Wrapped in Silk (42 page)

“Brody,” she said and stopped dead in her tracks tugging lightly at his hand holding him back, “We don’t have to do this, you seem…”

“Brody!”
A tall older handsome man in a tux stood at the top of the stairs leading to the mansion before them.

“To
o late now love,” Brody said looking nervously at her.

“Bo this is Emma, my wife,” Brody introduced them.

Bo grabbed Emma and hugged her tightly and kissed her on the mouth. Emma pulled back and looked at Brody.

“Bo…” Brody’s voice carried warning.

Bo laughed, “I couldn’t help myself she is exquisite, come.”

Emma held tightly to Brody’s hand as Bo led her into the party by her other hand.

The party was in full swing, there were at least a hundred people in the ballroom. Emma noticed that most of the men were her age or older and the women were all beautiful and young. Brody held her tightly against him.

“Dance,” Brody said with his arms around her waist walking through the crowd to the dance floor.

Emma looked up at him and he knew she was uneasy.

“We will be leaving very soon,” Brody said holding her tightly against his chest as they danced.

“I am fine Brody,” Emma smiled.

“That’s a fake smile Em. I knew this was a bad idea damn it,” Brody scolded himself.

“Brody stop. I have always been a bit socially awkward, I am fine okay?” she said and kissed him gently.

“I love you Em,” Brody rubbed her back.

After a few songs later Emma felt a tap on her shoulder, “May I cut in?”

“My wife and I are dancing Bo,” Brody said with his brow raised.

“It’s okay Brody,” Emma smiled.

It took a few seconds for Brody to release her and then when he did he glared at Bo.

“You are beautiful Emma,” Bo said smiling at her.

“Thank you,” Emma blushed.

“How did you meet my nephew?” Bo asked.

“Through a friend,” Emma answered.

“So you like Rockstars huh?” Bo chuckled.

“I wasn’t aware he was at the time,” Emma said scanning the room for Brody.

Emma saw Brody arguing with Rebecca and grew concerned.

“He thinks I am going to try to get you upstairs,” Bo laughed, “But you don’t seem like the type.”

“No I am not whatever that means,” Emma still watched Brody, “I should go.”

Rebecca grabbed Brody’s had and dragged him to the dance floor.

“He is fine,” Bo said with a laugh, “Always has been quick tempered.”

“I haven’t seen that side of him, protective yes but never without reason,” Emma said sticking up for her husband.

Bo waved to a waitress nearby. “A drink for you.”

Emma needed a drink, something to take the edge off
, she wanted Brody to have a good time and thought he may not be because she was nervous. She wanted desperately for him to never feel like she was trying to keep him from his family. She knew how she would feel if she could not be around her family and he went out of his way to make everything so perfect for her, always.

“Well look at you,” Bo laughed and motioned for the waitress again, “Have another.”

“Thank you,” Emma smiled and tossed it back.

Brody saw her and stormed over towards her.

“Emma are you alright?” Brody said cupping her face and searching her eyes.

“I am,” Emma smiled and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and kissed him.

“Slow down love,” Brody pulled her against his chest.

“What the hell did you give her to drink
?” Brody snapped at Bo.

“I don’t know just something
the waitress brought,” Bo patted his shoulder and laughed as he walked away.

“He
y Music Man,” Emma slurred, “Is that Ariel?”

Brody looked up and saw Ariel walking down the grand staircase.

“What in bloody hell is she doing here!” he snapped.

“I don’t know,” Emma laughed.

“Em are you alright?” Brody asked lifting her face to his.

“No, I am…”
Emma’s eyes closed and he felt her body become weightless.

~

“What the hell did you give her!” Emma heard Brody yelling at someone.

“I gave her a drink, two drinks actually,” Bo
snarled back.

“What the fuck was in it Bo?” Brody yelled again.

“The wait staff brought it…” Bo snapped.

“Well I suggest you go find out what the fuck it was Bo before I do it myself,” Brody threatened.

A door shut and Emma heard another voice.

“Is she alright Brody?”

“She fucking better be!” Brody growled.

“Hey Brody did your wife have to
o much to drink?”

“Rebecca, what the fuck is she doing here?” Brody said through his teeth,

“Ariel comes every year Brody,” Rebecca explained.

“He knows that,” Ariel laughed.

“Rebecca get her the fuck out of here!” Brody’s voice was harsh and direct.

Emma heard a door shut, and then felt him lift her onto his lap.

“I am so sorry Em,” he said as he kissed her head over and over again.

Emma’s head was clearing and she began to open her eyes.

“Em?” Brody said cupping her face and looking into her eyes.

“Hi,” she whispered, “I am tired Brody.”

“Okay love, rest a bit then we will leave,” Brody’s eyes showed hurt, “I am so sorry.”

“I took care of it Brody,” Bo said as he walked in the room.

“Took care of what, do you care to fucking fill me in?” Brody snapped quietly.

“Her drinks contained
additives,” Bo began.

“You drugged my wife?” he yelled.

Emma kept her eyes closed and snuggled in tighter to Brody.

“I did not DRUG your wife. The
wait staff said someone was putting a small does of a liquid drug called Forget Me Not into the drinks. They have been dismissed and dealt with,” Bo snapped at him.

“I want to know what the fuck it was,” Brody began to shake slightly.

“I will have it analyzed but there wasn’t enough to do any permanent damage. I can assure you she will be fine,” Bo looked down at Emma.

