“And I have a nice voice, let’s not forget that one.” He waves his fork at me.
“Seriously? You’re going to hang onto a drunken compliment? You do realise it doesn’t count?”
“Yep.” He shoves a piece of toast in his mouth. “And it so counts.” He winks.
“Because you haven’t had thousands of women tell you that you are sooo hot and god like.” I scoff.
He smiles wide. “You said it babe. I’ll remember that one. God like.” He wiggles his eyebrows.
“Careful. You won’t fit out the door.” I say sweetly.
He opens his mouth to respond but my phone rings. I snatch it off the table and answer it. “Hello?” My voice is shaky with nerves.
Theo pulls the Aston up outside the police station. The outside of the building looks so unsuspecting. My brother is in there, so close, and yet if today goes badly, who knows when I’ll see him again.
“Breathe, Lilly.” Theo murmurs beside me. He grabs my shoulder and shakes me gently. “Relax. You look like you’re about to blow.”
I swing my gaze to his. “My brother is being held for no reason. He may be arrested because of me. Of course I’m about to blow.” I take a breath. It’s not his fault. He’s done nothing but help me with this. “I’m sorry.” I say quickly.
He flashes me a warm smile. “Sugar, I know what Harry means to you. Please trust me when I say I would never let anything happen to him.”
“Theo, you can’t fix everything.”
He smirks. “If Harry gets charged, he will get out on bail, I can promise you that. There’s also a pretty good chance that his case will be thrown out.”
“I can’t chance Harry’s fate on if’s and maybe’s.” I lean back against the plush seat of the Aston. “I think I should tell them.” At the risk of exposing even bigger secrets. Fuck!
I glance sideways at Theo. His expression has become serious, his actions deathly still. “You can’t do that Lilly.”
I meet his eyes head on. “Excuse me? It is my story, and he is my brother. I will do what needs to be done.”
He sighs and drags one hand down his face. “Lilly, I’ve already been battling on every front just trying to keep the papers from getting wind of the story about Harry. You and I are old news as far as the press is concerned, and yet my PR team are up to their eyeballs in gag orders.” His blue eyes lock with mine. “It won’t be long before they find out we are back together. You then instantly become more interesting, especially with all the shit swimming around us at the moment. They are very likely to get wind of Harry’s situation. If you make that statement, you are going to be hounded. Everyone is going to know your story.” A small frown line appears between his eyes. His eyes are soft, and full of a genuine concern. Theo and I agreed to keep our relationship quiet until everything settles with Harry, for this very reason. He wasn’t entirely happy with it, but he understands why I don’t want the press stalking my every move at the moment.
“Theo, I can take people knowing my business as long as my brother is not behind bars.” I tell him.
“I don’t want that for you Lilly. It would eat you alive. I won’t stand by and watch the press pick you apart. They’re fucking vultures. They won’t be sympathetic.”
I nod. “We make sacrifices for those we love.”
“We do, which is why I am asking you to trust me. Just give me a chance to fix it before you jump the gun and make yourself a public target for no reason.” His eyes hold mine. There’s so much sincerity in them, and this deep seated adoration that I always find when I look in his eyes. He has never let me down. He always comes through. He’s Theodore Ellis, just the name incites a certain faith.
“Okay.” I whisper. “But please remember that I am trusting you with the fate of the most important person in my life.” I don’t want him to feel inferior. He is certainly on a level with Harry, but he’s not Harry. The connection I have with my brother, the things we’ve been through together, it’s totally different, it doesn’t compare.
“I know.” He says with a smile. He opens the door and gets out of the car. I pick up my handbag and take a breath just as he pulls my door open. I smooth the skirt of my dress down before taking his hand as he helps me out of the low sports car.
We approach the reception desk at the police station. Theo starts talking, but my mind tunes out as I start to panic again. My thoughts are a mess of ‘what if’s’. I just need to see my brother.