hidden | ethma

fifty one

"u-uncle?" i managed to stammer, staring at aaron in disbelief. 

ethan steps in front of me, his posture rigid. "what do you want?" he snaps at aaron. 

"we need to speak to emma, that's all." a wicked grin spreads across aaron's face. it's hard for me to believe this is the same boy that asked me out for dinner five months ago — the smart, nice medical intern. 

"what do you want to speak to her about?" 

"i believe you know exactly what we want to speak to her about." my heart drops to my feet. 

i step around ethan so i can see his face. "you knew," i breathe in realization. "you knew aaron was-" 

"emma, i'm counting to three," aaron says, cutting me off before ethan can respond. "you better come with me." 

"and if i don't?" 

aaron laughs darkly. 

"she's not going anywhere." 

at the top of the stairs stands zeke, arms crossed over his chest. 

aaron turns around, a smirk spreading across his face. "oh, what do we have here?" 

someone else steps into the stairwell. i recognize the face and bling hair as nate's. 

"a big, fat can of whup-ass," nate says, smirking. 

ethan smirks as well, running his tongue over his teeth. 

i feel confused, but i'm intrigued by the turn of events. 

does this mean ethan, zeke and nate are rebelling? 

zeke and nate walk down the stairs to stand by me and ethan. nate winks at me. 

"alright, boys." aaron says. "if this is how shit's going to go, so be it. i think you're forgetting the power of wolfe enterprise and alec." 

"we're the ones dealing with the money that goes to alec, and without us wolfe enterprise isn't shit." ethan spits. 

"you're wrong." aaron sneers. 

"no, he's not," zeke says. "he's completely  right." 

"what i'm wondering here is how a little fuck like you managed to date emma," nate says. 

zeke, ethan and nate chuckle lightly as aaron locks his jaw. 

"i'm wondering the same thing." i say and ethan catches my eye. i feel like melting under his heavy, approving gaze. 

aaron takes a step forward and grips my wrist, yanking me towards him. i try to pull away, but he's too strong. 

ethan moves instantly, but zeke grabs his arm. 

"stop," i say to aaron. "i don't know what you want from me, but you're sure as hell not going to get it," i spit, my eyes flashing with disgust at him.