Chapter 21
W eeks flew by in a whirlwind. September turned into October and as the beginning of hockey season approached, everyone was getting busier. With Becca’s due date rapidly approaching, they tried to have a routine in place so her absence wouldn’t be as acute. Emilie and Chains were at the club six days a week, sometimes working all night and other times only going in for a few hours in the afternoon. She was training him to manage if she and Becca were both out, and he and Joe coordinated security duties so their jobs were somewhat interchangeable. Joe knew enough about the club to help manage in an emergency and most days the club practically ran itself .
Emilie was finished early today because she and Chains had a romantic evening planned. The club was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so Mondays were usually paperwork days and no one went in at all on Tuesdays. Hockey season officially started on Wednesday, so this was almost like a last hurrah for the end of their summer. They had reservations for dinner at a new restaurant that was getting rave reviews and then they were spending the night at a hotel. They rarely had much privacy with so many people in the house, so Chains thought of this as a way for them to spend some quality time together .
Overall, things were going well between them. She’d worried that between them living and working together, they would tire of each other, but they’d found a rhythm that worked. Chains functioned on less sleep than anyone she’d ever met and no matter how late they got to sleep, he was up fairly early so he worked out with Jamie, Viggo and whoever else was around. He’d spent a lot of time helping Jamie get back in shape earlier in the summer, and now he was pushing him even harder because Jamie desperately wanted to be ready for hockey the moment his wrist was properly healed. Chains did that five days a week, so Emilie used the time to catch up on her rest and spend time with Simone. Because of how much time they spent together, they also made sure to spend time with friends. Chains and Dante enjoyed MMA fights and would go to any that were happening in Las Vegas. Emilie made sure she had lunch with Becca and/or Kate every few weeks and she and Kate had thrown a huge baby shower for Becca just last weekend .
So Chains and Emilie were really looking forward to a romantic evening alone. She locked up the club, set the alarm and headed out to her car. It was only 2:30 so she had time to take a nap, shower and get ready for an evening out. She couldn’t wait to dress up and see Chains in a suit. He’d never worn one to her knowledge and it had become a game with them, with him promising he’d wear one but he’d surprise her with it. Unfortunately, Jamie couldn’t keep a secret to save his life and he’d let it slip that Dante had taken Chains to buy a suit and was going to encourage him to order a tuxedo as well. Jamie had turned bright red the moment it slipped out, but Emilie was too excited to be upset and promised not to let on she knew .
The hair stood up on her arms as she approached her car; something was off. She hesitated, her hand instantly going to her phone as she looked around. Something was different and she couldn’t immediately tell what it was. Because Chains had drummed it into her to always trust her gut, especially now that they were together, she called him .
“Hello, love.” He answered right away .
“I don’t know why, but I’m out in the parking lot and afraid to go to my car .”
“What is it ?”
“I don’t know!” She let out a halfhearted laugh. “Maybe I’m being silly but you said to trust my gut and…” She swallowed as she zeroed in on the back of the SUV. “The hatch isn’t closed. It’s down, but I can see now that it’s open .”
“Walk across the street to the burger place,” he said firmly. “I’m on my way! Do not approach, Emilie! I don’t care if you did it yourself and forgot—I’d rather be safe than sorry. You understand ?”
“Yes, I’m walking across the street .”
“Five minutes!” He disconnected .
S tanding in the doorway of the fast food restaurant across the street, Emilie saw Chains screech into the parking lot of the club four minutes later. She watched him and Dante get out of his car and slowly approach her SUV. Chains pulled something out of his pocket and she winced when she realized it was a gun. Could someone really have just now decided to come after him? She was furious and terrified at the same time and started walking across the street when Chains stuck the gun back in his waistband and began talking to Dante. He looked up as she approached, his mouth stretched into a thin line .
“What is it?” she asked, looking at him worriedly .
“It’s just some vandalism,” he said quietly. “Why don’t you take my car home and Dante and I will clean it up and file the police report .”
She narrowed her eyes. “You realize this is the first time I’ve caught you in a lie ?”
He scowled. “ Em …”
“Don’t ‘Em’ me!” She brushed past him. “What’s in the fucking car?” She looked inside and blanched. A skinned cat’s bloody carcass had been set amongst the random items she kept in the back, with a note attached that read, “THIS IS JUST A HINT OF WHAT I’M GOING TO DO TO THE PUSSY YOU’VE BEEN SHAGGING .”
“Is this someone who doesn’t approve of us being together?” she asked, trying to keep her voice even. “Or related to what happened at your mum’s? Or something else ?”
“I don’t know.” Chains’ jaw was set, his eyes hard, the vein in his neck twitching .
“Do you want to call the police?” Dante asked .
“No!” Chains was furious .
“Yes!” Emilie spoke at the same time .
“We should call Joe,” Dante said .
“You should go home,” Chains said gently, pulling Emilie against him, one hand on her face. “Let us take care of the car. Go nap and then get ready for tonight, yeah ?”
She looked up worriedly. “We’re still going ?”
“Of course.” His mind was already thinking ahead, though, and he was going to take the financial hit by not cancelling his reservation and simply making another one. All their friends knew where they were going tonight, and if someone was double-crossing him, he wouldn’t allow them such easy access .
“Go on,” Dante encouraged her. “We’ll take care of this .”
“Go right home, yeah?” Chains gripped her chin. “Don’t stop at the store or anything. Make sure you set the alarm when you’re inside the house .”
