
Ch18 Mess
Connor was scary silent all the way back to the hotel. The lawyer who Connor had brought with him had stayed behind to sort out some paperwork.
I studied my brother, his anger visible in his tight jaw and stiff shoulders. I knew as soon as we got back to the hotel room I would be in for the biggest lecture of my life. It didn’t matter that I was an adult or about to become a mother. To him I would always be his younger sister who needed protection, from the monsters of our past and anyone who tried to harm me in any way.
There were times I absolutely hated his interference but right now I was more than grateful for how he had swooped in and gotten me out of there.
When we entered the hotel suite I turned to face Connor as he took a seat across from me and I sank down, taking a seat on the sofa.
“I think it’s time I get some answers.” His voice tight and controlled. “I’ve been patient but this…this is…” He seemed to be at a loss and that was a first for my brother.
I swallowed, trying to figure out where to start.
I started off telling him about when I had been taken by men in the black SUV. That’s where this wild story had begun.
“They just picked you up off the street?” he asked softly, as if he couldn’t believe their brazenness.
I nodded.
“Did they hurt you?… the baby?” he asked, moving to the edge of his seat like he was about to jump into action if he needed to.
“No, they didn’t harm me.”
“Who would do that?”
I let out a heavy breath knowing my brother would have his views on what I said next and who he would hold accountable.
“It was a childhood friend of Sin’s.” It sounded so simple when I said the words but Connor’s expression was disbelief.
“Who?” he asked, sternly.
Whatever I didn’t tell him about the person, he would get his investigator to find.
“Mack.”
“What kind of a friend does that kind of thing?” He stood and began to pace.
“All I know is they grew up together with Mack’s sister, Sienna.”
He stopped and rested his hands on his hips. “Surname?”
“I don’t know.” I rubbed my head. “I think he is from the gang that Sin was in when he was growing up.”
Connor began to pace again, making me feel more anxious.
“Sit Connor. You’re making this worse.”
“I just had to go to the police station to fetch you after you disappeared on a walk Taylor. I’ve had one phone call from you and I still have no idea what the fuck is going on.” To say he was angry was an understatement.
“I wish I could tell you everything but all I know is that Sin’s in a dangerous situation right now.”
“All the more reason for you to keep your distance from him.”
I was already shaking my head. “No.” I would not do that.
“Whatever he is caught up in I don’t want you in it.” He walked over to me to take the seat beside me. He took my hands in his. “You need to think about the baby.”
It was hard to think of anything else when I felt so violently ill.
“I am.” I stood pulling away from him. “He is the father of my baby. I won’t abandon him.”
“He is the same man who cheated on you. Do you remember that?” He stood to face me and I crossed my arms. “Because I remember the mess you were when I first got here.”
“He didn’t cheat,” I revealed.
Connor frowned. “Are you sure? Because I’m pretty sure it’s standard for the man to deny being unfaithful.”
“It isn’t like that Connor. There is something going on and he was trying to keep me out of it.”
“I thought you saw him with someone?” My brother was playing devil’s advocate.
“I only saw them together briefly and all they did is hug. It was the deceit that convinced me that something more was going on.”
“What is really going on then Taylor?”
“I haven’t been able to speak to Sin about it yet.” It sounded crazy.
“How is that possible?” My brother threw his hands up in the air.
“His place is being bugged.”
“Bugged?” He echoed like he was finding it difficult to comprehend.
I nodded as I watched the array of confusion cross his expression.
“Bugged by who?” It was the next logical question.
“Mack.”
My brother’s brows joined in a deep frown. “Why would Mack bug Sin’s place?”
I let out a deep sigh. “I don’t know.”
All the excitement for the day had sapped me and I lowered myself into the nearest chair.
“You okay?” Connor asked as he moved closer. His tone more concern than anger.
“It’s been a long day.” I let out a deep breath.
All I wanted is Sin. I had no idea where he was.
A moment of blinding panic nearly sent me into a fit of hyperventilating. What if the cops didn’t release him? Then a whole new list of fears washed over me. I felt overwhelmed in a situation I still didn’t know fully understand.
“Stress isn’t good for you or the baby.”
“I know that Connor. I’m trying to do the best I can in the situation. It’s not like planned any of this.” I threw him an annoyed look. My emotions were all over the place and heightened. It did nothing to help keep me calm or patient.
“I’m sorry.” He sat down beside me, rubbing my arm gently. “Being pregnant is tiring and the first trimester can be tough.”
“My body doesn’t even feel like my own.”
“Let me take care of you Taylor. Let me ease the burden. I can take you back with me and Shannon will be over the moon to have you stay with us until all of this blows over.”
“I can’t just leave Sin.”
My brother studied me.
“Where is he Taylor?” he asked.
“He got taken in with me but I didn’t see him when they took me back to the police station.”
“They wouldn’t tell me if they were holding him.”
I hated not knowing. “He said I was to call you and he would come to see me when he was done.”
There was a tense silence.
“Cops don’t usually hold someone for nothing Taylor.”
I knew what he was implying but I refused to believe Sin was caught up in something illegal. For anyone who knew about his past, it wouldn’t be a stretch to believe that he had picked up where he had left off but I knew him. It was a life he had worked hard to get out of.
I trusted him, even when little made sense.
“They held me for no valid reason,” I reminded. “I hadn’t done anything wrong.”
“So what’s the plan then? Wait until Sin shows up?”
I nodded. “That’s the plan and then we will be able to get answers to all our questions.”
I wanted the truth as much as my brother did, maybe even more.
My brother managed to get me to eat some crackers while I waited patiently trying not to allow the stress of what could be potentially happening to Sin to get to me.
I had to trust that he knew what to do.
Feeling like the walls in the hotel were bearing down I paced trying to keep my mind from going crazy.
Two hours after Connor had brought me back to the hotel there was a knock at the door.
I stood up, my eyes on the door as I waited with bated breath.
Connor gave me a look before he went to open the door.
Relief flooded through me, leaving me swaying when Sin entered. He didn’t immediately see me.
“Where is Taylor?” Sin was agitated.
“She is here,” my brother answered reluctantly, looking in my direction. Sin’s gaze followed.
Then across the room our eyes meshed and he strode over to me, pulling me into his arms. He didn’t say a word, he just held me. I wrapped my arms around his waist and held him tight.
I could feel the tension began to ease in his stance. He pulled back to study me, he touched my cheek.
“Today scared me Sin.” I wanted to be strong but I wasn’t.
“I know.” He kissed my forehead softly. “I’m sorry.”