Chapter 14

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Chapter 14

He was going to kill if someone didn't start explaining soon.

"I believe I asked a simple question."

Ethan's gaze stayed fixed on Erin who stood with her eyes shut, rubbing her temple. His eyes flicked over her tussled hair, the flush of color on her cheeks; sliding down to the swell of her breasts beneath the t-shirt and finally down to the point where the shirt ended mid-thigh, revealing creamy, supple skin and shapely legs.

Had those legs - the same ones that had been wrapped around his waist while he pleasured her- had they been locked around her lover's waist only a few minutes ago?

Had she screamed out his name as she came?

The possible answer elicited a growl from him, his hands clenching into fists as Ethan struggled to hold his temper in check.

The urge to drive his fist into someone's face was strong within him, fury threatening to explode out of control.

His gaze slid over the blond haired man clad in a towel, who stood behind Erin. There was something about the guy that struck Ethan as vaguely familiar; as though he's seen him somewhere before, but right now, anger and jealousy took control of his brain, rendering his brain incapable of processing any information other than one simple fact:

The man was in Erin's apartment at nine in the evening, looking like he'd just stepped out of bed with his woman.

That was enough to get someone killed.

His gaze moved to a white-faced Erin, standing there with her eyes closed. She hadn't answered his question, rather her lips moved in silent words as though she were praying or talking to herself.

It had better be a prayer because heads would roll if he didn't get some answers right now.

The blond guy shifted position. Ethan's gaze flickered back to him to find himself being watched with a hawk- like gaze, arms crossed in a deceptive easy manner, leaning against the opposite wall.

Their eyes met and held in silent challenge, blue eyes clashing with green as each man sized up the other.

Ethan allowed himself a grim smile. Oh he so looked forward to beating the shit out of this idiot, preferably with that damned towel wrapped around his waist.

A flicker of recognition flashed through the man's eyes and his jaw tightened. He cast a questioning look at Erin, then back to Ethan.

Understanding dawned.

Watching him closely, Ethan knew the exact moment the fool put two and two together. He stared at Ethan in open-mouthed wonder, running a hand through his hair.

"Well I'll be damned." The blond looked back at Erin, who now pried her eyes open and returned the stare in silent communication.

*******

Erin stifled a groan at the question in Lane's eyes. Obviously, he had recognized Ethan as the guy Nicky had been engaged to; his quick detective mind had probably surmised that something was going on between Ethan and her.

She forced herself to meet the censure in his eyes. He looked angry now, all traces of the easy going cousin vanished to be replaced by cold hard calculating anger. Not that she blamed him. Right now; Erin wanted to kick herself for allowing things to have gotten as far as they had with Ethan.

Speaking of Ethan... she tore her gaze away from Lane's and snuck a peek at Ethan. He stood as still as a statue, watching the silent exchange with narrowed eyes, obviously putting two and two together and arriving at six. A muscle ticked in his neck, his mouth set in a thin line, murderous fury in his eyes.

He looked ready to kill.

Why had he not recognized Lane? She wondered, still watching him. She knew they had never met; in the year Nicky and Ethan had dated, Lane had been away in London taking care of his mother - Nicky's dad first wife - who'd been ill with cancer. The half- siblings were not close, never had been, so there had been no introductions - but Lane looked so much like Nicky that Erin was surprised Ethan had missed the resemblance.

His eyes bored into hers, silently informing her of his displeasure. "Explain. Now!"

She bristled at his commanding tone. What right did he have to barge into her apartment at this late hour and then demand an explanation for what was obviously not his business?

"She doesn't owe you an explanation." Lane growled from behind her, coming close to place his hands on her shoulders. "You, on the other hand...have a lot of explaining to do."

Erin sucked in her breath in dread, watching as Ethan's gaze moved down to rest on the Lane's hands on her. A low growl sounded from his throat and he took a step forward; hands clenched into fists.

"Get your fucking hands off her!"

"Ethan!" Erin gasped, stunned at the vicious lash of his words. "It's not what you think! Lane's...."

"Mad as hell and ready to beat the shit out of this bastard." Lane cut in, eyes glinting in anger. His fingers tightened on her shoulders as he gently pushed her behind him. "And here I was hoping for a quiet evening in bed."

The double meaning was not lost on Ethan. The words were both a taunt and a challenge, telling him more than he needed to know.

The guy had more or less admitted indirectly at an intimacy with Erin.

