Unbroken (The Disclosure Series Book 2) (5 page)

Everything he was looking for was there in her eyes—a thousand words passing between them as they stood across from one another. His eyes swept over her, taking her in. She was fucking beautiful, her hair falling in loose waves over her shoulders, a tight sweater and jeans that could’ve been painted on, accentuating every soft curve.

His fingers burned to touch her, but he couldn’t ignore the sad look in her jade eyes, or the guilt that washed over him. He planted his feet firmly on the floor, fighting the urge to sweep her into his arms, to hold her again. And then his world crashed and burned as Jeremy’s arm shot out, hooking around her waist and pulling her into the classroom. She turned, stealing one last hopeless glance over her shoulder, then she was gone.

Luke stood frozen in the empty hallway, trying to make sense of what he’d just seen. Jeremy’s touch was so easy, familiar. And she’d responded effortlessly. Jeremy had dragged Embry away, helped her run, and now he had his hands on her—
on my girl
.

Red slowly crept over his vision, his hands fisting at his sides.

He’d known Jeremy’s feelings for Embry for quite some time. Any hot-blooded male with half a brain would find it hard not to fall for her after spending any amount of time with her. But was the feeling reciprocated? Could he have lost her that completely in such a short time?

No
. He gave one hard shake of his head, refusing to believe it.

Forcing himself to move, Luke stomped up to his office, slammed the door and fell into his chair. Loosening his tie, he leaned his head back and took a breath, flexing his fingers and trying to force himself to calm down before he sprinted back downstairs, dragged Jeremy from the classroom and bloodied his face. He wasn’t being rational, but there was no room for reason when it came to Embry. His reactions were innate. She was his, and he wasn’t willing to let her go so easily. Or at all.

Fishing his cell from his pocket, he dialed his brother.

It rang a few times before Camden’s deep voice came on the line. “Tell me you’re drunk at work, brother, and I’m hopping the next flight up there to kick your ass.”

“I’ll meet you at the airport then, dickhead,” Luke joked, his lips lifting in a half smile as he felt his fury melting away.

“What’s up? You okay?”

He could hear his brother typing in the background and felt bad for interrupting his day. “I just saw Bree.”

The typing stopped. “Shit. Did y’all talk?”

“No. I don’t want to talk to her until I have this Sydney situation figured out.”

“Well, you might have to refresh my recollection, little bro,” Camden chuckled. “There weren’t many coherent sentences when you called the other night.”

Luke spun in his chair, lifting his feet to rest on the windowsill. He didn’t remember much of the conversation himself. After slamming the door in Sydney’s face, the rest of the night had been the perfect storm of anger and alcohol. “Yeah, I hit the bottle pretty hard.”

“Can’t blame you. You lost a good thing.”

He flinched. He had indeed. That was putting it lightly. “I don’t need reminding, Camden,” he snapped.

“Seriously, though,” Camden continued unfazed, “how do you always find a way to get yourself tangled up in this shit?”

Luke stared out the window, the muscle in his jaw jumping as he clenched his teeth. “Not helping.” He’d had his fair share of hook-ups in college, but no one who had ever come close to Embry. This was a whole different animal. He’d never loved someone like this.

“So Sydney’s there then?” his brother asked, taking him from his thoughts.

Luke nodded before answering aloud. “She showed up on my doorstep the other night, begging for my help.”

Luke heard his brother’s sharp intake of breath. “That girl has some fucking nerve.”

“Brass balls,” Luke agreed. “I need to get rid of her.”

“Did you agree to help?”

“Hell no! I slammed the door in her face. But she somehow managed to get my cell number and won’t fucking leave me alone. She drove Embry away, Cam. I can’t have her here. She’s fucking nuts.” A chill ran up his spine at the thought of Sydney crossing paths with Bree. All hell would break loose. And worse—he may actually lose Bree forever if that happened. He shook off the thought, not even wanting to contemplate the shit show that would ensue.

“Help her,” Camden interjected.

Luke’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding me, right?”

