Chapter 40
CHAPTER FORTY
BLAIR
It's too much. I don't want to be here anymore. I want to go back home. To New York , to my mom. To somewhere that seems safe. I might have Emmett here, but I don’t think I can be here anymore. At least, not until I’ve given myself the time to heal. To process all the fucked up shit I’ve lived through.
I don’t know why I thought it’d be easy.
The physical wounds might be healing, but the mental ones? It's as if they take an eternity to restore. Maybe eventually they will heal, but I know I’ll never be the same.
Emmett came back to Aspen’s room and took me from the girls. I wasn’t ready to see them, truthfully, but it did make me feel better. The unconditional support and love they gave me is something that will help bring the light back into my life.
After last night, Emmett took a quick trip to his house to grab some extra clothes to keep here. My door opening has me spinning around, ready to pounce. Emmett’s soft smile and thrown up hands enter the room. “ It's just me, baby. Don't attack.” He chuckles lightly, trying to brighten the mood. I've been going over how I’d ask him to come back to New York with me.
His eyes narrow on the opened bag resting on my bed, clothes haphazardly thrown inside. He directs those narrowed eyes back to me and before he can say anything I blurt it out. “ I’m going home. I -” My voice cracks so I clear my throat and speak again, “ I was going to ask if you would come back with me? To New York ?”
He smirks, “ Little obsession, you seem to think I would have allowed you to go without me. I don’t know what gave you that impression but that will never fucking happen. If you think the obsession I have for you, the utter need to live in your skin has left, you’re wrong. If anything, it's only grown to an insurmountable level. So yes, I will be coming back with you.”
Every time he opens his mouth and his confessions pour out, they leave me speechless. I lick my dry lips and nod. He seems to be satisfied with that response because he goes around my room and starts gathering items, tossing them into my bag.
He instructs me to keep packing while he steps out to order us a car. Luckily , attached to the Blackwood name is a lot of privacy and everything you could need at your beck and call.
No wonder James got away with all of the sick twisted things he did.
Emmett comes back and informs me that we’re being driven by a trusted family driver to a private landing. When the words register that he said private landing, and we’d be taking a private jet back to New York , my jaw drops. Attempting to protest on the cost alone, he simply grabs my face and slams his lips to mine, effectively shutting me up. Between kisses he mumbles against my lips, “ I wanted you to have as much privacy as possible, Blair .”
I can’t argue with that. Honestly , I don’t want to. It’ll be nice not having to worry about other people. Nodding against his lips, I pull away with a soft smile as I continue packing.
Once my bags are packed, he leads me outside where a sleek, black car is waiting for us. He picks up my luggage and walks over to the trunk and tosses it inside next to what must be his bags. I look back at the door of my college home and see Aspen and Verena standing there. They both offer me small smiles and I see tears dripping from Aspen's eyes. I hate to see her cry but I can’t be strong for her when I’m struggling to remain strong for myself.
I offer the girls a small wave that they return and make my way inside of the car. I slide into the backseat and click my seatbelt in before resting my head back against the seat.
I hear the other door open and Emmett slides in before shutting the door. My seatbelt unclicks causing my head to lift off the seat as his hands grab my hips, moving me directly onto his lap. I don’t even get the chance to protest as he pulls his seatbelt over us both and clicks it in place.
A small smile forms on my face at him sticking true to his word. He wraps his arms around my front and holds me tightly while his chin rests on my shoulder. With his heart beating against my back, I look out the window as we head to the private airport.
It’s a short drive to the jet and we quickly get settled in. Once the plane t akes off, anxiety fills my body. My bruises have faded but some still remain, strategically hidden. The infected lacerations on my back have healed decently over time, but I feel like all of my scars and wounds are plastered on my forehead, on display for everyone to see. Shaking off my paranoia, I take deep breaths and try to get some rest on the plane before seeing my mom.
The jet lands and there’s yet another black car waiting for us. Our baggage is transferred and once we are seated and strapped in, we’re making our way to my home. Just knowing I’m back in New York , far away from the demons of Blackwood , my mind relaxes.
We arrive at my family home and my mom is already standing outside at the doorstep. She has a huge smile plastered on her face. When I told her I was coming home, she was extremely excited and questioned what caused such an urgent and impromptu visit. I tried to play it off with wanting to introduce her to Emmett , which was like opening up a whole other can of worms.