“From what I understand
in high doses she could be out for a couple days but it wasn’t a large dose Brody and I am sorry,” Bo explained.

“You are sorry, what the fuck BO! You
’re sorry!” Brody was tense and shaking.

“You need to calm down Brody
, there is nothing else I can possibly do, I have taken care of it,” Bo snapped.

Emma sat up and looked at Brody and he let out a deep breath, “You
’re awake.”

“I am and I am going to be fine. I would like to go home Brody,” Emma whispered.

“Okay I can change our flight,” Brody said holding her tightly.

“No back to your…” Emma began.

“Ours, Emma, our place,” Brody kissed her and stood up.

“I am very sorry Emma,” Bo said softly.

“Okay,” Emma said quietly.

Brody let go of her hand to grab his jacket and turned back to her and saw panic in her eyes. He pulled her into him and held her.

“I am not going to let this go,” he snarled at Bo.

“It would be best if you did Brody. I will handle it. You take your wife home now,” Bo looked at Emma, “I am truly sorry Emma. You need to think about your family and keep him in check.”

Brody let go of Emma and lunged at Bo. They struggled and fell back into the doorway causing the door to the ballroom to swing open and the crowd to break apart as Brody and Bo tumbled onto the floor.

Emma ran to them and tried to pull Brody off of Bo. Rebecca grabbed her and held her back as two security men pulled Brody off of Bo.

“You better not make threats you fucking prick!” Brody screamed.

Bo spit a mouthful of blood onto the floor and took his
handkerchief from his jacket pocket and wiped his face.

“It was not a threat Brody
, but now it’s a warning. Get him the hell out of here!” Bo’s voice boomed through the now quiet ballroom.

“You need to remember who I am Bo, I don’t easily scare,” Brody laughed.

Emma grabbed Brody’s hand, “Please Brody, please I want to go.”

Brody looked at her and saw tears welling in her eyes and felt her tremble. He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head and glared at Bo.

“Brody, get her out of here,” Rebecca said pushing him towards the door, “I will call in the morning, go home.”

Brody’s body encased Emma as they walked through the crowd. He stopped for a moment and looked up at a wom
an in front of him. She quickly disappeared through the doorway and he continued walking briskly until they reached the car and he put Emma into the front seat.

~

Brody and Emma drove silently for ten minutes. She watched as his thumb thumped nervously on the steering wheel.

“Brody,” Emma whispered and took his hand.

“Not now Em,” he said as his nostrils flared and he rubbed her hand gently.

“Then when?” Emma asked pulling her hand away.

Brody downshifted and quickly pulled over. He jumped out of the car and paced back and fourth as Emma sat in the car and watched him. He loosened his tie and clenched his fists. Emma stepped out of the car and cautiously walked towards him.

“Brody please,” Emma said and began to cry.

He grabbed her and held her tightly and she felt his heart beating hard and fast against her chest. After a few minutes he began to relax.

“It is not your fault,” Emma said and kissed him.

Brody let out a breath and opened his eyes and looked down at her, “I should not have taken you there.”

“It was my fault
, I thought I was keeping you from your family,” Emma cried.

He grabbed her face and wiped her tears with his thumb, “YOU are my family Emma. You and London and our child, you are all I need.”

“I am so sorry,” Emma wrapped her arms around him.

“Don’t you dare be sorry, I took you there this is my fault,” Brody yelled.

“No it isn’t Brody, no it isn’t. I should have listened, I felt you had reservations I should never have pushed,” Emma continued to cry.

“I will take care of this
. Everything will be alright Emma I promise you everything will be fine love,” Brody softly whispered into her neck.

The phone rang as they neared town.

“This is Brody,” he snapped as he answered.

“Hello it’s Henry I just wanted to let you know your father is here,” Henry said quietly.

“Alright, have him sit still we will be there in less than an hour. Thank you Henry,” Brody hung up the phone, “My father is at our home.”

“Brody I don’t want my father to know what happened, he over reacts…” Emma began.

“It would not be over reacting Emma, but I understand. If you change your mind I will talk to him,” Brody kissed her hand.

“I just don’t want him to worry
, he has been through enough with everything that happened to Elizabeth. I have you and I know we will be fine,” Emma was sincere and he knew it.

“I will always make sure you are alright, I promise you that, until my last breath Emma I will keep you safe,” Brody’s voice was deep and angry.

“Thank you,” Emma said squeezing his hand.

“I don’t know why he is at our house but I need to
speak to him alone,” Brody said softly.

“Okay
, I am tired anyway,” Emma began.

“How tired Em…you know we should get you to a hospital,” Brody began.

“I am seriously just tired, if I feel any differently I promise to tell you okay?” Emma interrupted.

“Promise me Em,” Brody said as he pulled into the driveway.

“Of course,” Emma smiled.

~

Brody tucked Emma in and kissed her, “I will be back soon.”

“Brody I don’t know what the relationship is with your father and I hope you understand when I say this but he is your father. Regardless of what has happened in the past
please don’t be angry at him about tonight. He is going to be our child’s grandfather, people can change Brody they just need reasons to. Look at Troy, he is trying,” Emma hugged him and he kissed her cheek.

“I will be back soon Emma,” Brody walked out the door and down the stairs and found his father in the study looking through the music library.

“Father,” Brody said as he approached.

“Son,” Robert smiled, “Are you alright? Is your wife alright? I was on my
way here to talk when Rebecca called, I was literally shocked to hear you went to your Uncle’s.”