Page 7 of Secrets on Ice

I pull the apartment door open. "I should've protected her." The words are out before I can stop them.

"This isn't on you," Emmett says immediately. "This is on those two selfish fucking assholes."

I let out a slow breath. "I'm going to destroy them."

"I get it, and they will have their time, but right now your sister needs you breathing ... not bleeding."

I close my eyes for a second. "I’ll be there in fifteen."

I make it in ten.

The doorman waves me through without a word. The elevator ride feels like it takes an hour. By the time I reach Emmett's floor, I've repeated the same thing to myself over and over.

Don't lose your shit.

Cass doesn't need that.

She needs her brother.

Not my anger.

I knock, and the door opens almost immediately. Emmett looks as bad as he sounded. His jaw is tight, eyes flat. He looks like he's one wrong sentence away from punching through a wall.

"Where is she?"

He steps aside, and I walk in. Jo is in the kitchen pouring tequila into shot glasses. Ember is curled on one end of the couch. Cassidy's wrapped in a blanket at the other, staring at absolutely nothing. She looks up, and the second she sees me, everything falls apart.

"Cass." My voice comes out rough.

She doesn't say anything, she doesn't move, just looks at me. I know that look. It's the one that says if I ask whether she's okay, she'll tell me to get fucked. So, I don't. I cross the room and sit beside her and wrap my arm around her shoulders.

"I'm here," I tell her.

That's all it takes for her to breakdown. Her whole body folds into mine, and she starts crying so hard she can barely breathe. I just hold her and let her cry, because I’ve got her. I may not be able to fix it, but I’ve got her. I look over at Ember, and she looks broken too. She's sitting with her knees pulled up to her chest, arms wrapped tightly around them. Our eyes meet. I've known Ember almost as long as I've known Emmett, and I’ve never seen her this sad.

Jo appears beside us with the tequila bottle. "Anyone?" she asks, shaking the bottle. Cassidy silently holds out her glass, and Ember does the same.

Emmett drops into the armchair opposite us and leans forward, forearms resting on his knees. "So ... now what?" The question hangs in the air.

No one answers.

Cassidy wipes at her face with the back of her hand. "I'm not going back." Her voice is steady. "I can’t look at him. I'm not listening to whatever bullshit excuse he's already rehearsing." She shakes her head. "I'm done."

"You don't have to go back," I tell her.

"Good." She nods once. "Because I won't."

Emmett looks across at both women. "You can stay here for as long as you need."

Ember finally speaks. "We can't impose on you and Jo."

"You're not imposing," Jo says. "You're family."

Ember's chin trembles as she tries to hold herself together, then gives the smallest nod before throwing back another shot.

My phone buzzes.

Trevor.