Adrenaline fueled by anger pumped through his veins. It had been a long time since he'd gotten physical- been a while since someone had been fool enough to cross his territory and take what belonged to him. The longing to smash his fist in the guy's teeth was so bad he had to keep himself firmly in check.

He needed a confirmation from Erin...wanted to hear her admit that she'd taken a lover in spite of his earlier warning.

After that, all bets were off.

Erin's gasped and stepped forward, rounding on the blond. "Lane...stop it. What the hell are you playing at?"

Ah! Ethan thought in satisfaction. At least now he knew the name of the dude. That would help a lot when he was shoving that towel down his throat.

Lane shrugged, not taking his eyes off Ethan. "You'd better leave now dude." The words came out shrouded in ice. "I don't know what you came here for, but you're not welcome."

"Lane!" Erin shrieked at him. "That's enough."

"Oh no Sweetcheeks let him continue by all means." Ethan cut in, his tone quiet. "I'd like to hear what he has to say before I kill him."

Her eyes flickered over to Ethan and he could see the fury in their depths. Idly, he wondered who she was furious at; him for interrupting their lovers tryst or at Lane for admitting the truth. Either way, he didn't give a shit.

"Ethan..." Erin took a deep breath and turned towards him. "Look, you're getting the wrong impression here." She shot Lane an angry glare. "Lane doesn't mean what he's saying..."

"I mean every word." Lane growled from behind her. "I know who he is Erin- what I'd like to know is what the hell he's doing here!"

Ethan chuckled, the sound humorless and deadly at the same time. "Oh so you know who I am?" He took a slow deliberate step forward, his eyes narrowed to icy blue slits. "That's good...that's very good. That will help a lot when I send you to hell."

"Are you threatening me?" Lane's chin went up in challenge. "Cos I gotta warn you buddy, that's a mistake you don't want to make."

Erin planted herself between the two men, glaring up at the two towering hulks of senseless testosterone. She felt like a dwarf, her five' five frame sandwiched between two men- each one well over six feet and solidly built.

"Stop this right now! You two are acting like idiots for heaven's sakes." She hissed, teeth clenched in an effort to stop from screaming- or socking both men in the jaw- whatever was needed to stop this madness.

Ethan's look sent chills of cold fear running down her spine. "You should tell your 'boyfriend' to back off Sweetcheeks." His mocking gaze swept over her body, mouth twisted in a sardonic smile. "That is if he wants to continue existing on this earth. Not that I'm averse to wringing his scrawny neck for daring to take what does not belong to him."

"Oh for heaven's sake." His words only served to infuriate her. "This is ridiculous, you don't even understand what's going on but you're already jumping to conclusions."

"Jumping to conclusions?" He hissed, glaring down at her. "What the fuck am I supposed to think when you answer the door looking like...that." He gestured towards the t-shirt. "And then that idiot strolls out behind you seconds later?"

"I'd watch my tongue if I were you buddy." Lane took another menacing step forward stepping around Erin and planting himself squarely in Ethan's face. The two men were the same height, with Ethan slightly taller by an inch.

Ethan stared at Lane for a moment, his jaw twitching. "Get out of my face 'buddy'." He snarled, flexing his shoulder mucsles. "You have exactly three seconds to do so before I stuff your face with my fist."

Lane grinned, and swung.

A scream was torn from Erin's throat as she watched the scene before her. Obviously expecting the attack, Ethan moved with a speed that belied his height. Lane's blow went wild, catching him of balance, the unexpected momentum causing him to stumble forward.

Ethan's fist crashed into Lane's face, the sickening crunch of bone mingling with Erin's screams. The force of the hit sent Lane crashing backwards, landing heavily on the ground in a splatter of blood and gore.

"Lane!" Horrified at seeing so much blood, Erin rushed towards where her cousin lay. She sank to her knees, reaching out to gather him in her arms.

Lane groaned and sat up, brushing her aside impatiently. His nose was a bloodied mess, blood dripping down over his mouth and chin. Still he looked furious, glaring up at Ethan.

"Are you alright?" Erin fussed over Lane, panic and worry clashing within her. How had things managed to get so out of hand? What the hell had possessed Ethan to hit her cousin like that?

"Am fine." Lane raised a hand to touch his broken nose, wincing at the bolt of pain that shot through him. "Damn."

She glared up at Ethan, who stood, feet wide apart watching them dispassionately. "Are you satisfied?" She hissed, hating him at that moment with every fibre of her being.

He looked contrite, running a hand through his hair and blew out a breath. "Erin..."

