Remnants of Riley

Chapter 19

“What do you mean, you sold my car for parts?” I ask angrily into the phone. Then, more gently, add, “Last we spoke, you were ordering a replacement engine for it.”

I’d just clocked into work and sat down at my desk when the shop working on my car finally called me back. I’d been calling and leaving voice messages since Monday, and they’re only now getting back to me three days later.

“We were told not to repair it, ma’am, and to send you a check for whatever we could get for it,” the man on the other end of the line explains.

“I never said that!” This has to be a joke, because I can not afford a new car right now. Or maybe they have me confused with another customer. “Do you remember who told you not to do the repair?”

“Emmett Raythorne, ma’am. We just sent your check out this morning. You should have it in a few days.”

I mumble a quick ‘thank you’ and end the call, though I’m not sure what I’m thanking them for. I’m absolutely fuming that Emmett would do something like this. I was already upset with him after everything that happened last weekend, and now he sells my car?

Screw him. He doesn’t get to toy with me like this.

I was stupid Saturday night, letting him tease me like he did during the party, getting me so worked up for him and then finally sleeping with him. It’s like I can’t control myself around him. My body does what it wants, much to the dismay of my mind and my heart.

It’s pathetic. I’m pathetic.

For a second there, when he carried me to the bathtub afterwards, I’d thought maybe he was really starting to care for me. That this was more than just sex to him. He’d been so sweet and gentle after such rough sex. It had filled me with hope.

It was the first time since Trevor that I thought maybe I could open myself up to someone again. That I could let someone love me and I could return it. That maybe my heart and mind weren’t so broken after all. But Emmett quickly shot that hope down and trampled over my heart in the process.

He had made it clear this was about him. About him winning and owning and being in control. My needs didn’t matter.

And he further confirmed that when I woke up to an empty bed Sunday morning, and a text message saying that he had to go out of town again.

He could have at least come up with a better excuse for leaving me. Something believable.

I wasn’t prepared for how much that would hurt. And it did. It hurt like hell waking up by myself that morning. Because for the third time now, he made me feel cheap. He made me feel like what I wanted didn’t matter. He made me feel like I was just there for him to use and discard as he pleases.

And the real kicker? Somewhere along the way, against my better judgment, I had started getting feelings for him. But he took them and used them to his advantage and then threw them aside. Just like he did my body.

But he’s gone too far this time. Because now not only is he messing with my feelings, but he’s messing with my livelihood. If I don’t get a car sorted out, I have no doubt Adam will fire me. He’ll only be but so flexible with my teleworking.

Using all the anger and hurt that’s been simmering in me all week as fuel, I call Emmett.

“Hey, baby,” he answers after the first ring.

“You sold my car?!” I seethe. And how dare he call me ‘baby’. He doesn’t get to talk to me like that after he fucked me and then dropped off the face of the earth. “And don’t call me that.”

He chuckles on the other end of the line. Chuckles.

“We’ll discuss this in person, baby. I’m on my way over.”

“What? Why? Don’t you dare show up at—”

“I have a meeting with Adam,” he interrupts, his voice serious and all business now. “I’ll be there in twenty.”

And then he hangs up.

I toss my phone into my purse like it personally offended me.

Pulling up Adam’s work calendar, I don’t see Emmett on it anywhere. I check all the other partners’ calendars, too, in case it was put on the wrong one. Again, nothing. Getting up from my desk, I smooth out my skirt and walk up to Adam’s office, knocking on his open door before stepping inside.

“Riley,” he says, a hint of annoyance in his voice as he looks up from his laptop. I guess we’re back to being less than friendly at work.

“Emmett, ugh, Mr. Raythorne, just called and said he’s on his way over. I didn’t see him on your schedule, though?” Maybe it’s an unplanned visit and Adam will tell him to schedule and come back another day. I can only hope.

Adam lets out a sigh. “He called me last night saying he’d be coming by this morning. It was last minute. Just send him up when he gets here.” With that, he gives me a dismissive wave of his hand and I head back downstairs.

On the way to my desk, I make a detour and swing by the breakroom to make myself a coffee. I swear I’m becoming an addict. My commute has me getting up so much earlier that I basically rely on the caffeine to get going in the mornings.

Carrying my steaming hot mug to my desk, I try to force myself to work and not think about Emmett. I fail miserably.

I just can’t believe he went behind my back and got rid of my car. And didn’t even bother to say anything.

I close out of my work email, and instead start searching for used cars for sale near me. I’m busy adjusting search filters of a popular used car site when the front door opens and the root of all my problems strolls through the door.

Ugh, why does he have to be so gorgeous? Something about seeing him in a suit, with his dark hair styled and his clothes all pressed and crisp, is even sexier now that I’ve seen what’s underneath. His clothes do nothing to hide all that firm, rippling muscle on his body.

