Craving The Wrong Brother (Sloane and Knox) novel Chapter 180

Chapter 180

I stare at her blankly. “Frozen? There must be some mix-up. Maybe the machine’s acting up? That’s my account. I would know if it’s frozen.”

The receptionist’s expression remains stoic, as if she’s used to dealing with late-night guests having issues with their cards. “I’m afraid so, ma’am,” she says. “It’s showing as restricted.”

I feel frustration simmering beneath my skin. Whatever this is, it has Ryan’s name written all over it. Yet, at the back of my mind, I doubt. It might be a coincidence, because I can’t figure out any possible way Ryan could have done it, frozen this account without my approval. It’s a joint account. There’s a reason it’s called joint, because two people have to sign off on decisions involving the account. So yes, there has to be a reasonable explanation for this. There better be.

“What am I supposed to do?” I ask.

Angela shifts uncomfortably, typing again, like maybe she’s hoping a magical solution will pop up on her screen. When it doesn’t, she looks back at me. “I’m really sorry about this. Would you like me to try again?”

I force myself to breathe. “No, that’s fine. I’ll handle it,” I say, pulling my phone from my purse. “Give me a minute.”

The glass screen lights up as I open my banking app, waiting for it to come up.

But the app’s icon keeps spinning, refusing to load. I can practically feel the receptionist’s discomfort, and my hands tighten around the phone. I tap again, harder this time, as if force might just get me what I need. Nothing. Then a message flashes across the screen: “Please contact customer service for assistance.”

“Unbelievable,” I say. I look up, forcing a tight smile in the receptionist’s direction as I step away, pretending like it’s nothing more than a minor inconvenience. But inside, I’m boiling. First my card, now this? Today of all days? It’s like the god of shitstorms is out to get me today.

My finger jabs the call button, and I wait as the phone rings. Finally, a voice picks up.

“Thank you for calling Sky National Bank. This is Sara. How can I help you?”

“Hi, Sara,” I say. “I need some help with my account. My card’s declining, and the app says I need to contact customer service. There shouldn’t be any issues-I use this account every day.”

“Alright, ma’am,” she says in that painfully calm, overly friendly tone that customer service reps are trained to use. “I’ll need to verify your account details before we proceed. Can you provide the account number, as well as the name listed on the account?”

I recite the number, then my name. “Julie O’Brien. Actually, there are two names on the account, as it’s a joint account. Ryan O’Brien and Julie O’Brien.”

“Thank you, Mrs. O’Brien. One moment, please.” I can hear her typing, the distant clack of keys only adding to my irritation as I watch the receptionist at the counter occasionally glance my way, probably regretting not swapping shifts.

Finally, the woman on the line speaks again. “Mrs. O’Brien, it appears there’s a restriction on this account.”

“Yes, I’ve been told,” I say, forcing patience into my voice. “That’s why I’m calling. I need you to remove that restriction.”

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“Well,” she says, “it looks like the restriction was placed by the primary account holder.”

“The what?”

“The primary account holder.”

I pause, feeling the words sink in. “There must be some mistake. It’s a joint account. There can’t be a primary account

holder.”

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Chapter 180

“Yes,” she agrees. “It is a joint account, but in some cases, joint accounts are set up with a primary and secondary holder for security reasons.”

“And which am I? Primary or secondary?”

“You’re listed as the secondary holder, Mrs. O’Brien,” she says.

“He can’t get away with this,” I whisper to myself. That was my money, my life savings-my future. I was there for every long nour, every sacrifice, every drop of sweat, and he swoops in and locks me out of the one thing I have left. It’s a new level of cruelty, even for him.

I pull out my phone, pressing the screen so hard I almost crack it, my thumb hovering over his name in my contacts. Lord, help me; I’m ready to rain down hell on Ryan O’Brien.

But then I freeze.

20:20 Mon, 30 Jun m N

Chapter 180

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This is what he wants. He wants me to call him, to admit defeat, to let him know I’m nothing without him, just as he said. He’s waiting, grinning wherever he is, imagining me calling and begging for scraps like a dog at his feet. And I’ll be damned if I give him that satisfaction.

With a deep breath, I pull my thumb away and lock the screen, burying the phone in my fist.

We’ll settle this in court, Ryan O’Brien.

I glance around the empty street, wondering who’s left to call-who’s left that I can turn to now that Ryan has shattered every piece of my life. My thumb hovers again, and I scroll through my contacts, names flying by in a blur. I stop when I see it: Luke.

It’s late. He’s the last person I should be calling, but he’s also the only one who’s ever shown up when I needed someone, no questions asked. I press “Call” and listen as it rings, each tone dragging out longer, echoing against the night. I’m about to hang up, cursing myself for even trying, when he picks up.

“Julie.” His voice is breathless, like he’s been running. “What’s wrong?”

I pause, my throat tight. “Sorry for calling so late. I’m… kind of in the middle of nowhere, stranded. And I don’t know what else to do.” A beat of silence follows before I say it. “Actually, Luke, I’m homeless.”