Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
Something feels wrong. I can’t put my finger on it, but I have this feeling of dread. Emmanuel left me in Carlo’s apartment with Charlotte and Lailani. He went out with Louie, Sammie, and Carlo to do God knows what. I didn’t ask, because let’s face it, ignorance is bliss sometimes.
I’m not na?ve. I know the man I’m in love with.
God, that feels weird to admit, even if it is to myself. Truth is, I’ve fallen for Emmanuel. At this point, if he said he wanted to skin me alive so he could wear me like a coat, I’d probably not bat an eyelash.
Okay, maybe I wouldn’t go that far, but I feel real fear for him…
Not myself. Him. I’d do anything to be able to make sure he’s okay.
I totally get why Charlotte jumped in front of that bullet for her husband now.
Although I think if I ever did do that for Emmanuel, he’d likely kill me himself in a fit of rage at my carelessness for my own safety.
These feelings are giving me whiplash. As hot and cold as I’ve been, Emmanuel has been nothing but patient.
Obsessively demanding but patient. He is so used to always being in full control of every situation.
And yet, when it comes to me, he’s prepared to give me a little of that control.
Or… should I say that he gives me the appearance of control.
I’m not stupid. I’m fully aware that if I were to leave, if I ran, he’d find me and he’d drag my ass right back into his orbit.
I don’t think there is any way out of this thing with Emmanuel.
Not that I want there to be an out. At least not right now.
Ask me again when he does something else to piss me off.
I’m sure it won’t be long. He has a knack for it.
“I’m going to go check on Antonia.” Charlotte stands and walks out of the living room. Leaving me alone with Lailani.
The woman keeps looking at me very intently. As if she’s trying to figure me out. I’m used to people staring at me. I’ve had to deal with it my entire life. But this is different. It’s as if she knows something I don’t.
“You know he’s going to be okay. You shouldn’t worry,” she says.
“Who?” I ask her.
“Your boyfriend.” She smirks. “I get the feeling that one is like a cockroach, impossible to kill.”
I scrunch up my nose. “Emmanuel is not a cockroach. He’s more like a… phoenix.”
He’s far too good looking to be called a cockroach.
The sound of the elevator pinging has me standing. They’re back.
Lailani jumps up, shoving me aside. “Stay there,” she hisses as a loud bang erupts through the apartment, followed by another and another. Lailani runs out of the living room with two guns in her hands.
Where did those even come from?
It’s at that moment that I realize those bangs… are gunshots. There’s three more and then silence. What the hell is happening?
I walk out and find Lailani digging through a man’s jacket. Blood is pooling all over the white marble floors around him.
“Evie?” she calls out.
“Yeah,” I whisper. I’m right behind her..
She spins around, pinning me with a disapproving look. “I told you to stay there.”
The sound of footsteps coming from the hallway captures her attention. She stands in front of me, relaxing when she sees Antonia.
“Where’s Jazzy?” Lailani asks.
Shit, Jazzy! She’s just a kid. She should not be seeing or hearing any of this.
“Why?” Antonia stands straighter, a defiant look on her face.
“Because we need to get out of here, Antonia. We don’t know how many more of them are out there,” Lailani replies.
“Who are you?” Antonia asks.
“I work for Emmanuel,” Lailani says, and I spin around to look at her. She what now?
“What?” Antonia looks just as confused as I feel. She quickly turns to me. “Are you okay?”
I nod my head. Physically I’m fine. But I’m far from okay.
“Did you know she works for Emmanuel?” Antonia asks me.
I shake my head, as I look from Lailani to the bodies on the ground. Before I can say anything, a phone starts ringing. Lailani’s. She answers it on speaker.
“Where’s Evie?” Emmanuel’s voice booms out, sounding panicked.
“Here, safe,” Lailani answers while looking at me.
I feel cold. My hands are shaky, and a light sweat is forming on my forehead. I don’t know what to do. What am I supposed to do right now?
“Jazzy?” is Emmanuel’s next question.
“She’s okay. We all are,” Antonia answers.
“Lai, get them to the compound. Now!” There’s a sense of urgency to his voice. And then, ever so quietly, he adds, “Thank you,” before cutting the call.
I’m stuck on the part where he called her Lai. Just how well do these two know each other?
Now is not the time to be jealous, Evie. Damn it, the girl probably just saved your life. But why the secrecy? Why would they pretend not to know each other?
“Go get Jazzy. And where is Charlotte?” Lailani looks to Antonia.
“She’s in the panic room with Jazzy. I pushed her in there and shut the door,” Antonia replies.
“Good. Let’s get them.” Lailani nods approvingly.
Once Antonia returns with Jazzy in her arms and Charlotte behind her, I breathe a sigh of relief. This is what I need, my best friend. I go to step towards Charlotte, but Lailani takes hold of my hand.
“Stay behind me,” she tells everyone before turning her glare my way. “I need you to be right by me.”