“What does she want?”

“A job.”

“Then find her one.” His brother offered it so easily, like he wasn’t actually suggesting that Luke help the girl who’d tried to ruin him.

“Are you out of your goddamned mind?” Luke stood from his chair and started pacing the office, walking back and forth from door to window.

“Think about it, Luke. If you get her a job, you’re in control. Call up a few of your old law school buddies. There’re bound to be a few practicing in New York. See if they can help you out. Set her up and then she’s out of your hair.”

Luke’s ears perked up. Could that work? Then a thought crossed his mind, pushing the idea aside. “What would I tell Embry?”

“The truth, you moron. Tell her everything, what you should’ve done all along. About Dad, Sydney, your resignation. All of it.”

Luke ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll see what I can do.” He closed his eyes and saw Embry’s face. He needed her. This had to work.

“You okay?” Jeremy asked as he hooked his bag over his shoulder.

Embry glanced at him and shrugged. She packed up her things and followed him into the hallway. She had nothing to say. She didn’t know if she was okay or not. Part of her wanted to go home, curl up in a ball and cry. The other wanted to confront Luke and get it over with.

She’d never felt so lost, so confused. Even after Jack, she’d known exactly what she wanted—to leave. She’d been sure of herself and her decision. And the only reason she hadn’t left him sooner was his temper. But Luke was another story entirely. She knew how much he loved her. She’d seen the pain and longing in his eyes. And she felt it, too. Making the decision to walk away from him wasn’t so cut and dry.

She was torn. This hurt was so much worse than what she’d endured with Jack. She’d given herself so completely to Luke, trusting him with her heart, and he’d shattered it. She stared out the windows as they passed through the atrium, flurries swirling in the air as her thoughts swirled in her mind.

“Did you hear a word I just said?” Jeremy asked, giving Embry a shake.

She looked up at him with a small smile, thankful that he hadn’t let her walk into a wall as she lost herself in her thoughts. “Sorry, no.”

Jeremy shook his head. “Come on, Blondie.” He led her to a round table in the corner of the atrium where she saw Morgan waving frantically.

“Hi guys! Over here! Hey! Hi!”

A large grin formed on Embry’s face, and Jeremy leaned in to whisper to her. “Is she alright? Has she gone off her meds?”

Embry chuckled. “I told you to get used to it.” Once she was close enough, she flung her arms around Morgan’s neck. “Hi, bestie.”

Morgan gave Embry a squeeze. “Heeeeey.”

Embry pulled back, eyeing Morgan and considering her overly cheerful greeting. “Are you drunk?”

Morgan rolled her eyes. “Drunk with happiness over the first day of the semester,” she said sardonically.

Embry nodded in agreement. “Why the good mood?” She plopped into the chair next to Morgan as Jeremy sat down next to her.

“No reason. Just happy to see you, doll face.” Morgan grinned, but Embry could see the concern behind it. “How are you?”

“Fine.” Embry attempted a smile.

Jeremy scoffed. “She’s not fine. She just saw him.”

Embry glared at him. “I
am
fine. It was nothing.”

Morgan’s eyes widened. “You saw him? What happened? Did he apologize? Are you going home with him to make beautiful Southern Sexy babies?”

“No Southern Sexy babies,” Embry groaned, her eyes rolling upward. “He was at the other end of the hall. We caught each other’s eyes for a second, that’s it.”

What an understatement that was. It had felt like an eternity. Every reason she’d come up with for them not to be together had vanished as soon as she’d seen him, and she was left feeling empty and more confused than ever. But she couldn’t even get her own feelings straight, the last thing she wanted to do was talk about it, especially in front of Jeremy.

“Okay, okay,” Morgan said, letting it go too easily. “So, back to school social this weekend?”

“I’m definitely passing on that,” Embry said automatically.

Morgan stuck her tongue out. “You’re no fun. I’m sure Jeremy will be there, won’t you, stud muffin? You couldn’t have gotten much ass during winter break being stuck with sad Sally here.” She waved her hand toward Embry.

