No Way Out (The James Family Book 2) by C. M. Steele Read Free Book Online Page B

out of the bed and went into the bathroom, refusing to look back as he said goodbye while walking out the door. He didn’t even kiss me goodbye. I was so disappointed. Freshening up, I put on a pair of jeans and a cute tank with a pink sweater.
    Simon hadn't been gone more than 10 minutes before my phone rang. It was my brother Steven. We hadn't spoken all weekend and I wondered if he was just worried about me. I answered the call and was in for a shocker... He’d just gotten out of jail.
    "What's going on Steven?"
    "Damn it, she had me locked up last night. She claims that I beat her ass. Didn't have a damn scratch on her, but I was still taken into custody because they were afraid I'd hurt her for real."
    My brother was a cop with the Chicago Police Department. This incident could end his career. I knew he didn’t have it in him to do anything to her. He was too soft, even though he was a police officer.
    "I can't believe that shit, bro. Please tell me you're going to be leaving her. That bitch is nuttier than shit." I knew I hated the broad for a reason, and it wasn't just because she hated me. She was downright no good for my brother. Why he was with her to begin with confused the hell out of me.
    "I thought you were coming back last night. What's going on?"
    "I've been hanging out with Nat,” I lied. I didn’t think it was time to tell him about wanting to stay in Seattle.
    "Sis, I really need you to come home. They're not letting me in the house until she feels safe. It's my fucking house."
    "Where are you at now?" I hoped he wasn't holed up in some seedy motel. We didn’t have money to be living up at the Marriot or something.
    "A friend is letting me stay at his place. Can you please hurry up and come home?" The pleading in his voice was my weakness. It wasn’t something I’d ever heard from him before.              
    "I'll take the next flight out,” I said.
    My brother had been there for me from the start; I couldn't just leave him hanging. But what about Simon? I asked myself.
    I didn't want him to see my family drama. They were the quintessential American family— I came from the wrong side of the tracks. I just had to leave.
    I called Nat, but she didn't answer. After leaving a message, I contacted the airport and took the last seat on the flight. The family was busy with other things when I snuck out. I left the estate through the guard shack asking them not to say anything. Thankfully, they didn't give me any shit. I had called a cab before I left the house, so it was waiting for me when I walked out the gates.
    The entire flight home I thought about what I would say to Simon about running. Nothing but the truth would be acceptable to him, but I couldn't tell him that. The perfect family didn't need to be tarnished by my ilk. I left him a goodbye note, but I knew he'd be my only love.
    As the flight landed in Chicago, I stared out the window. It didn't feel like home anymore. Trepidation and pain marred the reunion with my brother.
    Steven was waiting for me at the luggage pickup, and he wasn't alone. Alongside him was a lanky man who carried himself like he was gay. The first words out of his mouth and I knew I’d hit the nail on the head.
    "OMG! I love your curls!" he practically squealed. Flamboyant was his game. I didn't think my straight-laced brother would have close gay friends, especially one that screamed "look at me! I'm gay and fabulous!"
    "Um...thanks."
    "Sorry, Emmy. This is Tad."
    "Hi, Tad." There was an awkward silence for a moment before I asked, "Can we get out of here and you can tell me all about your bitch issues?" I looked at Tad and added, "all of them" with a raised brow.
    "So how did you meet?"
    "He came into my bestie's salon looking for his tramp of a wife, but she wasn't there and we got to talking."
    "Oh, okay." I just realized that after all this time, my brother was a closeted homosexual. I had a bone to pick with him. It wasn't about him liking the dick