“But—”
“Please?” He put a tender hand on the tiny bump in her abdomen. “If not for me, for the baby .”
“All right.” She took his keys. “You’ll come home when you’re done? If you’re going to be a while, please text so I don’t worry .”
“Promise.”
T hough everything was delicious, the incident with the car put a damper on their romantic evening and Emilie could see how much it had upset Chains. His shoulders were tight—even in his magnificent, new Brooks Brothers suit—and though he laughed and smiled, it never reached his eyes. He seemed to be on alert, constantly assessing the room and its occupants. Finally, after they’d had dessert, Emilie put her hand over his and waited for him to look at her .
“I know you’re upset about what happened today,” she said softly. “But why are we out if you’re not paying attention to me? We could have done that for free at home. And I wouldn’t be wearing these stupidly high heels that are killing my feet .”
He grimaced. “I’m sorry, love .”
“Do you want to go home ?”
“No. We’re checked in to a hotel under one of Dante’s aliases and I’ve already got the key and had our bag delivered. No one knows where we’ll be except Dante and Becca, and they know not to tell anyone, not even Viggo and Jamie .”
She could practically see him emotionally distancing himself and she knew if she didn’t do something quickly, she would lose him. It wasn’t the way she’d wanted this to go, but she wasn’t sure what else to do. “Chains? Do you love me ?”
His head snapped to attention and he met her gaze. “ What ?”
“You heard me. Do you love me?” She didn’t say anything else, letting her question sink in and watching the emotions flit across his face .
“Sweetheart, I…” He broke off, unable to answer, so many things running through his mind he wasn’t sure what to say .
“Either you do or you don’t .”
“Do you love me?” he countered, stalling for time and trying to get his emotions under control .
“Yes.” She smiled .
“Emilie.” He gripped her hand and brought it to his lips, gently caressing the skin as he kissed it, his eyes never leaving hers. “You weren’t supposed to steal my thunder .”
She blinked. “Wh- what ?”
“I was supposed to say it first. Now you’ve put me on the spot .”
“You can say the words later—just answer yes or no .”
He scowled. “Seriously? Did I not just answer you ?”
“Then stop thinking about which island in the South Pacific we can run off to and hide on. Stop thinking about what it would take for you to leave. Stop ending us before we’ve even said I love you. I’m not going anywhere. If someone is going to come after me, show me how to protect myself. Tell me where a safe house is. Give me some secret number you punch into a phone that signals the MI6 bat cave, which immediately summons help. Let’s come up with a code so if someone kidnaps me and allows me a phone call, I can give you a signal of some sort… Help me learn what I need to know so I can stand by your side. Because if you leave me now, not only will I never recover, I’ll hunt you down and tie off your nuts until they turn blue.” She didn’t blink the entire time she was talking and Chains could only smile .
“As far as I know,” he said, caressing her palm with his thumb, “MI6 doesn’t have a bat cave.” Though he wasn’t letting it show, this woman had just yanked his soul from his body and put it somewhere he would never find it. Her words moved him like nothing else ever had. Her blind devotion was perhaps a bit na?ve, but the fact she’d obviously thought about this and knew they needed a plan affected him in a way he wasn’t prepared for. He did love her, but he hadn’t been planning to say the words tonight or anytime soon; he’d thought it was best to wait, see what happened. Fate wasn’t going along with his plan, however, and though she’d forced his hand now, it suddenly didn’t bother him in the least .
“You can’t run away,” she reminded him. “We both know how well that worked for me .”
“But you were running from a ghost,” he countered. “The shit in my past is a real threat .”
“We don’t know what it is and after Jamie’s attack, I don’t put anything past people. They’re ugly and judgmental and condescending. I’m carrying a baby for my gay ex-husband’s lover—in crude, generic terms—and anyone who frequents the club could have heard us talking. This could be about Jamie; he certainly hasn’t kept his excitement about the baby a secret and there are surely any number of homophobic players around the NHL who might not approve of our… relationship ?”
He nodded, grudgingly admitting she was right since the threat seemed to be as insulting to Emilie as it was a warning to him. “You’re right about that. Matt Forbes certainly wasn’t pleased to find out he was being traded right after training camp.” Matt was the only one of Viggo and Jamie’s teammates on the Sidewinders who’d been openly antagonistic towards them and made it clear he didn’t approve of their lifestyle. He’d also made disparaging remarks about a woman another teammate was dating, and that had been all it took for team management to decide to trade him .
“So instead of thinking about leaving, why not devote that energy to helping me protect myself and teaching me what I need to know so maybe I could protect you. Not physically, of course, but with the kind of information that would give me an advantage. I won’t be pregnant forever and I’m tougher than you think .”
“I don’t ever underestimate your toughness,” he chuckled. “You about broke me on the St. Andrew’s cross.” He was exaggerating, but only a little. He’d agreed to let her do anything she wanted to him one evening and she’d pushed him hard. It had been exciting as hell, though, and the sex they’d had afterwards had been intense. He looked forward to repaying the favor when she was no longer pregnant and back in shape, but that wouldn’t be for a while. They’d agreed to keep the kink in their relationship limited to occasional private moments at the club and to tamer endeavors at home like bondage and spanking. It seemed neither of them craved the hardcore BDSM lifestyle now that they were together, and it was working out well .
“Can we go to the hotel now?” she whispered. “It scares me when you pull away like this and I need you to hold me .”
“Absolutely.” He motioned to the waiter .