Craving The Wrong Brother (Sloane and Knox) novel Chapter 181

Chapter 181

A couple of minutes after I hang up the call, I see an Aston Martin pulling into the hotel’s driveway at a crazy speed. It sounds a lot like it’s heading in my direction. I quickly step aside, not wanting to add ‘hit by a car’ to my list of today’s problems.

That is until I see Luke flying out. He barely turns the car off before he’s out the door, his face hard.

“Julie,” he says, “what happened? Did that son of a bitch kick you out?”

I open my mouth to answer, but nothing comes out. The words feel caged somewhere deep inside me. How do I explain the mess I’m in? How Ryan has stripped me bare of everything, left me stranded, powerless…. humiliated. I try again, but all that comes out is a shaky breath.

Luke’s eyes narrow. He’s watching me carefully, taking one slow, measured step at a time. He stops right in front of me, close enough that I can feel the warmth of him, close enough that I can smell his faint cologne, something deep and woody that makes me want to pull him closer and take a deeper sniff.

“Julie…” he says, his eyes tracing over the lines of worry on my face.

He reaches up, his fingers gentle as they come to rest beneath my chin. His touch is warm. He lifts my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. I feel as though I’ve been stripped bare, exposed. But at the same time, I feel safe.

“”Julie….” he calls again. “What did Ryan do to you?”

His face is so close, his jaw set, his eyes sparking like he’d be ready to commit murder if I gave him the word. And, for one insane, fleeting moment, I want to tell him to do exactly that. To march over to Ryan and make him pay for everything he’s put me through.

But then I catch myself. I’m not the villain here. No amount of sob stories will make the judge not send me to prison.

Before I know what I’m doing, I throw my arms around Luke’s shoulders and bury my face in his chest. I feel him tense, surprised, and I wonder if I’ve crossed a line. But then his arms come around me, one hand tracing slow circles on my back, the other threading through my hair, pulling me closer.

“It’s alright,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear. “You’re safe. You’re with me now. Just let it out.”

And that’s all it takes. The dam breaks, and I crumple into him, clinging to his shirt as the tears start to fall.

I can’t hold back anymore; it’s like every single ounce of tension, fear, and humiliation has been building up all day, and now it’s pouring out in waves that won’t stop. My mother’s betrayal, Ryan freezing the account, leaving me stranded without a penny… every raw nerve and bruised feeling comes rushing out, and all I can do is sob against Luke’s chest, letting it all

out.

After a while, I realize his shirt is soaked with my tears, and I pull back, embarrassed, wiping my face.

“I’m sorry… I ruined your shirt.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He glances down. “It’s just a shirt.”

I give him a weak smile, and he picks up the overnight bag sitting on the floor beside me. He takes my hand afterwards, guiding me toward the car.

After opening the passenger door and helping me in, he turns around, getting into the driver’s seat. But he doesn’t start the car. Instead, he’s glancing sideways at me.

“Is something wrong?” I say.

He doesn’t reply. He leans in close, reaching across me, and my heart pounds so loud I’m certain he can hear it. And before I

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