13. Emily
13
EMILY
My brain’s melted.
Not only is the library the same temperature as the sun, but my professor insisted on making the font on the handout as small as possible, so I now have a throbbing headache.
Maybe it’s time I get myself some glasses.
“Was it just me or was that the most boring topic ever?” Carla groans as we grab our bags.
We decided to study together in the library so we could share notes, but we spent most of the time struggling to read.
“Oh, no, it was. But maybe that’s because it was Professor Thornton.”
“Thank god we don’t have to have him next year.”
My stomach knots at the mention of my senior year.
I can’t believe how quickly college has gone, and soon, I’ll be thrown out into the real world. I thought by now I’d have some idea of what I want to do with my life, but the closer I get to graduation, the more confused I become.
“Wanna go for a drink to drown our sorrows?”
“I wish I could, but I have an exam tomorrow for my economics class I need to study for. I just wanted a quick break to grab some food.”
“I swear, you have so many exams.”
We head out of the library.
“It’s my own fault for majoring in both business and economics.”
The minute the late afternoon sun hits my face, I close my eyes and let the last of the evening rays warm my skin.
I wish I didn’t have more studying to do, otherwise I’d definitely be spending the rest of the day sitting in a park somewhere with a coffee and a good book.
But this exam tomorrow is going to be brutal, and I need all the help I can get.
Carla puts a hand on my arm. “Promise me that once exams are done, you’ll come out with me? We haven’t partied together since freshman year.”
“I think that’s an exaggeration.”
Carla is a party girl and while I’m no stranger to a frat party or two, I haven’t made a habit of turning them into a weekly occurrence like Carla has.
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
“Okay, good. Now, don’t study too hard.” She waves goodbye.
I let the sun warm my face for a few more moments before I start the short walk over to the burrito van that is parked across the street. As much as I would like to head home and change into my pajamas to study, it’s almost five, which means the twins will be at the overtired stage, and I do not have the energy to deal with their meltdowns while trying to memorize notecards.
Thankfully, exam season is almost over, so the library is practically empty.
Though, as I’m walking toward the main library in Washing Square after grabbing a quick burrito, the hair on the back of my neck stands up. The temperature is in the mid-seventies, so I’m by no means cold, which means only one thing.
Someone is following me.
I look over my shoulder and my skin prickles.
Is he here?
I glance around, but campus is emptying out after the last classes have just finished, so it’s hard to make out anyone incriminating-looking among the crowd of students.
Which means it’s all too easy for someone to follow me.
My heart rate spikes, and I clutch my phone to my chest.
Should I call Dimitri?
But what if it’s nothing? What if I’m just being paranoid?
I decide the safest option is to go back to the library, where I know there is a security guard that hangs around. At least that way, if I am being followed, whoever it is will be unlikely to make a move in broad daylight.
Maybe I should have taken Dimitri up on his offer of a bodyguard after all. At least it would have given me some peace of mind because now all I’m going to be able to focus on is the feeling of someone watching me rather than my exam.
I know it’s only a feeling, but it’s becoming more and more frequent, and I know it’s about time I told Zara and Dimitri before it’s too late. Maybe tonight is the night I finally come clean. But until then, I dart inside the library and decide to take a seat at one of the central tables, which are in full view of both the library staff and the other students, just to be on the safe side.
As I finish the final sentence on my practice exam paper, I toss my pen down and stretch my arms over my head. The hard plastic chair beneath me is doing nothing for my back, and my neck aches from hunching over my textbooks.
How long have I been here?
I check my phone and see that three hours have flown by, and I curse when I turn off the do not disturb and my screen is flooded with missed calls and messages from my sister asking me where the hell I am.
She knew I’d be staying after my lecture to study, but I promised I would be home by seven, which was over an hour ago.
I need to call Zara back before my sister sends out a search party. Or worse, our dad.
Quickly packing up my things, I throw my bag over my shoulder and head toward the library exit, tossing the foil wrapper from my dinner in the trash as I go.
Cell phones aren’t allowed in the main study area, so I don’t hit dial on Zara’s name until the exit doors are in sight.
My sister answers on the second ring.
“What the hell, Emily? I’ve been worried sick.”
“I’m so sorry, Zara. I was studying and lost track of time.”
“I thought you’d been kidnapped!”
I push open the heavy door with my shoulder. “Didn’t you track my phone? It would have shown you where I was.”
“You mean where your phone was? For all I know, you could have left it behind.”
“What’s the point of having a tracker on my phone if you don’t trust it?”
Zara is quiet for a moment, and I let out a sigh, knowing there is no point in fighting her.
“I’m literally heading out of the library now.”
“Dimitri sent a car to come and pick you up.”
“Of course he did.” I sigh. “It’s not even dark yet.”
“Emily…”
“All right! I’ll head to the parking lot, and I’ll message when I’m in the car.”
“Thank you.”
Outside the library, there are hardly any students hanging around. It’s at least a five-minute walk to the parking lot where my ride is, but my earlier fear of being watched immediately comes back the moment I start walking.
Am I really that paranoid?
Suddenly, a twig snaps behind me, and I jump.
I take it I am.
Without bothering to look over my shoulder, I dart into the bushes that surround the library and slip my bag off my shoulder. I figure the weight of the textbooks alone would be enough to knock someone out if I slung it at their head hard enough.
My heart pounds in my chest as I catch the sound of footsteps approaching.
A guy in a dark blue hoodie and cap comes into view, and I decide there and then to take back control.
I’m not going to live in fear because of some asshole.
So, before I can talk myself out of it, I grab my bag and jump to my feet.