“Why?” I ask her.
“Because I like my head attached to my shoulders, and your boyfriend won’t think twice about unattaching it if I don’t get you out of here in one piece,” she says.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I whisper. I’m not sure who he is to me anymore. What else isn’t he telling me?
“Yeah, well, he doesn’t know that,” Lailani mutters under her breath. She steps into the elevator and tugs me behind her again.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and read the message from Emmanuel.
E:
Do whatever Lailani and Paz tell you, Evie. Don’t argue.
Don’t argue? Does he even know me at all?
Me:
Is it Lailani or Lai, Emmanuel? It’s not a good look to have hidden girlfriends, even if they are in plain sight.
E:
She’s a contractor. Not a girlfriend. Now is not the time for this conversation.
The moment we step into the garage, five men start walking in our direction. They quickly surround me. I spot Paz.
“Miss, boss wants you to come with us,” he says.
He looks slightly better than he did a few hours ago. He’s standing upright and doesn’t look like he’s in pain. There’s a little bit of comfort in seeing him. I know it’s stupid, but Emmanuel trusts him. Which means I should too, right?
“I bet he does.” I roll my eyes and pocket my phone. “I’m staying with them.”
“You’re all coming with us,” Paz says.
I remind myself that Emmanuel trusts these men, and no matter what happens, I know Emmanuel wants me to be safe. He wants me alive. He also trusts Lailani.
I’m on autopilot as I climb into the back of an SUV. Paz eyes me with concern but doesn’t say anything. It’s such a stupid thing to focus on, but right now, this jealousy is giving me the distraction I need to avoid thinking about the bodies we just stepped over.
Thirty minutes later, we are pulling through the large iron gates of Emmanuel’s estate. Guards line each side—although, this time, they don’t seem to have rifles. Until I look closer and see that they do. They’re just hiding them behind their backs.
As soon as I’m out of the car, I’m ushered into the house, once again surrounded by men in black suits.
“Miss Evie, welcome back. I have a bottle of your favorite wine on the table in the conservatory along with a tray of your preferred snacks,” Maria greets us.
I smile at the woman. I like her. She’s always so nice to me when I’m here.
“Thank you, Maria,” I say before turning to Charlotte. I see all the questions on her face. “Don’t ask,” I hiss at my friend. I am not in the headspace for an inquisition right now.
“Oh, you can bet your sweet ass I’m asking,” Charlotte replies.
“Now, you must be Miss Jazzy. I’ve heard all about you, and your Tío E requested that a plate of banana pancakes be waiting for you upon your arrival. I have those on the table too,” Maria says, bending down to Jazzy’s height.
“Pancakes, yes! That’s a good surprise.” Jazzy smiles while bouncing with excitement.
“Call if you or your friends need anything else, Miss Evie.” Maria looks to me before she disappears.
“Miss Evie?” Charlotte whispers.
“Not now. Come on, I don’t know about you girls, but I need some wine.” I really, really need some wine.
“I’ll, ah, catch up with you. I have something I need to do,” Lailani says.
I know I’m being a bitch, but as I watch her turn and walk her way through Emmanuel’s house, I’m hit with a deeper sense of jealousy. Why the hell am I jealous?
“It’s always the quiet ones,” Charlotte mutters under her breath.
“Did you know?” Antonia asks Charlotte.
“Not the slightest clue,” she replies, looking at me. I shake my head. I had no idea either.
I find a bottle of white wine in an ice bucket on the table. Four glasses around it. There’s also a charcuterie board filled with cheeses and meats. I pick up the bottle of wine.
“We’re going to need more than one,” I grumble to myself.
“I’m good with water. My stomach still isn’t a hundred percent,” Antonia says, as she gets Jazzy settled in front of a plate of pancakes.
“I’m good with wine,” Charlotte says, holding out an empty glass to me.
Once we’re topped off, I sit down.
Charlotte sits right next to me. She reaches over and holds my hand. “You doing okay?” she whispers.
“No. But I will be,” I whisper back.
My friend gives me a concerning look. “This really is good wine,” she says. “Just how does Emmanuel’s housekeeper know you love it?”
“Is that the front door?” I ask, knowing we are nowhere near the front door. I swallow the cold, sugary liquid in my glass. “I’m going to the restroom.”
I’m lying. I need space. I know Charlotte means well, but right now, I need time to think, time to process what the fuck just happened.
As I’m walking back towards the front of the house, Carlo comes running in.
I pass Maria, who gives me a polite smile.
As soon as my feet touch the foyer, I’m taken back to that day when Emmanuel’s mother was here.
Emmanuel is in the doorway. He’s talking to a few of his men in Spanish. But his eyes are on me.
Without a word, I walk past him and head upstairs. There’s one room in this house that I feel peace. His bedroom. We spent most of our time there during my brief stay. That’s where I want to be right now.