Public Secrets Part 259

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 tucking 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 d.a.m.n 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 s.h.i.+rt 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 fumbled for Emma's hand again.