I’ve never spared my mother the details of my romantic relationships prior to Emmett , if they can even be called that. But sharing Emmett with her just felt right.
We step out of the car and mom is frantically waving, running down the driveway. The heavy reality of what I’ve been through aches in my chest, especially when I’m not in a state to rehash it with my mother. I’m not the same girl she sent off to school all those months ago. I’ve been broken down and need to figure out how to build myself back up. Into what, I’m not too sure about.
Emmett grabs our bags and follows me up the driveway. My mother greets me with a long, warm hug. We sway back and forth for a moment before she pulls away, cupping my cheeks. “ I missed you.” She smiles warmly before glancing behind me and craning her neck to greet him.
“ Nice to meet you, Mrs . Stirling , I’m Emmett Blackwood .” He says with a charming and charismatic grin. His dimples make an appearance, causing butterflies to form in my stomach and between my thighs. My mother flashes her best smile, seemingly impressed with his demeanor. He’s confident - and a little cocky - but doesn’t overdo it. When he’s speaking to you, you feel as if you and him are the only two people to exist in the universe.
“ Welcome , Emmett . It’s so nice to meet you. Come on, let’s go inside. I just finished cooking breakfast.” She responds, leading the way.
Walking through the door, the smell of coffee fills the house, the earthy scent is the epitome of home. I direct Emmett to my bedroom so he can drop off our bags and follow my mother to the kitchen. She made us an assortment of foods. What a way to say welcome home. Eggs , toast, pancakes, bacon, sausages, and fruits are arranged on the countertop. My heart swells and I know coming home was the right decision.
My mother and Emmett hit it off during breakfast. There isn’t a single moment of awkward silence and it’s heartwarming to see them both smiling so much.
“ Alright , I’ll clean this all up. You guys can go get some rest, I’m sure your morning at the airport was hectic.” Mom says, stand ing and gathering the dishes. Emmett gets up and helps her transport everything to the kitchen, then motions for me to follow him to my room.
Emmett strips out of his clothes until he’s in nothing but his boxers and climbs into my childhood bed. A little smile grows on my face at the sight of him under my pale pink comforter. He gives me a big grin and pats the spot next to him, “ Come here, baby.”
Pulling off my clothes from the day, I pull on a baggy shirt and sweatpants before crawling into bed, nestling against his body.
His arms tighten around me and he places a kiss to the crown of my head before he starts to rub soothing circles on my back. With my head against his chest, I let out a content sigh.
After the long day of traveling, sleep comes easily for me. I close my eyes and focus on the steady beating of the heart underneath me.
Thump . Thump .
The sound is soothing.
Thump . Thump .
I hope this sleep is peaceful, void of the monsters that seem to occupy my mind now.
Thump Thump
I can't help but allow the consistent beat to pull me into slumber.
The slam of a door startles me from my sleep. I jerk upright in bed and when I place my hands down on the mattress to lift myself up, a wet and sticky substance clings to my fingers. My heart starts thundering in my chest as I slowly lift my hand from the liquid coating my fingers and angle my head to look down.
Blood . There is blood everywhere. It's covering my bed, my clothes, my skin. With trembling fingers I touch my body, attempting to find the source. I freeze when I hear a whisper from the corner of my room. “ Why ?”
My head shoots in that direction but I don’t see anyone. I turn over to wake up Emmett , but I’m completely alone.
“ Why ?” The whisper floats through the room once more.
“ Why !” With every repetition, it gets louder.
“ WHY !”
“ WHY ? WHY ?! WHY ! WHY ! WHY !”
The word circles in the air as the blood continues to seep into the mattress, from where? I don’t know. It's becoming difficult to breathe. I need to find help. Peeling the saturated blanket off of me, I climb out of the blood-filled bed, but there is a force that yanks me back under the covers.
Cuffs grip my wrists and ankles, keeping me in place. “ No . No , no, no! Not again!” I yank on the restraints trying to free myself but it's useless. It feels like I'm sinking into the mattress, being consumed by the deep red surrounding me. The only word that continues to echo around the room is, “ Why ?”