But then I remember that I’m pissed at him. “You sold my car,” I snap in greeting. “I can’t afford a new one, Emmett.”

“You don’t need a new one,” he responds, coming over to my desk and resting his forearms against the raised ledge.

It looks like he hasn’t shaved since I last saw him, his short beard somehow making him even more attractive. His gaze drops to my chest, taking in the low-cut blouse I’m wearing today. Something flashes in his eyes, but it’s gone just as quick.

“And how am I supposed to get to work, then? Or do anything, for that matter?” I reply, standing up so we’re eye level and hoping it makes me appear more formidable. “Did you forget I live in the middle of nowhere now? I can’t exactly Uber where I need to go.”

“The Audi. Keep it,” he says simply, like I should know this is the solution already.

“I’m not keeping your car.”

“And you’re not getting your piece of shit car back. It wasn’t safe, Riley. So keep the Audi.”

I glare at him, then before I can stop myself, the words spill from my lips. “Why did you leave me Saturday night?”

He looks at me, his eyes narrowing to slits like he’s trying to piece together a puzzle, before saying, “Like I already told you, I had to go out of town.”

“So you sneak away in the middle of the night?” I can’t help the moisture that finds its way to my eyes, but I refuse to let it fall. I can’t decide right now if I’m more upset with him about my car, or him leaving me last weekend after I specifically asked him not to.

He rounds my desk to stand in front of me, tucking my hair behind my ear. “I stayed as long as I could.”

I fight the urge to lean into him, wanting so badly to believe him, but I turn away. “I’ll show you to Adam’s office,” I say, forcing my voice to remain steady and sidestepping him to head toward the stairs. I can’t look at him. I can’t be that close to him right now. Because I don’t know if I trust him.

He silently follows me up the stairs, and I lead him to Adam’s office, not saying another word as I show him inside and then leave to return to my desk.

Ten minutes ago, I was pissed at Emmett, and that was easier to deal with than whatever it is I’m feeling right now. It’s like my life just continues spiraling out of my own control, and all of it centers around him.

He came crashing into my life like a wrecking ball, shattering all the pieces I’d been so carefully trying to put back together again. And I feel like I’m losing myself in the process.

After everything that happened with Trevor, I vowed I’d never let another man control me like that again. Yet here I am, losing myself to Emmett. But the worst part of it all? I feel just as relieved as I do angry about it.

The conflicting emotions swirling in my gut give me a sick feeling. I’m upset that he thinks he can just stroll into my life and start taking over like he has the right to. And I’m relieved, because he takes the stress and the burden off of my shoulders.

But I can’t trust him. He could walk out at any minute like this–whatever this is–was nothing. Like I was nothing.

No, I can’t afford to let myself succumb to him. I can’t give someone that kind of power over me again. Because inevitably, they’ll twist it and use it and I’ll be the one who suffers.

Squaring my shoulders, I try to rally more strength than I’m actually feeling. I think a small part of me will always be that quiet, demure girl I’ve been my entire life. The girl that runs from her issues and would rather hide than fight. But the least I can do right now is put on a brave face until Emmett leaves the office.

Wiggling my mouse, I bring my computer back to life and begin searching for used Audi’s online, trying to figure out what Emmett’s car is worth. Maybe I can work out a plan to pay him for it over the next couple of years. That way, it’s not like he gave me a car, and I won’t feel like I owe him anything.

I scroll through the pages of results and let out a groan. I would never spend this much on a new car and I already know it’s going to take me forever to pay him back for it, even with the cash my other car fetched for parts.

I’m just about to resign myself to refusing his car and traveling by horse and buggy when my office phone buzzes. It’s Adam.

I pick up the phone slowly, as though maybe he’ll go away and I won’t have to answer. “Yes, sir?” I ask, when I finally bring it to my ear.

“Come up to my office,” he demands. “Mr. Raythorne would like to see you.” He hangs up the phone without giving me a chance to respond.

I pause, phone still to my ear. What on earth could Emmett want with me in Adam’s office?

Unease flitters through my stomach as I climb the stairs for the third time this morning. When I walk up to Adam’s office, his door is still open, with him seated behind his desk looking pissed, and Emmett casually lounging in a chair on the opposite side, legs splayed wide like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

“Have a seat, Riley,” Adam says, gesturing to the chair beside Emmett.

I sit, glancing between the two of them, trying to decipher what’s going on here. Emmett winks at me, to which Adam responds with a sigh.

“She’s not going to go for this.” Adam rubs at his jaw, clearly frustrated. “And I won’t, either.”

Emmett leans forward in his chair, bringing his elbows to his knees. “That’d be stupid on your part, Adam. I’m offering you more than those properties are actually worth. We both know that.” He glances at me before resuming. “Not to mention, I’m sure your clients are going to start asking questions soon. About where their money went. How are you going to explain to them you lost it all, and then turned down an opportunity to get bailed out?”

