Public Secrets

battled back her own nerves to soothe his. “We don’t want to upset her. And we need to know what—how she got hurt. Can you tell us what happened?” she asked Michael. “We’ve been traveling ever since we got the call.”
“Yesterday, Drew Latimer found Emma here, in her hotel.”
“Found her?” Brian interrupted. “What do you mean? Weren’t they together?”
“She’s been hiding from him while she set the divorce in motion.”
“Divorce?” Because he knew he was punchy from lack of sleep and worry, Brian took a long breath and tried to clear his head. “I talked with Emma only a few weeks ago, she said nothing about wanting a divorce.”
“She couldn’t say anything about it,” Michael told him. “Because she was afraid. Latimer’s been abusing her for most of the marriage.”
“That’s crazy.” Brian dragged a hand through his hair. “He dotes on her. I’ve seen it.”
“Yeah.” The fury Michael had been holding off bubbled to the surface. “He’s been a real loving husband. A fucking prince. That’s why she’s been terrified. That’s why she’s lying in there right now, with her face smashed and her ribs broken. The man damn near loved her to death.”

Brian’s lips trembled open. His hand tightened on Bev’s until he rubbed bone against bone. “He beat her? Are you telling me that he’s the one who put Emma here?”
“That’s right.”
Rage flew into him as he grabbed Michael by the shirt front. “Where is he?”
“He’s dead.”
“Easy, Bri.” Johnno rubbed his shoulder, debating the wisdom of stepping between two furious men. “It won’t help Emma if you go off.”
“I want to see her.” He pulled Bev against him. “We want to see her now.” He walked to the door as Marianne came out. He didn’t speak, only stared for a moment at his daughter lying in the bed.
“Baby.” He held tight to Bev as he crossed the room.
Emma looked at them. One hand fluttered to her bruised cheek. Then she lifted both to cover her face. She hadn’t wanted him to see her like this. Gently, he drew her hand away.
“Emma.” He lowered his head to press a kiss to her forehead. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
She let the tears come then, stumbling over her own apologies and explanations. When she was exhausted, she lay with her hand in his. “I don’t even know how it all happened, not really. Or why. I wanted to have someone love me, just me. I wanted a family, and I thought…” She let out a long sigh. “I thought he was like you.”
He wanted to cry then. It was almost impossible to keep his head from lowering to her breast to weep. But he only brought her hand to his lips again. “You’re not to worry about it. You’re not to even think about it. No one’s ever going to hurt you again. I swear it.”
“All that matters is that you’re safe now.” Gently, Bev brushed the hair back from Emma’s bandaged forehead. “That’s all that matters to any of us.”
“I killed him,” Emma murmured. “Did they tell you I killed him?”
Over his daughter’s head, Brian’s shocked eyes met Bev’s. “It’s—it’s over now.” He rumbled for Emma’s hand again.
“I wouldn’t listen to you. Didn’t want to.” Curling her fingers into his, she held on. “I was angry and hurt because you thought he only wanted me to get to you.”

“Don’t.” He pressed his lips to her fingers.
“You were right.” The words came out on a long, weary sigh. “He never wanted me, or loved me. Not me. And when having me wasn’t enough to get him what he wanted, he began to hate me.”
“I don’t want you to think about it now,” Brian insisted. “All I want you to do is rest, and concentrate on getting well.”
He was right, Emma thought. She was much too tired to think. “I’m glad you’re here. Da, I’m so sorry for pulling away from you all this time. For shutting you out.”
“We were both wrong, and it’s done.” He smiled at her then. “We’ve all the time in the world now.”
“We’d like you to come home when you’re better.” Bev reached across the bed to touch Brian’s cheek. “With us.”
“Both of you?”
“Yes.” Brian lifted a hand, linked it with Bev’s. “We have a lot of time to make up for. All of us.”
“When I woke up this morning I didn’t think I’d ever have a reason to feel happy again,” Emma said. “But I’m happy for you. I need to think about the rest.”
“There’s no hurry.” Bev leaned over to kiss her cheek.