Chapter 32
brIELLE
The lobby is packed with people when we exit the elevator. Emris has my hand gripped tightly in his as we navigate our way outside, where the valet is waiting with Emris’s car.
Something’s shifted in me. I’m not sure if us hashing things out and him giving me some answers softened me toward him, or if I’m going insane, but I find myself not wanting to leave him. It’s like a switch in my brain turned on and this is where I want to be.
He lets go of my hand before handing our bags to the man and then stops in front of Archer.
As if on cue, my bladder starts screaming at me.
Looking over at everyone, I see Emris in a deep conversation with Archer. Killian’s talking with security a few feet away, and Carson’s sitting on the hood of his car behind Emris’s while on the phone.
After all that Sunny D, my bladder feels like it’s going to explode, and I remember seeing a bathroom next to the bar when we first got here. I’ll be fine running there and back before anyone even realizes I’m gone.
With one last look at Emris, I walk back in through the automatic glass doors, my mind still on how he makes me feel.
Rounding the corner, I push open the bathroom doors and find a few women applying and fixing their makeup in the mirrors.
All rich bitches, who of course send a glare my way, looking me up and down as if I’m beneath them with my black skinny jeans and band tee.
I give them a condescending smile that gets them to look away.
I quickly do my business and wash my hands, ready to get this drive out of the way.
Emris doesn’t know because I didn’t tell him, but I was getting nauseous from the drive, which doesn’t happen often, but it’s why I was so quiet on the way here.
It was either I put my focus into not throwing up all over his car or blow chunks and make things worse.
I didn’t technically want to talk since I was already irritated, but here we are.
Pushing the bathroom door open, I step out and run right into a hard chest. Of course, Emris would be waiting for me.
“Emris, I was just—” Before I can finish my sentence, I look up and see that the hands on my shoulders are not Emris’s hands.
I try to take a step back, but his grip tightens, as a sickening smile taking over his aged face. There’s a sour taste in my mouth the longer his hands are on me, and now I regret not telling anyone where I was going. But I won’t stand here and let this man touch me without a fight.
“Let go of me,” I demand, and this time when I step back, he releases me. Surprise crosses his face before another smile takes its place, making his age more prominent.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I was just so distracted with your beauty—”
I ignore his comment and try to go around him, but he mimics my movement and steps right back into my view.
“Move out of my way before we have a fucking problem.” I grit my teeth hard enough that my jaw aches, anger churning deep in my stomach. The fucking asshole steps closer, and with each step I take back, he takes one closer until my back is pressed against the wall next to the bathroom.
The man leans in, his nose only inches from my hair as he inhales.
I scrunch my eyes closed when he makes a noise from his throat.
At any point he’s either going to try something that will end up with me being groped or me kneeing him in the dick and running away.
I’d prefer the latter. Maybe if Emris gave me my knife back, I’d be able to defend myself by shoving into this man’s fucking gut.
Before I even have a second to think, the sound of a gun cocks behind the man. I open my eyes and they land on Emris, who has his handgun pressed to the back of the man’s head.
“I’ll give you one chance to get the fuck away from her before I blow your goddamn brains all over the wall.” I’ve heard Emris mad before, but the way his words hold so much power makes all the hair on my body stand up.
Behind him, Carson, Killian, and Archer are there. Killian and Archer both look as lethal as Emris, and Carson is standing back, looking around for any other threats.
The man standing in front of me looks irritated but masks it with a laugh.
“Oh, calm down, fellas. Just some harmless conversation with a beautiful woman.” He takes a step back, turning to face the guys.
“Peter, why must you test my patience by coming to my hotel? Need I remind you, this is somewhere you’re strictly forbidden,” Archer says, stepping forward and standing next to Emris, who still has his gun raised at the man I now know is named Peter.
What a stupid fucking name.
Recognition crosses over Emris’s face when he looks down at Peter, but he doesn’t say anything.
“Oh, what a pleasure to run into you again, Emris, is it?” Peter smiles like they’re long-lost buddies, and I’ll have to ask what that’s about.
Archer puts his hand on Emris’s arm, guiding the gun down before Emris can reply.
I can see the tic in Emris’s jaw as he follows orders, but he doesn’t put the gun away, only lowers it.
I take the chance to slip away, and Emris holds his hand out for me.
I take it, and he pulls me into his chest. Time seems to slow as Emris pulls us outside and away from Peter now that Archer has taken over, Carson following closely behind.
My stomach churns at the reminder of what Peter’s hands felt like on my skin, and It’s nothing I ever want to feel again. There was something seriously off about him, and I have no idea what.
“Let’s go.” Emris opens my door, waiting for me to get inside. After he watches me buckle my seatbelt, he closes the door, stopping to talk to Carson at the front of the car before he gets on his own side.
We both look in the direction of the glass doors just in time to see Peter being escorted outside by security.
His puny eyes meet mine through the glass, and he winks.
I avert my gaze, my skin crawling so much that I shiver.
My nails dig into my arms, trying to rid the lingering feeling of that strange fucking man.
By the time Peter is gone from view, Killian and Archer are standing outside, talking with the security.
Archer looks pissed as he yells, everyone lowering their eyes as he passes them.
He’s fucking scary.
Killian, however, looks bothered, but he still manages a smile before running to my side of the car. I roll my window down, and he holds out a bottle of Sunny D.
A laugh escapes me.
“For the ride home.” He winks and grips my hand. “I’m so sorry for what happened. You’ll be safe at home with Emris. Come visit soon,” he says, looking between me and Emris.
“Will do, cousin.” Anger brews behind his eyes, but he nods anyway. Killian steps back and joins Archer with the security team.
“Are you okay?” Emris asks as we get farther away from the hotel, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tight they’re turning white.
“I’m fine,” I tell him, and it’s not a lie. I am okay. Maybe a little uncomfortable, but nothing a hot shower can’t fix.
“No one will ever fucking hurt you, touch you, breathe any of the same air as you again. I swear to you.” His jaw is clenched so hard, I’m surprised his teeth haven’t cracked.
Yet he gets his anger under control the second he switches hands on the steering wheel and reaches gently for my hand with his free one.
I look at him but can’t form words. He can’t possibly care that much, can he?