Wrath (Sinful Secrets, #4)

by Ella James

Millsy. Oh God. He's listed in my contacts that way! I move to voicemail…try to breathe. I shut my eyes for half a second. I'm so scared. And I'm right here.

“Ez? Hey. Call me. Don’t know where you went, and I’m worried.”

"Ezra? Love you. Where’d you go, man?”

"Ezra? What’s the matter, man? I’m really worried. Please call. I don’t believe you would just go. Without some kind of…I don’t know." His voice cracks, and warmth flushes through my chest. "Did your mom find out?”

“Ez? Are you okay? Can I come see you? Can you call me?” I click on the next one. "Ezra, please."

"Please call me, angel. I don’t know what I did wrong, but call me. Please.” It’s half sobbed. "I want to know you’re okay.” His voice thins and breaks. “I need to…”

“Ezra. Hi. I’m sorry for calling you crying.”

“Can you call me? Please? I love you, angel. Hope you’re okay. Infinity…remember? I’ll be here till then, okay?”

"Hey. It's Mills. I haven't called you in a little while. Giving you space and...some shit. I hope you're okay."

love you, Ezzie. I'm not gonna stop. Take care of yourself, okay? Promise. Remember how valuable you are. How much I need you to stay safe. Take good care of you for me." His voice goes hoarse there. For a second, it's just silence. "I don’t think I’ll ever be the same without you,"

"I love you for i...

"I miss you in physics. Everybody misses you. I want to hold you. I hope you’re sleeping," he says, sounding muffled now. "I hope you don’t hate me. Bye, Ez," he whispers.

Josh’s hands are on the guy's elbows, trying to push him away. I hear "no," but the guy leans in, going for Josh’s neck with his mouth, and I realize he's trying to kiss him!

All the blood leaves my head. I'm an apparition, just a booming heartbeat, straining my eyes in the dim light to see if Miller's really struggling. He says something in a raised voice. Then he gives the other guy a light shove. I take the stairs two at a time, and as the other guy grabs for him again, I catch the fucker by the throat and toss him back against the stair rail.

"What the fuck is this?" at the same moment I see Ezra.

Ezra holding Zane's shirt collar. Ezra with his burning lake eyes on me. My body shorts out, going icy cold then white hot as my stomach bottoms out and my throat closes. My heart starts to pound as Zane frowns from Ezra to me. "Ezra Masters?" he gapes.

"Why are you here?" I rasp. His eyes are just...holding mine. They won't let go. "I need to talk to you."

"I don't owe you anything."

"So it was real," he whispers, his eyes wide. His face takes on a look of shock. "We...weren't just stepbrothers."

"What do you mean?" "Did we…love each other?"

"I don't understand," I whisper.

"Come with me, Josh," he rasps.

"Miller.” His voice cracks on my name. “You don't look well."

"Josh," he whispers. "Can you tell me how we know each other? Besides stepbrothers?"

"You don't remember?"

"No,"

"But I just heard your voicemails tonight." He swallows, looking back down. “Before that…” His dark brows furrow

“I’ve been obsessed with you. I followed you on Snap and Insta, watched yo...

"When I woke up from how I lost...

had your name on my arm. I wrote it...before,...

"Before ...

afraid. My clenched stomach does a sharp dive. "Ezra, what the fuck are you talking about?” His lips tremble as his eyes cling to mine. “Ez?” I breathe. “Is that what you called me?"

"Yeah."

Then he’s breathing heavy. Fast. His fingers shove into his hair, clenching a tuft. I can’t help but put my arms around him. He's so big now, I can barely hold him. But I do. I hold him tight.

"Hey..." I stroke the back of his hair, every atom in me firing white-hot from the feel of Ezra in my arms again. "Hey, angel. Tell me what happened."

I know I need to,"

"You're okay," I whisper. God, I want to ...

"No I'm...

"You're gonna be."

“You are nice,” he chokes. “Like on your stories.” Then his face crumples like he’s going to sob. He covers it with his hands.

"Are you saying that you don’t remember anything?”

“About the two of us?"

"I remember you were in my car."

remember how I felt. I think I liked you in my Jeep beside me." Oh God.

"You were upset." His voice breaks, and I can see how hard he’s trying not to outright sob. "In my voice ...

“I’m sorry. For what I did.” His body shudders. "I’m a dumbass.” All his words are choked groans.

"Hey, now. Don’t talk about my favorite person like that." "I'm your favorite person?"

"Yeah you are,...

"Fuck," he rasps. "I'm so fucking sorry, Josh.”

He lifts his head, looking flushed and dazed, with teary eyes. And I just…kiss him.