Trapped in her darkness

2- Meeting her

James PoV

“What’s wrong?” Ethan and Andrew ask, as soon as I hang up the phone.

I look at them, not sure how to explain to them that, chances are, my little brother got himself into another complex situation.

“Is it your mom?” Ethan asks, his voice laced with concern.

“No… It is just Connor being Connor…” I shrug my shoulders, almost in defeat.

“What is it this time? A stray cat? A dog with three legs? A hobo he picked out from the streets?”

“Andrew!” Ethan scolds him.

“What?! Those are factual examples! He did those things.” Huffs Andrew.

If only those were the worst he had put himself into! I lost track of how many times I had to save him from complicated and even dangerous circumstances.

“I do not understand why your brother doesn’t just donate money? or attend a gala? Or hell he can start his own foundation!” Andrew exclaims. He never understood Connor’s philanthropic nature.

Connor is different from us. My brother is genuinely good inside and out… While we donate money to relieve our conscience or, let’s face it, for tax optimization… Connor invests time and money in helping the less fortunate.

“It’s a broken record by now, Andrew… He will never change. Anyway, I have to go and assess the situation by myself.”

“Do you want us to come with you?” Ethan asks.

“No need. I will keep you updated.”

“Did he at least tell you what the problem was?”

“Just that she needs protection.”

“She?”

“Great! Now your gullible brother will fall in love with her. One prince charming syndrome coming your way!”

“I am quite sure that it is called the White Knight Syndrome.” Ethan says, chuckling.

“Stop whining Andrew.” I stop him right away.

That is uncalled for. Connor never mixes business with pleasure, and he always makes sure not to fall for his charity cases.

Ugh! Charity cases? Great, now I sound like Andrew!

“I’ll talk to you later guys.” I say, as I quickly exit the hotel.

My car was thankfully parked right in front of the main entrance, the perk of being the best friend of the hotel owner.

As I drive away, I cannot stop thinking about Connor.

He sounded concerned and this is the first time he is that troubled!

Damn it, I regret helping him move out of the family home. He had wanted to move out since he was eighteen, but given his impulsive generosity, my parents and I convinced him to stay home until he graduates from college.

But time flies and earlier this year, he not only graduated from college but also turned twenty-one. And I kept my promise and helped him find an apartment and move out.

Now... I am not sure I did the right thing... Is his life in danger now that he lives alone? Is he providing shelter to dangerous people?

He did try to bring home a homeless single mom once but, luckily, he was living with my parents at the time and they refused. He paid for her hotel only to be dragged two weeks later into the precinct because she turned the hotel room into a drug distribution base.

The drive to his place goes fast and as soon as I park my car, I almost run through the reception and press the elevator button incessantly, as if the more I press, the faster the elevator reaches the ground floor.

“James! Thanks for coming, brother!” Connor greets me as soon as he opens his apartment’s door.

“ Of course I will come. You are my baby brother!”

Connor scrunches his nose in disgust. Yes, he does not like being called baby brother… Which is exactly why I greeted him like that.

I laugh and take a seat in his open living room.

“So… What is the problem?”

He starts pacing around, cracking his knuckles one after the other.

OK… I am not dealing with just a troubled Connor. This is the rather super anxious Connor version!

“Connor…”

No answer...

“Connor…” I address him again with a sharper tone.

“Umm… Yes, I am still here James. The thing is that this situation is quite dangerous.”

“How come?”

“I was leaving work tonight. You know as usual at 8pm.”

“I already warned you. You are going to suffer from burnout if you continue like that.”

He rolls his eyes and shakes his head. I admire his dedication to work, but just like his charity work, he takes everything to the extreme.

“No, I won’t. Back to my problem. I was at a red light, the one down the street a few feet from work. And a girl slammed into my car, all terrified.”

“Please don’t tell me, you got out of your car or, worse, took her in?”

“I am telling you the girl was terrified and…”

“Connor! This is scam 101. They pretend to be in distress to get you to open the door, then they steal your wallet and your car. You could get yourself killed!” I stand up, trying to contain my anger.

