Craving The Wrong Brother (Sloane and Knox) novel Chapter 169

apter 169

I feel the blood drain from my face as Ryan’s eyes slowly turn toward me, his expression unreadable. That stare-cold, calculating-sends a chill down my spine, but I don’t flinch. I won’t give him the satisfaction.

“What the hell is this, Julie?”

I take a deep breath, trying to play it cool even though my heart is pounding in my chest. “What does it look like?” I ask. I lean back into my seat and cross one leg over the other.

Ryan’s jaw tightens. “It looks like you’ve got some explaining to do.”

“Do I?”

God, I hate this. Why is it always a performance with him? Why does he get to be the one who’s angry?

Emily, who’s still clutching her phone like it’s a live grenade, glances nervously between the two of us. I can tell she’s trying to figure out how to mediate without getting caught in the crossfire. Good luck with that.

“Uh, maybe we should just…” she starts.

I cut her off with a sharp look. “Who sent that video, Emily?”

She hesitates, eyes flicking to Ryan as if hoping he’ll rescue her from answering. Of course, she doesn’t want to say. She loves playing the innocent act, but I’m not buying it. Not today.

“I-I don’t know if I should say,” Emily stammers, her face flushing.

Pathetic. “Oh, don’t give me that,” I snap, standing up. “If you’re going to pull out security footage of me, at least have the guts to tell me who sent it.”

Ryan steps in, his voice sharp. “That’s not the issue here, Julie. The real question is-are you the one being pulled into the supply closet by Luke?”

I turn to him, meeting his stare head-on. “Yes. I am.”

There’s a beat of silence that seems to stretch for eternity. I watch his eyes narrow. I can see the wheels turning in his head, the calculations, the rationalizations, trying to make sense of what I just admitted.

“Why?” His voice is tight, controlled, but I can hear the anger in it.

“Why?” I echo. “Because it’s none of your damn business, that’s why.”

Ryan’s jaw clenches, his fists balling at his sides. “It sure as hell is my business when it involves my wife and my business partner!”

“Oh, now you care about what’s going on in my life?” I spit back. “You didn’t seem to care when you were off playing house with her.”

I shoot a look at Emily, who visibly shrinks into the couch, her face pale. I almost feel bad for her-almost-but then I remember she’s part of this mess, too.

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