13. Emery
THIRTEEN
EMERY
Darkness reigned in the room.
Thick, soggy, and disorienting.
I stared blankly at the nothingness of the ceiling, barely able to make out its form in the night. Exhaustion weighed me down, my back pinned to the mattress, but it didn’t matter how tired I was, how hard I squeezed my eyes closed and begged for sleep, it wouldn’t come.
My mother’s soft snores echoed in the room, and Maci’s sweet breaths were panting into my arm where she lay at my side, snuggled up with her blanket and doll.
Locks of her hair tickled my skin where it was splayed wildly around her.
She’d decided she wanted to sleep with me tonight.
Every night , she’d said with her adorable, gut-wrenching grin.
Now, I lay there listening to the rhythm of their sleep.
I willed myself to follow it, but I couldn’t find the respite I was aching for.
Blowing out a hushed sigh, I carefully slipped out from beneath the covers, unplugged my phone from the charger where it sat on the nightstand, then crept out into the living area of our suite.
The window that overlooked Culberry Street was wide open, the drapes pushed all the way back to the sleeping town below.
I went to the mini-fridge and grabbed a bottle of water, undid the cap, and guzzled half of it down, hoping it might stand to cool this raging inferno inside me.
No such luck.
We were scheduled to be in Moonlit Ridge until Monday, day after tomorrow.
I’d had the urge to pack our things and run the second I’d gotten back from the altercation with Kane earlier this afternoon, but somehow, I’d managed to keep my cool and spend the afternoon playing with Maci as if nothing had happened.
But I’d been wrought with anxiety the entire day.
The same way as I was then.
I paced in it, wandering the room, as if it could assuage the turbulence.
Seeking a distraction, I thumbed into my phone.
I frowned when I noticed I had a text notification. One that hadn’t been there when I’d attempted to go to sleep at eleven.
I swiped into my messages, and the twines of that complexity only tightened further when I saw it.
Winding.
Constricting.
Confounding and terrifying.
It was from two hours ago. At about twelve-thirty.
Unknown
I want to meet her.
Dread sank to the pit of my stomach, and a cold sweat broke out on my skin. My head began to whir, spinning through the muddle that instantly dragged me into a pit of despair.
I replied with the first thing that rose to the surface.
Me
How the hell did you get my number?
It was almost three in the morning, so I really shouldn’t have expected a reply, but somehow, I wasn’t surprised when dots popped up that he was typing.
Unknown
I have my ways.
Another one of those warnings. Warnings I’d ignored or maybe had been attracted to. One that Kane Asher likely issued with one of those mind-altering grins.
Another text blipped through.
Unknown
It’s not that hard to find someone’s number, Emery. Don’t spin out on me over it.
Was he serious? Don’t spin out on him? When he had figured out who I was and come to my hotel? When he took the effort to find my phone number, which I wasn’t so convinced was readily available, anyway?
But I didn’t have time to contemplate it. What really mattered was my response. How I was going to protect Maci from him.
Me
I already told you I have her. You don’t need to worry or feel guilty. Like you said, she’s four. You shouldn’t be expected to suddenly be a part of her life. It’s not fair to either of you.
His response was almost instant.
Unknown
She’s my daughter.
My spirit flailed. I could almost hear the crack in his voice. A whip that blistered through the atmosphere.
Another text came through before I had the chance to respond.
Unknown
I want to see her. I have the right to.
Me
You didn’t even know she existed before today.
Unknown
But I do now, and that changes everything.
A beat passed before another text popped up.
Unknown
You came to me, Emery. You showed me what I should have been shown a long time ago.
Unknown
I just want to see her. Meet her. Then you can leave like I know you’re planning to do.
I pressed my trembling fingertips to my temple, trying to squelch the shearing pain that suddenly cut through. Piercing and sharp. The fear that lancinated.
But this was what we’d come here to do.
Honor my sister’s wishes.
I could barely type out the response, one I prayed I wouldn’t regret making.
Me
Okay. We’re taking her to the little downtown park by the lake at noon tomorrow. She doesn’t know who you are, so please don’t confuse her any more than she already is.
Unknown
I’ll be there.
I wavered, trying to come to terms. The only thing I could come up with was trying to dissuade him.
Me
You don’t have to do this.
Unknown
Yeah, I do.
I stared at the phone for the longest time before I sighed out in surrender.
Me
Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow.
I hesitated, tongue stroking out across my dried lips before I clicked on his number and added him to my contacts. Deadly Dragon.
Because I was afraid this man might be the end of me.