I squeeze my eyes shut as I sink deeper into the mattress. The smell of iron fills my nostrils and hot breath fans my face. I don’t want to look. If I don’t see it, I’ll be okay. I hear a cry that sounds like my own, coming from inside the room, causing me to force my eyes open.
I can’t stop the blood-curdling scream that leaves my throat as the monster of my past hovers above me, blood dripping off of him and onto me. It lands on my face and I swear I can hear him speak beyond my screaming.
“ Even in death, you will not escape me.”
He pulls out a knife from his back pocket and wraps both hands around it. Bringing it up above his head, he plunges the knife, straight into my stomach.
My eyes shoot open as a silent scream leaves my throat. My mouth is dry and scratchy as if I had been yelling. I try to suck in air as a tear flows down my cheeks. No more than a moment later, Emmett’s pulling me into his chest while my hands reach up and clutch at my throat as if trying to pull the scream out of it.
“ It’s okay, Blair . You’re alright. It was just a dream.” He reassures me, pulling strands of hair from my sweaty, sticky forehead. Grabbing a hair tie from the nightstand, he pulls my hair back so that it’s out of my face and secures it comfortably.
With his hands holding me to him, his thumb glides over the beating pulse in my neck. With every swipe, he tells me how brave I am. How strong I am. How he’ll always protect me.
This side of Emmett is rare. It’s reserved specifically for me. The thought causes my heart to do somersaults. I want his love. I want his affection. I want it because he understands. He understands what it’s like to lose a parent, to have to grow up too fast, to have things taken away from you. Emmett knows firsthand that a part of your soul cracking doesn’t equal irreparable damage, and he refuses to let me see myself in that way. My feelings for him have developed quite fast, I don’t know if I should call it love, but what I feel is more than lust. It’s more than friendship or a fucking trauma bond. These feelings st arted to arise before the kidnapping, before Lorenzo , and before I found out the truth about Lorelei .
I take some deep breaths and rub my eyes. A knock sounds on the door and I quietly admit her entrance. Mom’s face fills my doorway as she smiles at us. It’s on the tip of my tongue to break down and tell her everything, to get her unconditional love and comfort, but I can’t bring myself to do it. She’d never let me return to Blackwood . Even though I’m unsure of my return myself, I don’t want her to solidify the feeling and take the option away from me. Enough has been taken from me.
“ Hey ! I’m going to head to the grocery store, do you guys want me to pick up anything specific?” She asks. I shake my head no, not trusting the weakness in my voice.
Emmett must sense my struggle as he speaks up for me, “ No , I think we’re all good, Mrs . Stirling . Thank you.” He states with a warm smile, causing his dimple to pop. My mom gives a knowing look before nodding her head and shutting the door behind her. I hear the sound of her small heels clicking against the floor receding as she descends the stairs.
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding and look over at Emmett , my confessions start to pour out of me, “ I don’t know if I’ll ever want to go back to Blackwood . I don’t know how I could. The good memories it holds are wonderful and I want to be with the girls. I want to have experiences with them especially since they’ll be graduating and we’ll be living our separate lives. Who knows where we’ll all end up?” I take a shaky breath and continue my confession.
“ But how am I ever going to heal and move on from this before next semester?” I choke, the words getting stuck in my throat .
Rubbing my back, Emmett nods. “ Blair , it’s okay. You started attending Blackwood as a twenty-year-old freshman, you can take a year off. There’s no allotted time for this, you know that. If you’re worried about the scholarship, simply don’t. Whenever you choose to go back, I’d gladly pay for your education. You know that. Whether it’s back at Blackwood or somewhere closer to home. You will not do any of it alone. Unless you ask me too and even then, I’d follow you at a discreet distance.” He chuckles. “ You won’t ever be alone again, Blair .”
Looking up at him my heart swells inside my chest. Letting out a small giggle, I’m thankful he was able to ease my anxieties for now. The notion of adoration feels like it could seep inside of me and swallow me whole. Reaching forward, I grab his face and bring his lips to mine. He hesitates for a moment before pressing his body harder against me. His hand goes behind my head and cups it while he shifts his weight to hover above me, causing me to lay back on the bed.
