Chapter 39 #2
“You know what I just realized,” I said, my eye landing on the camera mounted in the corner of the living room. “This isn’t going to be very surprising if he happened to check the security cameras. I know he gets an alert when there’s motioned detected at the front door or the deck.”
Jae laughed softly again, “You’re right. I didn’t think of that.”
“He’s not going to be mad, right?”
“Mad? Why would he be mad?”
“You know, ‘cause of all the attention.”
“No way, it’s not like we invited half his squadron. It’s literally just us and Rick.”
My nose scrunched as I groaned.
The slider opened once more and I jumped. Rick gave us a strange look as he slowly closed the door behind him.
“Am I interrupting something?”
“No.” Jae said with a hint of confusion in his voice. As I studied Rick’s eyes on us, I realized he must be thinking Jae and I’s physical affection was odd. I shrugged Jae off and moved to the island to grab my water bottle.
Rick cleared his throat, pulling some burger buns from the paper grocery bag he’d brought.
“You got the condiments, right?”
Jae went to the fridge, pulling out a range of items that someone might want to put on their burger. I rolled my eyes at the kimchi he pulled out.
“I thought you’d be trying to ration it out,” I commented.
He shoved me playfully with a scowl. “Shut up.”
I laughed softly.
We all stilled at the sound of the alarm announcing that the front door was open.
“Hello?” Enoch called out, and I could hear the amusement in his voice.
I dropped my head with a sigh. “He knows.”
We all decided to remain silent and positioned ourselves in front of the island. As soon as Enoch’s head was visible through the banister, we shouted, “Surprise!”
Enoch smiled widely, chuckling, his eyes staying on mine for a long moment before bouncing over to Jae and Rick.
“Wow, wow. This is totally a complete surprise! I had no idea you were here,” he said with heavy sarcasm.
He rushed up the rest of the stairs, coming towards us, hugging Rick, then Jae and then his arms were circling my waist and his lips quickly pressed against mine. He pulled back, turning his body slightly towards them while keeping his arms around me.
“It smells great,” Nox said with a dramatic sniff, “what’s on the menu?”
“Oh!” Jae bounced animatedly, spinning away from the island to reveal the food behind us. “Rick grilled us up some burgers, I cut up some vegetables, for, you know, health. And Emory made her killer salsa.”
“Killer? Is it that spicy?” Rick asked dubiously.
I shook my head, sending Jae a glare for him dramatics. “No. I don’t think it’s too spicy, but everyone has a different spice tolerance,” I explained. “I can cut it with some olive oil if it’s too spicy though.”
“I just meant it’s really good,” Jae gushed.
Enoch smiled down at me, “You actually made it?” he asked with awe.
I rolled my eyes, “Of course. You said you wanted to try it.”
Enoch pecked my lips again before is eyes trailed to the cake. He leaned over slightly to read the writing on the top and he smirked.
“I love it. Thank you, seriously.”
“We’re all proud of you, Nox,” Rick said warmly.
Enoch cleared his throat, stepping back from me. “Alright, well since it’s my party, I’ll start serving myself first. I’m starving.”
“Yeah, yeah. Go ahead,” I ushered, rushing to grab a stack of plates from the cabinet. “Here.”
He smiled in thanks, and I searched his posture for signs that he was uncomfortable or displeased with the ‘party’ we’d planned, but he seemed relaxed and content. We all took a moment, filing through a line to serve ourselves.
Thankfully the side with the food wasn’t where the island seats were and we easily each took a chair, me between Jae and Enoch with Rick on Enoch’s left.
I found myself waiting and watching for Rick and Enoch’s reactions to the salsa, mostly Enoch’s though. I wanted him to like it. His eyes went wide and he chewed slowly, turning his face to look directly at me.
“You made this? Like for real?” he asked, once his mouth was empty.
I nodded, eyes bouncing between his as I waited for his verdict.
“It’s fucking bomb dot com, baby. Seriously. The best salsa I’ve ever had in my life.”
“Please, be for real right now,” I said with narrowed eyes. He was just being nice. There was no way it was that dramatically amazing.
He reached out, squeezing my thigh, “I’m serious. It’s literally the best salsa I’ve ever tasted. You’re going to regret having made this because now I’m going to request it weekly.”
He squeezed my thigh again and scooped more onto another tortilla chip before placing it into his mouth. He wagged his eyebrows. “So good.”
I rolled my eyes, smiling at the praise and resigned to accepting the fact that they did in fact like it.
“I was thinking…” I looked to Jae as I spoke and he paused midbite to glance at me from the corner of his eye. “That maybe it’s time we watched another K-drama.”
