re
early,” he says holding the door open and looking over my shoulder to check
there are no unwanted followers outside.  His gun is in his hand just in case.
    “I
need to borrow some clothes,” I say. 
    Adam
looks me over. “You haven’t been home yet?”
    “Nah,
I stayed at Red’s last night.”
    “That
place is a shithole,” he grunts.
    I
nod. 
    His
house isn’t anything impressive.  He likes to stay low-key which is, I suppose,
how he’s managed to evade police interest for so long.  His off-shore accounts
must be pretty healthy because he’s still riding his old Harley and I don’t see
him splashing the cash around, other than on pretty clothes for whatever woman
he has hanging around. 
    Adam
goes into his bedroom which is at the back of the house and I walk into the
kitchen, noting how clean and tidy it is.  For a lifetime bachelor, Adam knows
how to look after himself.  I take a carton of juice from the fridge and poor
myself a glass.  He has some protein bars in the cupboard and I take two,
wolfing them down.  Adam returns with a black t-shirt and some clean boxers and
socks.  It all feels very domesticated, and I get a flash of our first few days
together, and his basic attempts to care for me as a twelve year old.
    I
go to the bathroom and change, chucking my dirty clothes into his washing
basket. He pays Jared’s mom to come in once a week to sort out the big jobs. 
    When
I get back to the kitchen Adam’s sipping from a mug of coffee, leaning against
the counter.
    “Tell
me exactly what happened,” he says, so I do.  Every little detail I can
remember.  He says nothing and when I’m done, he nods.
    “It
was definitely those fuckers from the north,” he says.  “They’re operating up
there but they obviously think it’s time to expand.  Fuckers think they can
come in and piss all over me,” he growls.
    “So
what are you going to do?” I ask.
    “We
need to do the deal with Leon today. He’s spooked so I’ve arranged a different
point for exchange.” I nod.  “And then we’re gonna take these sons of bitches
down a peg or two.”
    “I
should fucking hope so.  When’s the drop?” I ask.
    “Connor
has the details.  Go and pick him up, then drive around a bit.  Go get a coffee
or something.  The drop is in four hours.”
    “Okay,”
I say.  It’s the same bullshit, just a different day, except it doesn’t feel
that way.  I don’t feel so flippant about letting time slip through my
fingers.  I’ve got to find a way out of this, before my future ends up nothing
but a second.

 
    Chapter 11
    Samantha
     
    I can’t move but my
shoulder is hurting.  I can’t open my eyes.  I feel a soft comforter under my
bare legs.  I will my fingers to move but they feel disconnected from my