The Chase, Volume 2 Read Online Free PDF Page B

bright and a hard worker. According to your dad, he’s been doing a great job as VP.”
    “He has.” I smiled, feeling a sense of pride for Trent.
    “How does he treat you?” There was a faint look of concern on her face.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, since he was made VP, he’s your boss. Does he treat you fairly at work?”
    I laughed. “Come on, mom. Of course he does! He’s my brother.”
    “ Half -brother,” she reminded me.
    “That doesn’t matter to me.” I looked at her, confused by her concern.
    “I know it doesn’t for you, but Beth had never been very kind to you. You know me, I’m just always concerned that Trent would adopt those feelings.”
    “Don’t worry, mom. Trent’s great to me. In fact, sometimes he treats me better than my colleagues, and I wished he wouldn’t.” I gave her a reassuring smile.
    I saw her face relax. “That’s good to hear.”
    By the time we got to the graveyard for the funeral service, the rain was pouring down on us.
    “I see Trent over there. I’m going to go check on him before the service starts.”
    “Sure honey. I’ll wait here for your father.”
    As I walked the fifty feet to where Trent was standing by himself with his face down.
    “Hey, Trent.” I reached for his shoulder gently and leaned over to give him a hug. His body was limp and unresponsive. When I stepp ed away and got a better look at him, a wave of alarm washed over me.  His face was stone cold and aged. There were dark rings under his bloodshot eyes like he hadn’t slept for days. “How are you doing?”
    “How the hell do you think I’m doing?” His grim expression caused a shiver to run down my body.
    I winced at his curt response, but tried to ignore it. “Is there anything you need?”
    “Yes, I need to mourn over everything I’ve lost.” He glared at me and the dark, emptiness in his eyes scared me.
    I frowned at his words. I wasn’t sure why, but at that moment, I felt like something had changed with him—he felt like a complete stranger. I took a deep breath and tried to remind myself that this was Trent—my brother Trent who had always been there for me. I had nothing to be scared about.
    “You still have me.” I reached over to give him another hug, but to my surprise, he backed away.
    “I don’t have anyone,” he spat.
    His words were cold and distant, and I knew something was definitely wrong. “I’m sorry you’re going through this, Trent. But please know you have me, our dad, and my mom. We all love you, and we’re here for you.”
    “Like I said, I don’t have anyone,” he said between his teeth. “I’m alone now. So leave me the fuck alone.” He turned his back to me, causing the rain that was falling on his umbrella to splash onto me.
    I stepped back and whipped off the water pellets from my black dress. “But I’m your sister—”
    “As far as I’m concerned, I have no sister.”
    Before I could object, he walked away from me to greet a group of new arrivals, leaving me standing there in shock.
    I had no idea what had happened, but for some reason, the day Trent had lost his mother, I had lost him as a brother. So under the downpour of rain, I mourned for my own loss as everyone mourned for the loss of Beth.
    ***
    Present Day
    “You look beautiful.” Dean smiled down at me as he leaned in for a hug.
    I backed away before he could touch me, and reached out my hand. “You said this would just be dinner. We have a professional relationship, so let’s keep it that way.”
    He snickered and cocked an eyebrow. “I’m pretty sure we have both a professional and personal relationship. I’m not sure a handshake will suffice.” He grabbed my hand and shook it, and then to my surprise, he pulled me into his hard chest. I inhaled sharply as I felt his muscular arms tighten around me. “Now this is much better,” he whispered in my ears, causing a tingle of pleasure to cascade down my body. The longer he held me, the more I felt my