Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Skimming through a catalogue and circling items that I want to stock is a part of my job that I love the most. It’s been a quiet day in the store, but the lead-up to prom means I know the busy season is fast-approaching.
Staying on top of the latest fashion trends is a must. Like I said, I love it, though. It’s what I’ve missed about the pageant world after I left. The dresses, the glamor. That shine was only disguising the monstrosities underneath it all…
I shake my head, trying to get those memories out of my mind.
“Oh, that’s hot,” Amy says, peering over my shoulder and pointing to a black evening gown I just circled in red pen.
“It really is,” I agree.
It’s been good to be back at work, back to my normal life.
Well, as normal as it can be when you have a member of the De La Sangre Cartel following you around whenever you leave your house.
I do my best to pretend he’s not there. Enrique.
That’s who Emmanuel says he is, anyway. I’ve never spoken to the guy. Personally, I like Paz better.
My head pops up when the bell on the door jingles and a very tired-looking Rachel walks into the store, still wearing her scrubs.
“Hey, I didn’t know you were stopping in today.” I drop the red pen onto the counter and walk around. My arms pulling my friend into a tight hug.
“I came to see how you were doing,” she says.
I squint at her. “Did Emmanuel send you?”
“No.” She laughs. “I don’t need your boyfriend to tell me how to be a good friend.”
“Not my boyfriend. But thank you. I’m fine.” I turn as I say this because she will know I’m anything but fine. I miss him. I don’t want to, and a part of me hates myself for it, but I want to see him. I want his arms wrapped around me. I want his lips on mine.
“Sure. You got time for lunch?” Rachel asks.
“Ah, I shouldn’t.” I look around the empty store.
“Go. It’s quiet. I’ll be fine here,” Amy tells me with a smile on her face.
“Are you sure? I’ve left you alone so much lately,” I ask her.
“I’m sure. I’ve got this.” She nods.
“Okay. Call me if anything comes up. Anything at all.”
After getting my purse and phone from behind the counter, I follow Rachel out of the store. We walk arm in arm down the quiet street. Neither of us needs to tell the other where we want to go for lunch because we have our favorite little diner just around the corner.
I turn and glance over a shoulder. Enrique is exactly five paces behind us. “You know he’s kinda hot, in that look but don’t touch way,” Rachel whispers.
“Who is?” I ask her.
“The bodyguard who’s following us.” She smirks.
“Look but don’t touch. Where was that advice when I met Emmanuel? I could have saved myself a lot of heartache.” I sigh.
“Pretty sure Charlotte said something along those lines,” Rachel reminds me.
I give her my best unimpressed side-eye. “Have you seen the man? He could have come with a warning tattooed on his forehead and I still would have ignored it.”
“Probably, but I’m sure it wasn’t all bad. You went back for more. That says something.”
I’m not a relationship kind of girl. I’ve done my best to avoid them.
I went with Emmanuel for the week because I told myself it was only a week.
Prior to that, when we were talking daily through messages and phone calls, it was new friends chatting.
Or at least that’s what I like to tell myself.
Now, I can’t seem to go an hour without thinking about the man…
“Do you regret it?” Rachel asks after we squeeze into our favorite booth.
“Regret what?”
“The week you spent in Vegas with him?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Well, there are parts I’d like to change, but I can’t.
” Like the fact that he killed his mother to protect me.
Or that he admitted that he’d killed his girlfriend.
“But also, I think spending time in Vegas has been therapeutic. I put so much on that city when really I should have dumped all of it on the people who did it, not the place where it happened.”
“That’s something to take away then, I guess, along with all the orgasms that man gave you.”
“How do you know he gave me orgasms?” I raise a brow at her.
“Because only an idiot would go back for more if he didn’t deliver the first time. And you, my friend, are no idiot.” Rachel smirks.
“Why thank you, Doctor.” I smile at my friend. “How’s everything at the hospital?” I ask, because I don’t want this whole lunch to be about me.
“I thought I knew tired. Then I became a resident. It’s busy, so busy. But…” She pauses.
“But what?” I urge her.
“I’ve applied for a position in Seattle,” she says quietly.
“What? Seattle? Why? That’s so far away. First Charlotte and now you. I’m going to die old and alone,” I groan.
“Don’t be so dramatic. You’re going to end up with Emmanuel. We both know that man is not leaving you alone. And you love him. Whatever he’s done to make you want a break, I’m sure it will work itself out,” she tells me.
I wonder what she’d say if I told her I watched him kill his own mother? That’s out of the question, though.
“Maybe you should talk to Charlotte about him? She just married one of his friends.”
“I’m not bothering her with my relationship—or should I say non-relationship? She’s enjoying her time being a new wife, and I want her to be happy and carefree,” I say.
“It’s your choice, but I would not want to be you when she finds out you’re hiding this from her.” Rachel laughs.
