Craving My Husband’s Brother

CHAPTER 10 LIAM

Something was wrong.

I felt it before I even saw it. The hallway in the east wing was way too quiet compared to the loud party downstairs.

Honestly, I couldn’t stop thinking about Alice. I had spent the last twenty minutes trying to clear her from my head, but I couldn't. I kept seeing the pure terror in her eyes when Nathaniel introduced her as his wife. My brother's wife.

I should have felt guilty for wanting her, but all I felt was pure rage. I was mad at my brother, mad at myself, and completely losing my mind over her.

I ripped my tie off as I walked, trying to breathe. Then, I smelled it.

Smoke.

I stopped dead. Gray smoke was curling out from under a guest room door down the hall.

“What the f**k—”

I ran. The smell got thicker—burning cloth and wood. Then I heard it. A weak, painful cough from inside.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

“Alice?”

No answer. Just another cough.

I didn't think twice. I stepped back and slammed my shoulder straight into the heavy door.

BANG!

The wood didn't move.

“f**k!”

I hit it again, harder. The lock cracked. On the third hit, the door burst open.

A wave of thick heat hit my face. The curtains were on fire, and the flames were climbing fast. The room was so full of black smoke I could barely see.

But then I saw her.

Alice was collapsed on the floor near an overturned table. Her green dress was stained with ash, her face was covered in tears, and she was shaking, gasping for air.

My heart stopped. I felt a cold terror I hadn't felt in years.

“Alice!” I shouted.

I threw my suit jacket aside and covered my mouth with my shirt sleeve, pushing through the heat to get to her.

She looked up at me, her eyes completely glassy.

“Liam…” she choked out.

Hearing her say my name like that did something brutal to my chest. I dropped to my knees and grabbed her face.

“What the f**k happened?” I asked, panic bleeding into my voice.

Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I—I didn’t mean to…” She couldn't finish before a violent coughing fit took over.

I looked around. An overturned candle. Burning curtains. Smoke filling the ceiling. The place was going to blow.

I didn't waste time. I scooped her up, putting one arm under her knees and the other around her waist. The second I lifted her, she buried her face in my neck and gripped my shirt tight.

“I’ve got you,” I muttered.

She was trembling so hard it scared me. I turned and carried her out of the room just as a piece of the burning curtain crashed down behind us.

The moment we hit the hallway, she coughed violently again.

“Breathe slowly,” I told her, holding her tighter against my chest.

Downstairs, everyone was screaming. The guests had noticed the smoke, and people were running for the doors. I ignored all of it. My eyes were only on her.

She looked way too pale.

“Alice. Look at me,” I ordered.

She slowly lifted her eyes to mine. Seeing her look so broken and covered in soot completely ruined me.

“What happened in there?” I asked, my voice softening.

Her lips shook. She looked away, then whispered something so quiet I barely caught it.

“He called me barren.”

My chest tightened like a fist. “What?”

A bitter, broken laugh came out of her. “Nathaniel…” she whispered. “He said I was useless. That I couldn't give him anything.”

Pure, murderous rage hit me. I literally saw red. That f*****g bastard. The thought of my brother making her feel like this made something dark rise inside me.

Alice winced, hiding her face in shame. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble for your night.”

Trouble? She almost died, and she was apologizing to me.

Something inside me snapped completely. I tightened my grip on her and pressed my forehead against hers.

“You never have to apologize to me,” I said roughly.

Gently I carried her downstairs.