Read Online A Seductive Melody (The Kelly Brothers Book 5) by Crista McHugh - Free Book Online
Authors: Crista McHugh
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to. Now .
She discreetly pulled her phone out of her purse and checked the call log.
Eleven missed calls, all from the same number.
Shit!
She’d had her phone on silent for the prayer services so she wouldn’t be disturbed, but now she risked losing the fragile trust Ethan had given her. She’d said she’d be there for him if he needed her, and she hoped God would understand if she exited Rosh Hashanah services early to help him.
She grabbed her purse and snuck out of the sanctuary, her head lowered until she was out on the street. Then she called him back. “Ethan, it’s Becca.”
“You said you’d answer.” His voice was a growling mix of anger and panic.
She tried to combat it by adding layers of soothing tones to hers. “Yes, and I’m sorry I didn’t answer. I had my phone on silent while I was at the Temple, and I shouldn’t have done that. But I’m here now.”
Silence hung on the line for nearly half a minute, and she prayed that Ethan would forgive her enough to tell her what was wrong.
“I need help,” he said, his voice cracking.
“And I’m willing to do whatever I can to help. Just tell me what you need.”
Another pause, followed by, “Oh, fuck it.”
“No, don’t say that.” She wandered down the familiar sidewalks of 75th Street like a lost tourist, meandering from side to side and trying not to get run over. “Please, just tell me where you are, and I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”
A sarcastic snort of laughter answered her. “What about the whole anonymous thing?”
Sure. Throw that back in my face when you need me . The only reason she’d declined a ride back to her place Monday night was because she feared she’d invite him upstairs and totally screw over their relationship by screwing him. “Fine, we can meet in a public place. How about Gitta’s café?”
“Sorry, but I don’t think sweets are going to help me. Face it, Becca, I’m fucked up, and there’s no hope for me.”
“Don’t you dare say that, Ethan.” Anger sharpened her words and made her wish he was standing next to her so she could smack some sense into him. “And don’t you dare believe that, either.”
“You don’t know me, and you certainly don’t know what I’m dealing with.”
“Bullshit. I’ve been there—remember?” When he didn’t reply right away, she remembered the plastic bag full of breadcrumbs in her pocket and formed a new plan. “What part of the city are you in right now?”
“Hell’s Kitchen.”
Of course he’d be there. It was one of the up-and-coming areas of Manhattan with several recording studios nearby. She did a mental check for places along the river where he could join her. “Can you meet me at the end of Pier 84?”
“Why?”
“Because it’s public, and we can talk.” She hailed a taxi. Traffic wasn’t too bad right now, and the last thing she wanted to do was lose the connection to him while in the subway.
“Fine.” He hung up on her just as a taxi pulled up to the curb.
She gave the driver directions, her pulse fluttering in her ears the entire time.
Please let him be there.
And please don’t let me be too late.
Chapter Five
Ethan stared into the Hudson River with a pair of sunglasses on, ignoring the people who milled around him. The rain from last night had dried up, but gray clouds still lingered overhead. They fit his mood.
Sometime after dawn, he’d managed to get a few hours of fitful sleep. He awoke tangled in sweat-soaked sheets, gasping for air and haunted by dark dreams. The craving was stronger than ever. It called to him like a siren’s song that erased any rational thoughts. Not even a cold shower could quiet it.
The bag of heroin remained untouched on his coffee table, seducing him with promises to make everything better. But every time he found himself about to give into temptation, he glanced down at Ty’s name on his arm. The memories of finding Ty dead assaulted him, growing stronger and stronger
She discreetly pulled her phone out of her purse and checked the call log.
Eleven missed calls, all from the same number.
Shit!
She’d had her phone on silent for the prayer services so she wouldn’t be disturbed, but now she risked losing the fragile trust Ethan had given her. She’d said she’d be there for him if he needed her, and she hoped God would understand if she exited Rosh Hashanah services early to help him.
She grabbed her purse and snuck out of the sanctuary, her head lowered until she was out on the street. Then she called him back. “Ethan, it’s Becca.”
“You said you’d answer.” His voice was a growling mix of anger and panic.
She tried to combat it by adding layers of soothing tones to hers. “Yes, and I’m sorry I didn’t answer. I had my phone on silent while I was at the Temple, and I shouldn’t have done that. But I’m here now.”
Silence hung on the line for nearly half a minute, and she prayed that Ethan would forgive her enough to tell her what was wrong.
“I need help,” he said, his voice cracking.
“And I’m willing to do whatever I can to help. Just tell me what you need.”
Another pause, followed by, “Oh, fuck it.”
“No, don’t say that.” She wandered down the familiar sidewalks of 75th Street like a lost tourist, meandering from side to side and trying not to get run over. “Please, just tell me where you are, and I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”
A sarcastic snort of laughter answered her. “What about the whole anonymous thing?”
Sure. Throw that back in my face when you need me . The only reason she’d declined a ride back to her place Monday night was because she feared she’d invite him upstairs and totally screw over their relationship by screwing him. “Fine, we can meet in a public place. How about Gitta’s café?”
“Sorry, but I don’t think sweets are going to help me. Face it, Becca, I’m fucked up, and there’s no hope for me.”
“Don’t you dare say that, Ethan.” Anger sharpened her words and made her wish he was standing next to her so she could smack some sense into him. “And don’t you dare believe that, either.”
“You don’t know me, and you certainly don’t know what I’m dealing with.”
“Bullshit. I’ve been there—remember?” When he didn’t reply right away, she remembered the plastic bag full of breadcrumbs in her pocket and formed a new plan. “What part of the city are you in right now?”
“Hell’s Kitchen.”
Of course he’d be there. It was one of the up-and-coming areas of Manhattan with several recording studios nearby. She did a mental check for places along the river where he could join her. “Can you meet me at the end of Pier 84?”
“Why?”
“Because it’s public, and we can talk.” She hailed a taxi. Traffic wasn’t too bad right now, and the last thing she wanted to do was lose the connection to him while in the subway.
“Fine.” He hung up on her just as a taxi pulled up to the curb.
She gave the driver directions, her pulse fluttering in her ears the entire time.
Please let him be there.
And please don’t let me be too late.
Chapter Five
Ethan stared into the Hudson River with a pair of sunglasses on, ignoring the people who milled around him. The rain from last night had dried up, but gray clouds still lingered overhead. They fit his mood.
Sometime after dawn, he’d managed to get a few hours of fitful sleep. He awoke tangled in sweat-soaked sheets, gasping for air and haunted by dark dreams. The craving was stronger than ever. It called to him like a siren’s song that erased any rational thoughts. Not even a cold shower could quiet it.
The bag of heroin remained untouched on his coffee table, seducing him with promises to make everything better. But every time he found himself about to give into temptation, he glanced down at Ty’s name on his arm. The memories of finding Ty dead assaulted him, growing stronger and stronger
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