“Pfft, I’ve got a bodyguard hanging around me 24/7. Not even Charlotte could penetrate that.” I gesture a thumb over my shoulder towards Enrique.
“Maybe, but I bet she’d give it her all,” Rachel counters, and we both laugh out loud, picturing our friend going berserk on a Mexican cartel member.
“I think it will all blow over soon,” I say at the same time my phone starts ringing from inside my purse. I frown when I pull it out and see Amy’s name on the screen. “Amy?” I answer.
She never calls. I always tell her to call if she needs me but she never does.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to do!” she shrieks.
“It’s okay. What’s happening?” I ask her.
“I was steaming some dresses. One of them caught fire and I couldn’t stop it. I’m so sorry. I ran out of the store,” she explains, and I hear fire trucks zooming past the diner.
I look up to Rachel, and without a word, I pick up my purse and run for the door. Before I can get there, Enrique is blocking the entrance. “Why are you running?” he asks me.
“Get out of my way!” I yell at him. “My store is on fire. I need to go.” I shove at his chest, but he doesn’t budge.
“What do you mean on fire?” Enrique grabs my wrist. He’s holding a pistol in his other hand, and then he’s dragging me out of the diner.
“Put that thing away. You’re going to draw unwanted attention to us. And let go of me!” I hiss. The moment I walk outside, I can spot the smoke billowing in the sky.
“Stay behind me. We need to get you out of here,” Enrique says.
“No! I need to put that fucking fire out.” Managing to twist out of his hold, I kick off my heels and then I run barefoot down the street.
I round the corner and come face-to-face with my store. Two firetrucks are blocking the entrance, their hoses already spraying water onto the building. I can’t look away.
An arm wraps around my waist. “Don’t ever fucking run off on me again. I’m trying to protect your ass here,” Enrique growls in my ear from behind me.
“If you don’t remove your hands from me right now, I’m going to scream bloody murder,” I tell him.
“You think that scares me?” he asks. “You need to get in the car. I need to take you home.”
“You can fuck right off.” I shove my elbow into his ribs. He hunches over, his hold on me loosening, but not enough for me to get away from him again.
“Fucking hell. Calm down,” he grunts.
“My store is on fire and you’re telling me to calm down? Fuck you.” The next time I try to elbow him, he manages to move out of the way before I can make contact.
“I’ll let you go, but you need to stay by my side,” he says.
“Sure,” I agree in a sugary-sweet voice, having no intention of following through.
“I’m calling jefe,” he says.
“Don’t,” I tell him. “He’s busy, and this…” I wave a hand towards my shop. “…doesn’t concern him.” I walk over to a fireman who is talking to Amy. She doesn’t appear hurt. I’m glad she got out okay.
“Oh my god, Evie, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened. One minute everything was fine and then…” She shakes her head, tears running down her cheeks. “It’s all my fault.”
“No, it’s not.” I pull her into a hug. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay,” I say, unsure if I’m trying to convince her or myself. I’m lost. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.
“What happened? How much damage will there be? Is anything salvageable?” These questions all come from Rachel, who has finally caught up with me. She’s looking at the fireman, waiting for answers.
“We won’t know for a while yet. Who’s the owner?” he asks.
“I own the shop but I rent the building. I can get you my landlord’s details if you need them,” I reply.
Shit. Am I going to have to pay for this? I don’t know how I will even replace all the stock that I’ve just lost. How the hell am I supposed to repair a whole building? This is going to ruin me financially.
I could sell my car. Who needs a car anyway? Maybe my house too? I don’t need that either, right?
“Okay, this is what we’re going to do. We are going to take Amy home. Then you’re coming to my place. We will contact your insurance provider and find out what we need to put in a claim for the losses,” Rachel says, taking charge of the situation.
Insurance. Yes. I have insurance. Why didn’t I think of that?
“Okay.” I nod my head and follow Rachel and Amy to the car that’s parked across the street.
My phone rings. I’m not surprised when I see Emmanuel’s name on the screen. “I’ll catch up with you. I need to take this,” I tell the girls before answering. “Hello.”
“Mi alma, are you okay?” Emmanuel asks.
“Physically? Sure,” I tell him.
“I’m sorry. What do you need?”
“I need to not have your guy manhandle me for a start, and then I need to not have my store burned to the ground. I’m sorry. I’m a little busy. Can I call you later?”
“Enrique manhandled you? How?” Emmanuel growls through the phone.
“I’m fine. I ran. He didn’t want me running towards a burning building. It was a misunderstanding.” I try to smooth over the situation. I don’t think Emmanuel would do anything to the workers he’s instructed to protect me? I mean, the man is just trying to do his job.
“I’m done waiting. I’m coming to get you. I’ll be there tonight. Pack a bag. You’re coming home,” Emmanuel says, and then the line goes dead. He’s not coming here.
Shit, he is. Emmanuel Lopez doesn’t say anything he doesn’t mean. Darn it. What do I do?