Protective Love (Hidden Secrets) Read Online Free

they knew the truth.  Unaware of my movements, I grabbed hold of Jake’s hand and was squeezing it hard in my shaking.  Jake looked back at me and I barely registered the concern that immediately lit his eyes as he looked between Alex and me.
    Jake moved in front of me and fisted his hands at his sides.
    “I think you need to quit looking at my sister like that or you will be dragging your sorry ass out of this party.  I don’t even know why you’re here.  I don’t remember you being on the guest list.”
    “Looks like someone’ s edgy today.  What’s wrong, someone piss in your Cheerios this morning?  Didn’t get laid? For your information, I didn’t get an invite.  I am Mitch here’s guest.  He invited me along.  I am not considered part of the family anymore.  I wonder why that is…”  Alex said, looking at me.
    I shook my head with so much force that I wobbled a little.  Elijah looked between Alex and me, then stepped in front of me, blocking me completely from Alex’s sight.
    “I don’t know what is going on, but you need to get the hell out of here before I join my brother in beating you to a bloody pulp.  Don’t forget , I’m a lawyer - I can get us out of this mess faster than you can turn tail and run.”
    “You guys are still the big, arrogant assholes you were back in the day.” Alex said, leaning to the side so he could see me.  “I’ll see you later.  I promise that.”
    “Like hell you will ,” Jake said stepping forward.
    Alex laughed as he walked backwards, then glared at me before walking away, Mitch follows him.  I knew this little outburst by my brothers was going to cause some big trouble for me.  As angry as I was at them, I knew they were just reacting to their sister in distress.  The fear over what could be coming had me literally shaking even more.
    My brothers turned around just in time to catch me as I started to fall.
    “Kayla?”  Elijah asked.
    “Kay?  What’s wrong?  Are you okay?”  Jake asked with concern thick in his voice.
    All I could do was shake my head.  My throat was clogged with fear; there was no way I could even make a noise.  It felt like I was going to suffocate, which caused me to panic. Staring up at Jake with wide, pleading eyes, I silently begged for help for the first time.
    “I’ m taking her to go lay down.”  Jake told Elijah. 
    He carried me off into the house.  I heard my sisters ask about me.
    “What’s wrong Eli?”
    “I don’t know, but I’m going to figure it out.”
    Jake carried me to my old room and set me down on the bed , which wasn’t helping my panic any.  It was like going right back to that night.  I clawed at Jake’s shirt.  Taking deep breaths, but never getting enough oxygen.
    “Calm down, Kay.  Please calm down.  I’m right here.”
    He began to stroke my hair just as he used to do when I was little to help me fall asleep after a nightmare. In soft whispers he talked, calming me down.  It wasn’t long that the panic faded and I was able to breathe again.  A tear leaked down to my hairline.  Jake immediately picked me up and hugged me to him.
    “Kay, you ’re scaring the shit out of me.  Please tell me what’s going on.”
    The topic caused my panic to return instantly.  I pushed away from my brother and moved across the room.  There was no way I was getting into it just then, and especially not there.
    “There’s nothing going on.”
    “Bullshit!  You and I used to talk about everything.  Now any of us are lucky if we see you at the holidays.  Something is going on.  Tell me!”
    “Jake…”
    My phone started ringing.  I had never been so grateful for an interruption.  When I looked at the caller ID and saw who was calling, I almost jumped for joy.  It was the perfect way to get away from my brother.
    “Dr. Williams.”
    “Hello, Dr. Williams.  I’m sorry to bother you.  I know you had that family party today, but we have an emergency that can’t wait for