“Help!” I scream at the top of my lungs as I swing my bag.
My aim is a little off, so I only clip his shoulder with my bag, but I use enough force that he loses his balance.
I turn my back for a second to see if anyone is around to help me, but a second is all it takes.
A hand is over my mouth, and the next thing I know, I’m on the ground looking up into the familiar eyes of Danil Koslov.
What the actual fuck?
“Calm the fuck down, would you?” He glances around nervously.
For a moment, I’m too stunned to speak.
Danil is the one who’s been following me?
“What the hell, Danil?” I push against his shoulders.
He backs off of me immediately, holding up his hands. He’s wearing a navy-blue hoodie and jeans with a matching baseball cap. If I hadn’t been so shocked that he just pinned me to the ground, I would be seriously shocked by his choice of outfit.
I’ve never seen Danil wear jeans.
I push my hair out of my face. “You have some fucking explaining to do. Why the hell are you stalking me?”
The way he rolls his eyes grates on my nerves.
He reaches to take off his cap and runs his fingers through his dark hair. “I’m not stalking you. Dimitri asked me to follow you.”
“Isn’t that the basic definition of stalking?”
“It was for your own safety.”
“My own safety ? What the hell are you talking about?”
But then it dawns on me.
He knows.
“I should have known that Zara and Dimitri wouldn’t keep this to themselves.” I climb to my feet and wipe the dirt off my legs. “What I didn’t expect was for you to lie to me.”
“I didn’t lie?—”
“How could you betray me like this, Danil? I thought we were friends.”
“Yeah, I thought so too,” Danil bites back as he gets to his feet. “So, why didn’t I hear it from you that some creep is stalking you?”
“It’s none of your damn business.”
A bitter laugh spills from Danil’s lips. I don’t think I’ve ever seen his eyes look so cold.
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve been dragged into this too, so it is my business.”
I glare at him.
“Well, I’m officially unmaking it your business, so please feel free to fuck the hell off.” I grab my bag off the floor and stalk away.
Surprisingly, Danil doesn’t follow me. But I’m glad. I’m honestly to hurt and upset to talk to him rationally.
How could he have known about my stalker all this time and not say anything?
I thought we were friends.
And I know this is a screwed-up way of looking at it, but I’m actually hurt.
Yes, I was hiding it from him. Yes, he has a right to feel hurt, too. What I was hiding wasn’t directly connected to him. It was my secret. Mine alone.
The fact that he was hiding this from me and his secret affects me too feels like a betrayal.
My heart aches as I arrive at my sister’s penthouse.
Not only has my best friend betrayed me, but so has my sister. She promised that she wouldn’t tell Dimitri. That she would keep it to herself, and only ask for the security system, and yet she broke that promise all too easily.
Is there anyone left I can trust?
As I step out of the elevator, Danil is already there, waiting for me. But before he has a chance to say anything, I storm straight past him as if I didn’t even see him.
Once upon a time, I would have given anything to talk to him, to hear his laugh or watch his eyes crinkle as he smiled.
Now, the sight of him makes me sick to my stomach.
“You can call off your watchdog,” I snap at Dimitri, who’s pouring himself a drink, as I cross the living area. “I don’t want or need a bodyguard.”
Especially one who has no interest in me.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt so humiliated, and the fact that Danil kissed me only makes me feel worse.
Was he feeling guilty about keeping this secret from me? Is that why he did it?
I swear, if he kissed me out of pity, my heart may just shatter into a thousand pieces.
“I’m going to bed.”
Dimitri sets his glass down on the bar cart and walks toward me. “Emily, wait. I need to talk to you.”
“I’m not in the mood, Dimitri.”
Danil steps toward us. “Emily.”
The sound of my name on his lips has my eyes stinging with tears.
How could he have lied to me like this? I thought we were friends.
Dimitri moves to stand in front of the staircase so I can’t get past. “You have to understand the danger you are in.”
“I’m well aware.” I try to hold back my tears.
The last thing I want is for Danil to see me cry.
Dimitri crosses his arms over his chest. “I don’t think you are. Igor is the one behind your attempted kidnapping.”
A heavyweight settles in my stomach, all the air leaving my lungs.
“What?”
A deep crease appears between Dimitri’s eyebrows. “He saw your name on the list at that party and decided it would be a fun little game to mess with you. This is bigger than just you now, Emily. This involves the entire family.”
“I never… Fuck, why did I go to that party?”
If something happens to Zara, or to the twins, or any other member of the Koslov family because of my stupid mistake, I’ll never forgive myself.
He glances over my shoulder at where Danil is still standing by the elevator. “It’s why I had no choice but to tell Danil. After you refused to have a bodyguard, I needed to make sure we had eyes on you at all times, and seeing as Danil hangs out with you already, it wouldn’t seem too out of the ordinary if you accidentally caught sight of him.”
Dimitri does have a point. But that doesn’t mean I’m less pissed about it.
“So, what now?”
“My brothers and I are trying to track down the man who tried to kidnap you.”
“And Igor?”
“I’m having my PI see if he can catch wind of any other plans he might have to get close to you. Which is why I need Danil to continue to keep an eye on you. I can’t have you roaming the streets unprotected.”
As much as I hate the idea of Danil following me, I hate the idea of being out there unprotected while Igor Ivanov is looking for me even more.
“Fine.”
Dimitri nods. “I appreciate your cooperation.”
“But I want to make one thing very clear.” As I look into Danil’s dark brown eyes, I feel as if someone has reached into my chest and pulled out my heart. “You are not to ever talk to me again.”
I storm up the stairs before he catches sight of the tears now streaming down my cheeks.