How can he be so irresponsible!

“I am here standing in front of you. So, your theory is wrong.” He grumbles, not happy with my scolding.

“Connor…”

“Please James. Stop treating me like a child!” he glares at me.

I run my hand on my nape, not happy with how our conversation is going. My brother asked for my help and all I have been doing is berate him.

“Let me finish recounting what happened and then you can tell me whatever you want.”

I nod and sit down, listening to him.

“The girl was bruised and covered in blood. She banged on the car window begging me to help her. I opened the back door and told her to jump in just as the light turned green. I drove away not before seeing through my rear-view mirror four bulky guys emerge from George wells Alley.”

Great, now those criminals have my brother’s car plate, and it is a matter of hours before they come knocking on his door.

“They did not see her get in the car, James. I am positive. They were looking in all directions trying to guess where she went.”

I nod, although not totally convinced.

“Thank God the traffic light was red otherwise … she would have been hit by a car and…I think I would have lost her.”

Did he just say that he would have lost her?

“What happened next?” I ask him, intrigued and extremely worried that he has already fallen for her.

“Ten minutes into our drive, she asked me to pull over and got out of the car and started running. She looked desperate and disoriented. So, I followed her, only to see her collapse on the sidewalk.”

“Let me guess, you carried her to your car instead of calling the police.” I rolled my eyes.

“I put her in the car and pulled out my phone to call the police, but she begged me not to.”

“And why is that?”

“At the time, she just begged me not to call the police and not take her to the hospital before fainting again.”

“So, you decided to bring her to your house even though you know nothing about her nor about the criminals after her.”

“I know that I had a fragile and desperate woman in my arms. A woman who needed help. So yes, I brought her home.”

“Connor, we do not know her, nor do we know how dangerous the men after her are. This is serious.”

“And that is why I asked you to help me help her!”

“Connor, the best option is to give her some money and send her to a shelter.”

“I will not send her away, James. And this is final!” he states, in a tone that he has never used before.

Shit! I need to find a way to calm him down. And knock some sense into his stubborn skull.

I don’t get the chance to find a good argument and convince him that his damsel in distress must go.

The guestroom door opens and … and I was not ready for that.

A girl, with the most angelic face ever, walks out of the guestroom wearing an oversized T-shirt... Connor’s college T-shirt. And I do not know why, but this pisses me off!

She looks at Connor blushing as she hands him some black sweatpants.

“Umm… thank you for the shirt. The sweatpants are a bit too big, and they kept falling. I… I think the shirt is long enough.” She softly says to Connor, in a melodic voice that enthralls me like an enchanting siren’s song.

Connor and I trail our eyes down her slim body and gawk at her thin legs. She is not too tall neither too short… Just the perfect height to fit perfectly in my arms.

I blink a few times before I register what I just said. f**k! Now I understand Connor's protectiveness.

I have had my fair share of women, but this one… She is different. Her fragile figure… her innocent face… her whole demeanor… Everything about her, makes me want to protect her.

“Are you feeling better?” Connor asks her, concern visible on his face.

“Yes, thank you. Umm… Thanks to the first aid kit, I cleaned my wounds. At least the ones I could reach.”

Her face lights up with a huge smile as she puts a hair lock behind her ears… Her long blonde hair makes me think of rays of sunshine illuminating her beautiful face.

I cannot move my eyes off her, captivated by her ethereal beauty.

“If you are OK, I can help you with the wounds you cannot reach.”

Smooth! Very smooth, brother!

I roll my eyes, exasperated by his flirting.

I clear my throat, breaking the spell between those two and Connor looks at me, remembering that I am here!

“Harper, I would like you to meet my brother, James” he says, as I step closer, holding my hand out.

But Harper does not do the same. Quite the opposite!

She steps back, her body tense. Her eyes dart around maniacally… As if… as if she is searching for an escape?

What is wrong with her? ….Is she scared of me?

Why the hell is she scared of me!?