"Save it! I don't want to hear anything you have to say."

She helped Lane to his feet, sliding an arm around his waist to hold him up. "You're an asshole Ethan, always have and always will be and I want nothing to do with you."

The elevator doors opened and a slew of armed security guards streamed through the doors, weapons pointed.

"Are you ok ma'am?" One of the guards asked, his eyes sweeping over the scene. "We saw what happened on the cameras and came to check if you're ok."

Erin nodded, her attention still focused on Ethan, chanelling every ounce of anger she felt within her into her expression.

"I'm fine Warren." She told the guard, her voice shook from the force of emotions roiling within her. "Please escort Mr. Lachlan from the premises and see that he gets out."

Ethan's jaw set but he said nothing. Warren nodded to some of his men to assist Lane, while he stepped up to Ethan, holstering his stun gun.

"If you'll come with me sir...?"

Erin turned away from him, following Lane back into the apartment. Still she could feel his eyes boring into her back, the urge to turn around and face him strong within her.

She was angry at him, boiling mad for acting like a damn Neanderthal and causing all this trouble. She was angry at his double standards, because she clearly remembered his words on the phone that morning; the promise to the yet unknown woman on the phone.

Had she stood him up? She wondered, going to the refrigerator for an ice pack. Was that why Ethan had shown up in her apartment - because the mysterious woman had failed to meet his sexual needs?

Perhaps that was all Ethan saw her as; a substitute for his mistress, someone he could easily manipulate into bed and treat like dirt at the same time.

On the other hand, she was pissed at her cousin for making things worse. Determined to give him a piece of her mind, she marched back to the living room where he lay on the couch, groaning in pain.

"What were you playing at Lane?" Erin demanded, thrusting the bag of frozen peas at him.

"I should be asking you the same damn question." Lane retorted, sitting up to level a glare at her. "That man was engaged to Nicky and now you're sleeping with him?"

Her face flamed in embarrassment but Erin simply crossed her arms over her chest and returned the glare. "I never said I was involved with Ethan."

Lane snorted, pressing the bag to his nose. "Gimme a break Erin, I'm a detective and I could smell the pheromones oozing between the both of you even if I was a mile away. Are you out of your freaking mind? Does Nicky even know about this thing you got with him?"

Erin set her jaw stubbornly. "It is my business and you had no right to interfere."

"It is my business when my cousin decides to involve herself in something stupid." Lane rose from the couch, one hand clutching the bag to his nose and the other holding up the towel. "If any other guy had shown up tonight, believe me Erin...I would have left the two of you alone. But.."

"You know what? Maybe you should leave too." Erin snapped, her patience at an end. "I don't need a lecture on my love life from you - not tonight anyways."

A muscle ticked in his neck as he regarded her in stunned silence. "You're throwing me out?"

"No, I just need to be alone right now Lane." She wrapped her arms around her body and studied the cream rug under her feet. "Please?"

"Look Erin," He came to stand before her, his expression gentle and sympathetic. "I'll admit I over-reacted just now, but you have got to understand I'm only looking out for my little cousin."

She raised her eyes to his. "I'm not little anymore Lane. I am capable of making my own decisions. Fine, I will admit I made a stupid decision concerning Ethan but I could have handled it on my own."

Liar.

"I know..." He set down the bag, raked his damp hand through his hair. "I guess I owe you another apology."

******

Two hours later, Erin lay in her bed wide awake, her mind playing back the events of only a few hours ago. It still seemed surreal, still felt as though the fight had just been a figment of her imagination - something her tired mind had conjured up.

Still, the sound of Lane's snores coming from the second room told her the events had been very real.

She sighed, rising up to punch her pillow into shape. What had driven Ethan to hit out at Lane? Sure, she knew her cousin had goaded him, but why was he acting so damn possessive towards her. And why had he even come to her in the first place.

So many questions with no answers.

The digital clock on her nightstand beeped, signaling the hour. A quick glance at it told her it was well past mid-night and still sleep had deserted her. She needed closure, a way to get at the answers.

She knew a way.

With a determined sigh she flipped back the covers and slid out of bed, padding barefoot to the closet. She slipped into faded jeans over the t-shirt, sliding her feet into a pair of low sandals and headed for the front door. Careful to keep her movements light so as not to wake Lane, even though he had taken some painkillers that would knock an elephant out. Still, she couldn't take the chance that he'd wake up.

Grabbing her car keys from the table by the door, she hurried out and into the elevator.


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