Chapter 31
Gannix
Things here have settled into a routine of sorts for us. Emerson has adjusted to being here. At least, I think she has. She no longer looks for a way to escape, and I no longer drug her when I’m fucking her. I can’t explain it exactly the things I feel for her. It’s not something I’ve ever felt before in my life. When she’s off wandering the house, I hate it because I can’t see her. So I’ve installed cameras in every single room so I have access to her at any time I please.
Maybe that’s sick in its own way, but I don’t give a damn. The need I have for her is strong. I thought maybe it would die out some after I got her here in my home but it hasn’t. It’s grown stronger. The thought of anyone, including Gary, touching her does things to my head. He’s my brother, yes, but Emerson is mine.
My cell rings while I’m watching Em eat an apple in the kitchen. I click off the feed and answer the phone, seeing it was Ren.
“Yeah? Why are you calling so late?”
“I have some information, and you’re not going to like it.”
“Which is?”
“Your brother is missing.” I sit up a little straighter now.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“I was looking into him for you. I know I said I wanted to stay out of this shit, but you’re my best friend, Gannix. Fuck! I shouldn’t be in this fucking mess, yet here I am.”
“No, you shouldn’t be.”
“Well, I am. And he isn’t at home anymore. I wasn’t tracking him but from the looks of things, he packed up and left. No signs of anyone ever being there,” he reports.
“What about bodies?”
“Nothing. There’s nothing.”
“Fuck!” I roar into the line. A few seconds later, Emerson walks into the room and watches me.
“I need people looking, Ren. Not you. I don’t want your family involved in this,” I tell him.
“I’m already involved, Nix. Get the fuck over it.”
“You didn’t want to be.”
“I still don’t, but I am. I’m going to get some guys looking, and I’ll let you know what we come up with,” he says as I sigh.
“I don’t want this to come back on you, Ren.”
“It won’t. I’ll be careful.”
“Fine. Let me know what you find out,” I say.
“How is she doing? Things working out?”
“Yeah. Everything here is as it should be.” Now my eyes find Emerson, who gives me a soft smile. My heart cracks in half. Is she happy here with me?
“Good. I’ll get back to you.” I pull the phone away from my ear and press the end key. When I motion for Em to come to me, she doesn’t hesitate at all before walking my way. I grab her and pull her down into my lap, pressing a kiss to her neck.
“Everything okay?” she asks. I sigh and press my face into her neck, inhaling her scent.
“No.”
“Can I do anything?”
“Stay with me,” I tell her truthfully. She wiggles in my lap before settling in.
“I don’t think there’s anywhere left for me to go, Gannix.”
“I don’t think I was going to let you even if there was.”
“So it was never an option,” she mumbles.
“Do you want it to be?” I ask her. Em lays her head back on my shoulder, and I wrap my arms tightly around her, holding her closer.
“I don’t think so. As crazy as all of this has been, I feel safe with you,” she admits, and my heart swells.
“You do?”
“Yeah. And if I’m being honest, I don’t feel so depressed here.”
“I don’t want you to feel that way, Em. I never want you to feel that way,” I add.
“It’s not something I can control, and for so long, I was stuck in such a dark place, but I didn’t let anyone see it. I kept on doing what I was doing and masked it all.”
“And now you don’t have to hide it. I want to see your pain, Emerson. I want to see your sadness and make it all go away.”
“What if you can’t?”
“I think I can if you just give me that chance,” I tell her.
“Okay.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. If you think you can handle me,” she laughs a little. It’s the perfect sound coming from her. I know it’s been a long time since she’s laughed the way she just did, and I want more of it.
“I think I can handle you. The question is, can you handle me?”
“I’m pretty sure I can.”
“Hmm. Even downstairs?”
“Even more so downstairs.”
“You liked it?” I ask her.
“I did. It was different, but it was also freeing in a way.”
“I’m glad I could do that for you.”
“What happens now? With your brother?”
“Why do you think this involves him?”
“You’re tense.”
“You’re right. I’m not going to lie to you, Emerson. He’s gone.”
“What do you mean gone?”
“I mean, he’s missing. He packed up and left his house. Everything has been stripped as if he were never there.”
“The girls?” she asks. I scrub my free hand over my face.
“Gone. I don’t know where their bodies are.” I can feel her tensing in my arms, and I hate it.
“He’s coming for me.”
“He isn’t going to touch you, baby.”
“You don’t know that!” she snaps before climbing off my lap. “He got me once, didn’t he?” Now I’m on my feet in front of her.
“And you think I’d be stupid enough to let that happen again?”
“I don’t know, Gannix! I don’t know what to believe!” She yells, throwing her arms out to her sides.
“You should believe I’m going to protect you, Emerson. I’m going to keep you safe because you belong to me now.”
“It’s not that easy, and we both know it. He could … he could be out there right now, Gannix.” Her voice has lowered, and I can tell this is really bothering her. I move closer and grab her shoulders, forcing her to look at me.
“Emerson, I will not let him harm you. Do you understand me? I promise you.” Her eyes are full of tears as she looks up at me, and I wish there were more I could do for her and make her see I’m not going to let anything happen to her.
“You can’t promise that.”
“I can. I can promise that,” I vow.
“He’s your family. He’s your blood.”
“Emerson, look at me,” I demand. She brings her eyes to meet mine and holds them there. “He might be my blood. He might be the only person alive who knows me, but you, you’re everything to me. Do you understand that?” She licks her lips and starts to look away, but I reach up and grab her face, forcing her to look at me. Tears slip down her cheeks as she slowly nods her head, causing my heart to swell.
I pull her into me, letting her head rest on my chest. I breathe her in and hold her as tightly as I can without hurting her.
I had plans for her tonight. I had plans on fucking her senseless, but I think she just needs me tonight. She needs me to hold her, to let her know I’m here for her, and I’ll keep her safe when it comes to him.
I pull away and grab her hand in mine, leading her out of the living room and up the stairs to my room. Once we’re inside, I close the door and walk her toward the bed, stripping her out of her clothes before doing the same to myself.
I pull back the blanket and motion for her to climb in, which she does, and I move in behind her. Once we’re both in the bed, I pull the blankets up and over us, pulling Emerson on top of me. Her head rests on my chest, the rest of her body pinning me to the bed.
“Gannix?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Will you hold me like this forever?” she whispers, almost as if she didn’t want me to hear the words.
“Forever.”