Jae swallowed roughly and skipped over my head to look at Enoch behind me. “Um…” His eyes met mine and he smiled. “That actually sounds really fun. Did you have one in mind?”
“No,” I shrugged, relieved he was game to watch it. “But I’m sure you’ll find something for us to watch.”
Jae smiled wider and nodded, “Yeah. For sure. I’ll find something after we finish eating. You want to watch an episode tonight?”
Jae looked back to Enoch for a response, and it was a moment before he said, “Yeah. Sounds great!”
I licked my lips, smiling to myself as I grabbed a baby carrot off my plate.
“How’s Marcus?” Enoch asked and my head jerked to the side to see that he was talking to Rick.
I released a breath, rolling my shoulders back to try to relieve the sudden tension in my body.
“Like he never broke his arm in the first place. It’s like a dang weapon now that he’s in the cast,” Rick laughed.
Enoch and Jae chuckled on either side of me.
“How’d he break his arm?” Jae asked.
I picked up my water bottle, chugging some down as I tried to stay focused on Rick’s response.
Hot breath against my ear sent a cool chill down my spine.
“At last. No Javier here to protect you now...unless you count his dead body.”
My hand jerked as I rubbed my shoulder against my ear in an attempt to remove the haunting feeling of him whispering in my ear.
“Shit,” I muttered, glancing down to find my lap and plate covered in water.
I felt eyes on me before a napkin appeared in my eyeline and Enoch’s hand began dapping at the water soaking my clothes, while Jae was catching the spill from the counter.
“You okay, baby?” Enoch asked in a concerned whisper, tilting his head up to meet my line of sight.
His brown eyes were suddenly darker, his brows thick and black, his skin brown and I realized I was looking at my brother’s lifeless face.
“I’ll put another bullet in his head if you bite me,” Peter grunted, shoving his cock so far down my throat I couldn’t breathe.
I choked around the memory, the heel of my palms digging into my eye sockets like if I permanently removed my eyeballs then maybe the memory would leave me, but it only made it worse.
Making my other senses heightened and the feeling of my damp shirt and leggings sending a wave of nausea surging through my stomach and sweat to break out across the back of my neck.
I swallowed harshly, pulling at my shirt as I stood and pushed back from the island.
“Emory?” Enoch asked, I could hear the concern in his voice.
I wanted to reply, tell him that I was fine, but my throat was blocked, air unable to pass through my mouth and into my lungs. Every second longer with these damp clothes was another second the past attempted to drag me under.
I moved, not really seeing as I rushed towards the bedroom to change.
The gunshot was loud and I jumped, hands coming up to my ears as I crouched. My heart raced so hard I was certain that it was going to give out.
“How does justice feel, Shiloh?” Carlos rasped.
I shuddered again, aggressively rubbing at my ear.
I ripped my hand from the grasp that was pulling it away from my head.
“Baby, stop. Just breathe. Talk to me.”
My entire body ached, my skin itched like it was too tight for my body and I just needed out. I needed it to stop. Everything to stop. I knew exactly how I could do it.
I pushed up from the floor, and once again Enoch reached for me, holding my hands in his. I tugged, but he held firm in his grasp.
“Let me go,” I pleaded.
Enoch frowned. “Sixteen days.”
My jaw clenched with anger at the reminder and I my focus strayed to Jae and Rick who were standing watching the scene I was making.
“Fuck,” I cursed, shaking my head.
“Sixteen days. Don’t give up now.”
I used my shoulder to scrub at my ear, the phantom feeling still there. I shivered against my wet clothes and my shirt stuck to my back. I stifled the urge to gag.
It’s just water. It’s not blood. It’s just water.
You’re fucking up his party.
Calm. The. Fuck. Down.
I sucked in a breath, forcing my shoulder to drop but the feeling of unease increased to a boiling point.
“I just need it to stop,” I implored.
Rick stepped up behind Enoch, a neutral expression on his face as he placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Why don’t I pray? It always helps me and it’s helped Nox. And then we’ll find a distraction until the impulse passes.”
Enoch nodded and I screamed in my head, foot tapping with nothing to do to release the energy coursing through me.
“Dear Heavenly Father—”
“Let the Holy Spirit fill you, let it wash over you like rain, cleansing all dark desires and sinful urges.”
“Stop! Just stop!” I growled with frustration. “I don’t need more prayers that will fall on deaf ears.”
“God is always listening, Emory.”
“Fuck that. Where was God all the times I’ve prayed then?”
Enoch squeezed my hands and I moved my eyes to his pained expression. “I know it doesn’t always feel like He’s there or listening, but He is.”