Jeremy glared at Morgan. She quickly shot him a look back, and his demeanor changed. “Yeah, sure, I’m going. You should come, Bree.” He nudged her arm.

“Now it’s gonna be a party!” Morgan danced in her chair.

Embry frowned. “I don’t know.” Something was up with those two. She rested her elbow on the table, her chin in her hand, gaze scanning the atrium. Morgan pulled sharply on her arm, demanding her attention. “What?”

Looking somewhat guilty, Morgan forced a smile. “Yes or no?”

Frustration clouded Embry’s features. She knew her friends were trying to keep her distracted, keep her mind off of things but— Just then, Morgan’s eyes quickly shot to Jeremy’s once more before darting across the room. Embry turned, following her friend’s gaze, and her chest immediately tightened. She’d seen him just an hour ago, but that didn’t stop her feelings from overwhelming her now, nerves kicking up a storm in her stomach. She wondered for the hundredth time if that feeling would ever go away.

Luke was standing across the room—blue eyes shining, panty dropping smile lighting up his face—as he spoke to a colleague. Only Embry could see the emptiness behind his smile; it matched her own.

“Bree? You okay?” Morgan whispered, her voice laced with concern.

Ignoring her friend, she let out a long sigh, rested her chin in her palm again and stared unabashedly in his direction. It had only been a week since she’d spoken to him, been in his arms, but it felt like forever.

He looked perfect as always in a pair of slim, dark blue khakis, and an oxford sport shirt tailored to show off every muscle in his arms. His hair was perfectly messy, and she ached to run her hands through it. She watched him wrap up his conversation, wave goodbye to the other professor, then stride through the atrium. She was mesmerized, and she wasn’t the only one. Every female head seemed to turn to track him.

Abruptly, Luke shifted, his eyes colliding with hers, and her calm evaporated. She expected him to stand still, stare at her with the same pained expression she’d seen earlier, but he quickly changed course, heading straight for her. Instant panic shot through her, and the desire to escape nearly overcame her, but she fought it.

He stopped directly in front of her, his eyes so intensely trained on hers she had to remind herself to breathe. Electricity crackled in the air between them.

“Miss Jacobs.” His southern rasp melted over her, smooth and seductive.

Her mouth went dry, and she struggled to speak. “L-Luke.”

“How are you?” There was so much emotion behind those three words, so much meaning.

She struggled with her answer. She wanted to tell him that she was a mess, that she missed him. And she wanted to scream and pound her fists into his chest, ask him how he could’ve hurt her again. But before she could form an answer, Jeremy’s hand shot out, gripping hers, and the moment was ruined.

Luke’s gaze slowly shifted downward, focusing on Jeremy’s touch, and then turned cold. She quickly pulled her hand away, her eyes burning into Luke’s and hoping he understood that it wasn’t like that.
S
he didn’t know why she felt the desperate need to explain herself, he was the one that needed to explain. But it was too late… she was sure the anguish on Luke’s face mirrored her own. And it seemed as if neither of them knew what to say.

His hard eyes focused on Jeremy momentarily before he turned his attention back to her. Offering a forced smile and sad uncertainty in his expression, he turned and walked away.

Jeremy glared at Luke’s back as Embry blew out a breath and let her head fall into her hands.

“Wow,” Morgan mumbled, eyes wide with astonishment.

Embry peeked over her hands at her best friend.

“You two need to talk.”

“We just did,” Embry answered, her hands falling into her lap.

Morgan shook her head. “You stuttered his name,” she corrected, chuckling. “Maybe next time we can work on a few more syllables.”

Embry shrugged. It was all too much. She couldn’t even begin to process her feelings at the moment.

“Why do you do this to yourself?” Morgan asked.

“Do what?”

“You know exactly what.” Morgan poked her side. “You’re making yourself miserable. Just talk to him.”

“I just don’t think I’m ready.” Once again, her emotions warred within her. Did she talk to him and get it over with? Did she end things, walk away for good?