I clear my throat, getting both of their attention. “I don’t understand what this has to do with me?”

“Maybe you should tell her the other part of your offer,” Adam says with a bitterness to his voice. He leans back in his chair, crossing his arms as he waits.

Emmett turns toward me and shrugs. “You leave Wright and Co. and come work for me.”

My blood turns to ice.

He doesn’t get to do this. It’s not up to him where I work or what I do with my life. How dare he try to include me in his deal, like I”m something to be traded or bought.

“No.” I stand up from my chair, fists clenched at my sides so hard that my fingernails dig into my palms. Emmett looks up at me, amusement in his eyes, but I refuse to look at him, instead turning toward Adam. “I’m happy with my job here.”

“I told you,” Adam says, rubbing his fingers across his forehead. “Full price. Riley’s off the table. Take it or leave it.”

Emmett grunts. “I really don’t know how you got to where you have, Adam. Because your decision making and negotiation abilities are shit.”

I stare wide-eyed at Emmett. Did he really just say that to my boss?

“Come back to me when you have an offer worth negotiating, then we’ll talk,” Adam responds, not the least bit flustered by Emmett’s tone. “Show him out please, Riley.”

With a quick dip of my chin, I turn and walk out of Adam’s office, Emmett hot on my heels. When we reach the front lobby, he reaches out and grabs my arm, halting me in my tracks.

I whirl on him, my anger reaching a snapping point. “How dare you!”

“You upset, baby?” he asks, a tilt to his lips that only further enrages me.

“You have no right to try to force me to leave my job.” I stab him in the chest with my finger, as though maybe I can literally drill what I’m saying into his thick skull. “Just like you had no right to sell my car, or to mess with me the way you have been!”

He grabs my finger that’s still pushing against his chest. “I have every right to do what’s best for what’s mine,” he states matter-of-factly.

“I’m not yours!” I rip my hand from his grasp. “Whatever this is between us,” I wave my hand between the two of us, “it’s done, Emmett. I’m not playing your games anymore.” I stomp over to my desk and grab his car keys from my purse, tossing them at him. “So take your car back and just leave me the hell alone.”

He catches the keys, staring at them in his hand for a moment. Maybe it’s finally sinking in for him that he can’t control me. He’s not getting his way this time. I refuse.

But then he looks up, a dark smirk on his face and eyes twinkling as he prowls toward me. “Let’s get one thing clear, Riley.” His voice is cold, calm. Too calm. “I don’t give a fuck if I have to fight you every step of the way, but I’ll never leave you alone. I take care of what’s mine. And the sooner you accept that you are, in fact, mine, the sooner we can move past the temper tantrums and petty bullshit.”

My mouth drops open at his words. “No,” I whisper in a weak protest, like my brain doesn’t want to acknowledge that he’s somehow turning this around on me. Like it’s my fault we’re having this argument, rather than the fact that he’s basically trying to buy me–as though I was just another piece of property, bundled up nicely with a few apartments and office buildings.

But he just ignores it, a smug look on his face as he sets his car keys on my desk before heading toward the front door.

“See you later, baby,” he calls over his shoulder before disappearing through the door and down the street.

Riley:Can we go out tomorrow?

Tracy:Sure! Dinner?

Riley:No, like out out. To a club. I’m talking ‘let’s get wasted and forget everything’ out.

Tracy:Uh oh, something happened

Riley:Emmett happened. I’ll fill you in later

Tracy:Ok. And I know just the place. Dress slutty!

I close out of the tracking app and set my phone down on the table. I’m waiting for Jax and Blake to meet me for lunch, and I couldn’t resist checking to see if Riley did anything after I left this morning. I saw one outbound call to Tracy twenty minutes ago, and when I pulled up her text history, saw the messages between the two of them from earlier today, around the time I had left Riley’s office.

Making Riley squirm has become my new favorite thing, but I know I’m pushing her to her breaking point right now. It was clear in the way she looked at me this morning, with such animosity in her eyes, that she was not going to go along with what I had planned for her.

Not that what she wants will change anything. I meant what I said to her. I take care of what’s mine, and that’s exactly what Riley is: mine. So I”ll do whatever I need to do to make sure she’s taken care of. Even if that means forcing her to leave her job.

Because I won”t tolerate her working there any longer. Adam’s a creep, and he’s running his investment firm into the ground one bad decision at a time. His other partners would be smart to kick him out, but I get the feeling most of the poor decisions he’s made, he’s made on his own and kept secret from the others. So, if I have to bully my way into getting Riley to leave, then that’s fine with me.

Jax joins me first, grabbing the chair across from me at our table. “You get everything wrapped up with Gio?” he asks, grabbing his water to take a sip.

