“What the fuck did you say?”
“Mr. Sherman, she left with you.”
Van
My grip of the man’s collar tightened, twisting as his face reddened and his eyes bulged wider. He was easily six inches taller and fifty pounds heavier, yet I didn’t falter. “Say that again.”
The bodyguard’s voice came between gasps of air, small puffs of condensation rising between us. “Sir, I took her to the waiting car.” His complexion continued to morph from ashen to a ruddy shade of red as he coughed and stiffened. “You were there.”
“Michael’s car is right there,” I said, pointing toward the sedan with my free hand as Michael now came my way. “What fucking car did you take her to?”
“You were in it. I’m sorry…” He reached for my hand. “Please. I thought it was you.”
The normal commotion around us faded into my rage-induced fury.
It was as if a lever had been pushed, changing everything.
The life I knew was now only visible through the reflection of a carnival mirror, one that distorted reality, making things appear differently than they existed. What had been right only minutes before was transformed into wrong. The world had turned upside down, and yet we were standing, my heart pounding and my pulse racing.
With my attention zeroed in on this man sputtering before me, I didn’t notice the growing number of eyes upon us.
Footsteps hammered the pavement behind me seconds before a hand landed upon my shoulder. “Mr. Sherman.”
“Don’t fucking touch me,” I growled under my breath.
“Sir.” His voice came close to my ear. “It’s me, Michael.”
My neck craned as my gaze darted from the bodyguard, the man I’d trusted with Julia, to Michael. “He works for you?”
“Yes, sir. Albert has been with us for years.”
Releasing Albert’s collar, I shoved him away. “He’s done,” I proclaimed. “Fired.”
Albert gasped for breath as he worked to maintain his balance.
“Where is Ms. McGrath?” Michael asked, keeping his voice calm.
“I-I thought it was your car,” Albert said. “I-I saw Mr. Sherman.”
This was my fault.
Fuck.
I vowed to protect her.
It didn’t seem to matter what goal I set—women I loved always ended up getting hurt.
“What is he saying?” Michael asked.
My eyes closed and my nostrils flared as I took stock of this situation.
I should have told the security team about Phillip.
Fuck, I should have told Julia more, told both her and the security team that Phillip may appear as me. I ran my hand over my face as every muscle, tendon, and cell within me wanted to strike out, to hit, to pound, to ruin.
Opening my eyes, my gaze met Michael’s. An unaccustomed emotion—fear— infiltrated my thoughts as I steadied my voice. “It was my brother. Who Albert saw—he’s my brother. We appear physically identical.”
We weren’t identical in too many ways to count. Now wasn’t the time to discuss the dissimilarities. Now was the time to find his ass before he hurt Julia.