Searching for Home (Spies of Chicago Book 1) by Jessica Keller Page A

She loved him, clear as day, but that knowledge hurt more than a rejection would have.
    “For a million reasons.”
    “Name them.” She spoke through clenched teeth.
    James sighed. Admitting their unsuitably hurt. “Because you are the younger sister of my best friend, and I would do nothing to pain him. Because I’m the nothing son of a banker and you deserve someone in Hurst’s circle. And sometimes a man must risk his neck to accomplish something greater than love.”
    She blinked. “What could be greater than love?”
    Unable to help himself, James brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, reveling in its silkiness. Framing her face, he rubbed his thumbs against her cheeks. She leaned into his hands.
    He touched his forehead to hers. “Keeping the person you love safe.” He pressed his lips to her cheek. “They’re after you, Ellen. I’ll do anything to crack the ring so they can’t get to you.”
    With that resolve he rushed out of the room. He had to send word to Hugh that he accepted membership in the Cygnus Brotherhood.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Chicago, April 29, 1886
     
    Ellen peered around her room, certain she’d just heard something, but no shadows lurked in the corners. Hopefully nothing inched under her bed. A chill ran over here shoulders.
    She craned her neck, waiting. A clock ticked in the hallway.
    Foolish Ellen. Go back to sleep.
    She folded her hands over her stomach while she examined the canopy fabric suspended above her. When had she gone from pinching James’s arm to being in love with him?
    Or were those two things the same thing?
    A romantic thought about James had not once flittered through her mind. But then again, she couldn’t imagine a life without teasing him daily, without his tight-lipped smile and his attempt to remain stern when she goaded him.
    Nothing felt more like home than James.
    A movement near the window stilled her thoughts. The floor creaked. A scream caught in her throat as dark fingers descended upon her, a fine-boned hand clamping over her mouth.
    “Shhh. Please don’t yell. No one can know I’m here,” her brother’s rich voice whispered.
    Lurching forward, she yanked off his hood. Dark stubble covered his angular jaw, and his coal-black hair spilled forward.
    “Lewis,” she breathed. “How can it be? You’re supposed to be traveling. We received letters from you postmarked New York.”
    “I know. I write notes and send them to an operative there and he sends them back to Mother. Forgive my deception.” He sat on the edge of her bed. “You can’t tell anyone that I’m in town. Not Aunt or Uncle. Not Mother. Swear to it.”
    She crossed her arms. “I don’t know. I’m being forced to make an awful lot of promises today against my will.”
    His eyebrows dove. “Who is forcing you to do something?”
    “James told me I had to stay in the house or near Aunt Louisa at all times.”
    Lewis’s shoulders relaxed. “And he’s correct. I want you to do whatever James tells you. Do you hear me? He knows what’s best for you and he’s the perfect one to make decisions right now since I’m not around.”
    “You’re here now.”
    “Not for long. I can’t.”
    “Why can’t you be around?” She grabbed his sleeve. “Stay.”
    “It’s not possible. I wish things were different, truly. I just wanted to make certain that you were in good health. You weren’t injured today when you fell in the water, were you? This was never supposed to involve anyone but me. If someone hurt you I’ll—”
    She pressed her fingers onto his arm. “I’m fine. James fished me out in time.”
    Lewis cradled his forehead, and his hair spilled forward. “Thank God he was there.”
    “Where were you?”
    His eyebrows knit together. “You can’t know. It’ll be best for you if you pretend I don’t exist. Live like you don’t have a brother. Tell no one in Chicago about me. Understand? Not even James.”
    Why did Lewis hate her? Why had he only loved their sister Grace?