“For now,” I answer, just as the waitress brings me the whiskey I ordered. Jax orders himself a beer. “He’s cutting ties with the asshole he found to replace us. Apparently, the guy suddenly has a moral compass.”

Jax laughs. “You mean he doesn’t want to get neck deep in dirty money?” Then, more seriously adds, “How much did he know?”

“Enough.” I run a hand down my face. “Gio won’t let him walk away from this.”

Jax says nothing. We both know what that means. Once you’re privy to the details of Gio’s livelihood, there’s no backing out without his say so. The guy will probably be at the bottom of a river by morning. There’s too much at stake for Gio to let him walk and run the risk of him talking. Because even if he doesn’t know exactly how Gio makes his money, the fact that he knows it’s being laundered into real estate is enough to seal his fate.

“You ever wonder why he let us go?” Jax asks.

I’ve asked myself that very question more times than I can count. I could be na?ve, and believe that Gio cared about what we wanted, but it’d be incredibly foolish. We spent eighteen years working for him. We knew too much. And deep down, I think Gio has something bigger planned, and we’re going to find ourselves pulled back in.

I tell Jax as much. “He’s planning something. I don’t know what, but he wouldn’t let us move down here without it benefitting him somehow.”

“I think so, too,” Jax replies, as the waitress sets his beer in front of him. He loosens his tie a bit before adding, “My best guess? He’s going to set up operations in this area.”

Gio has three sons. Dario is the oldest. For as long as I’ve known him, Gio’s been grooming him to take over the family some day. Enzo, the middle son, was the one I worked closest with when procuring properties for them. He’s essentially the money man of the family. And Vince, the youngest, operates as his fixer. Hell, he’ll probably be the one throwing the body into the river tonight.

“Well, it’s a great place to expand,” I say, grabbing my own drink and considering Jax’s idea. “There isn’t exactly an abundance of morals around here. Gio could run the entire fucking gun scene here, and no one would bat an eye as long as they got their share.”

Jax flashes me a grin. “So, should we start looking at warehouses for him now or later?”

A laugh rumbles out of my chest. Leave it to Jax to make light of the fact that a fucking mob boss is probably going to force us to work for him again.

Not that he’d really have to do that much forcing. Jax was already way more separated from things than I was when we left New York. I think Gio would probably just let him go, as long as he still had me. And I don’t care what Gio asks me to do, as long as it keeps me here with Riley. I’ve got my name tied to so much dirty money at this point. What’s a little more?

Besides, Gio and I have always gotten along. I wouldn’t say we’re friends, but we have a mutual understanding and respect for each other. Which is why when he calls, I go running. Because if I ever needed a favor, I know he’d do the same.

“What’s up, guys?” Blake asks, dropping into the chair beside me. I hadn’t even noticed him approach.

“We’re going out tomorrow night,” I tell him, changing the topic before Jax can say anything. Blake knows I was involved in some shady shit in New York, but he doesn’t know the full extent of it. And it’s not something I want to pull him into.

Jax gives me an amused look. “Are we?”

“Yeah, Riley and Tracy are going,” I explain. I make sure to intentionally bring Tracy up too, knowing Blake won’t say no if she’ll be there. I don’t know what’s going on between the two of them, but it’s clear he’s got something for her.

“I’m down,” Blake says. Then adds, “Want me to invite Emery, Jax?”

I shoot my best friend a look. He hasn’t said anything to me about Emery. I know they spent some time together at Riley’s housewarming party, but beyond that, I didn’t realize they were still in contact.

Not that I tell him the details of Riley and me either.

“Sure,” Jax replies, shrugging like it’s no big deal. Which tells me that it is, in fact, a big deal. Jax doesn’t make plans with women. Much like me, he prefers a quick, easy hookup. But that was before Riley. And apparently, that was before Emery, too.

The three of us order our food and discuss construction plans for the apartments I’m still trying to acquire from Adam. Tentatively, we’ve got Blake’s brother, Skye, scheduled to go in and demo come early spring.

Once we wrap up lunch, I head to my car. I’ve got the closing for Congressman Whittmore’s estate this afternoon.

God, I can’t wait to finally be done with that asshole. Blake can deal with him from here on out. I’m honestly not sure he’s worth the government contract he’s promising. The guy’s shady as fuck, and I have no doubt he’ll try to get out of his deal with Blake as soon as a higher bidder comes along promising him more money.

Getting in my car, I pull my phone from my pocket and text Riley.

Me:Want to get dinner tomorrow and discuss what happened today?

Her response is immediate.

Riley:No

Me:Do you have other plans tomorrow?

It’s a trap. I want to know if she’ll lie to me. If she even graces me with a response at all. I’m about to put my phone away when her response pops up.

Riley:No. Just want to have a quiet night at home. Without you bothering me.

I stare down at my phone, a smile playing on my lips. My girl is a little liar. And she’ll be punished for that.

I can’t wait.