Leverage (The Brannock Siblings) by Jessica Wilde Read Free Book Online Page B

it than when I was forced to be alone
with him because my life could be in danger?
    "God, I'm so screwed," I muttered.
    "Yes you are."
    "Aaah!" I screamed as I jumped back with a hand to
my racing heart and looked up to see my dad at the top of the stairs smiling
down at me. "I'm buying a bell tomorrow!" I yelled, then watched him
walk away laughing.
    You'd think he would be more serious at a time like this.
     
    ***
    Fourteen days into my forced isolation and I was about to
snap.
    Dad spent long nights at the station since he went in late
in the afternoon when Lucas came back to stay with me. He was going in as early
as he could so Dad wouldn't have to work so late, but it didn't matter. There
was so much going on with the Banetti case that neither one of them could avoid
thinking about it. I had no idea how either of them were even able to get away
to stay with me, but I didn't question it.
    They didn't really tell me what was going on, which was a
good thing. It was too risky for me to know anything. They did, however, tell
me that everything was 'just fine', which it wasn't. Dad was on edge after the
first few nights and Lucas looked like he was primed to kill anyone who walked
through the door that wasn't Liam Brannock.
    He ran with me for several nights, making me feel completely
out of shape because I started gasping for air after the first mile and pretty
much begged him to slow down. He did, of course, but that sacrifice earned him
the right to do nothing but tease me for the duration of the run. Something
about 'losing my stamina' because he had to 'slow down to a stroll' , and
yes, I am using quote fingers. I admit, all I focused on were the words 'losing
my stamina'. I don't think it would be possible for him and for the sake of
women everywhere, I prayed it wasn't.
    Tonight, I had told him I wasn't running, but regretted it
afterwards. I needed to get out, but I needed to be alone. Clear my head.
    Lucas didn't really talk much when we ran, but his presence
alone sent a hurricane of thoughts through my mind and it really stressed me
out. Hell, his presence in the house made me feel like I was going to burst out
of my skin, but at least he gave me some space. When we ran, he stayed close to
me. Close enough for me to feel the heat coming off of him.
    I decided to kill some time by calling my brothers, both of
which had religiously contacted me twice a day and reminded me to listen to Dad
and Lucas.
    I walked up to my room with the phone to my ear, passing
Lucas on the staircase since he was coming down from double checking all the
windows. He lightly touched my wrist as he passed me and nodded questioningly
to the phone.
    "I'm calling Conall," I said as I listened to the
ringing in my ear.
    "Tell him I said hi," he replied softly.
    I nodded and continued up the stairs, noticing that he
stayed rooted to his spot watching me turn down the hall to my bedroom. This
only added to the already frenzied feeling I got when he touched me and when
Conall finally picked up, my voice was breathy.
    "Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice strained
with worry.
    I cleared my throat, "Um, yeah. Everything is good.
Just had to catch my breath from climbing the stairs." I opened my window
and let the cool night air calm me.
    "Uh huh. I take it Lucas is around tonight."
    I rolled my eyes. They would never give that up. Probably
because they knew I wouldn't give it up either.
    I changed the subject and we spent the next half hour
talking about a new case he was currently working on. Conall had made detective
two years ago and was good at what he did, but not as good as Lucas. He had
told me many times that he contacted Lucas whenever he was stuck on something
and talked to him. Of course, he got clearance to do this. His boss had tried
to get Lucas to transfer there, but was never successful. Didn't mean he
wouldn't let the very best help out once in a while.
    After saying goodbye to Conall, I made a quick call to
Fergus who was in the