Little fleets of panic try to bubble up inside of me. I grab the front of Emmett’s shirt and ball it in my fists, both to keep him close while subconsciously pushing him away. I want to do this. I do. “ You’ll never,” he kisses the corner of my lip and down along my jaw. “ Be ,” he trails lower to my neck, kissing the skin there, “ Alone .” He trails opened-mouthed kisses along my erratic pulse, “ I’ll always be your shadow, little obsession.”
With his hand still cupping the back of my head, he tilts it back and brings his mouth back to mine. His soft kisses have turned rougher, more passionate. It feels different from any other time we’ve been together. I open my mouth for him, allowing him to glide his tongue inside. His hips lower and I feel his already hardened cock, rub against my pussy through the thin layers of our pajamas.
“ M -more, please,” I whisper against his lips. I want more. I need more.
Emmett pulls back from me and looks down into my eyes, “ Are you sure you’re ready? I don’t mind waiting, there’s no pressure, baby.”
I nod my head and whisper, “ I’m ready. I need to feel you inside of me. I need you to erase the darkness that’s threatening to consume me, to erase his touch. I want to be devoured by you and your love instead. Please .” Tears well in my eyes and Emmett dips his head, kissing their trail as they drop from my lashes.
With all the confirmation he needed, his lips are back against mine. Nipping and licking. He holds himself up with one hand while using his other to push down his sweatpants, letting his cock spring free. I reach down and grip my pajama shorts, but Emmett grabs my wrist, preventing me from moving.
“ No . You just relax.” He states while grabbing the waistband of my shorts and gently pulling them down and off of my body.
Emmet leans back for a moment, reaching behind him to pull his shirt off, then removes mine, trailing kisses along the exposed skin as it comes off. Before the clothes hit the floor, he's pressed back against me, his lips devouring my own.
He pushes his tongue into my mouth at the same time he pumps his hips forward, his bare cock sliding between my already slick folds, the tip bumping my clit. “ I missed you so much, baby. ” He mumbles into my mouth, “ Tell me if it’s too much. I just want to make you feel good, feel safe.” He pulls back and his lips attach to my neck. I nod, with a moan slipping out in response, and feel a smile form on his lips.
“ Always so wet for me. Fuck . Look how easily I can slide through your dripping pussy, little obsession.” He grunts, continuing to pump his hips forward.
His words make me whimper and shift my hips impatiently. His hand is back behind my head cupping it as he lifts it up. He places a long kiss to my waiting lips before trailing downwards, kissing along my jaw and descending to my throat.
His open mouth meets my neck and he sucks the skin in between his teeth. “ All fucking mine.” He licks, soothing the spot he nipped, and moves back to my mouth. Wrapping his lip around my tongue, he sucks it into his own and then releases it before leaning back.
He peers down into my eyes and I almost choke on my air at the amount of adoration and obsession looking back at me. He looks like he wants to consume me and merge our beings until we’re one.
While keeping his intense stare locked on mine, he notches his tip at my entrance and starts to push in. His movements are slow. Slower than they’ve ever been. I watch his jaw clench as he restrains himself. “ Fuck . You’re so fucking tight. So fucking perfect and all fucking mine.” He groans as he slides every thick inch into me, giving me time to adjust as he does.
A gasp leaves me when he thrusts the rest of the way in, becoming fully seated inside of me. He holds me still for a moment by my hips, letting me get used to his growth. The grip leaves no room for me to move. He draws out slowly and then thrusts in hard, a yelp falling from my lips. He does it again, pulling out slowly then slamming his hips forward while grunting,
“ Mine .”
Thrust .
“ My obsession.”
Thrust
“ There is not a universe in which you will not be mine. Not a single outcome that does not result in you belonging to me wholeheartedly. You live in every single one of my fucking thoughts, you pump through my veins, you consume me until I am nothing left without you.”
“ You . Are . Mine .” Each word wraps its way around me, squeezing my heart more. I fear it might burst and splatter all over him.
Putting his hand behind my head, he grips my nape and leans down so he's almost laying on top of me. With his hold on my neck, he brings my mouth to his and seals our lips together. I whimper as he continues his lazy pace, drawing out slowly and thrusting forward with so much force, I feel it in my chest.
While he pumps in and out of me he murmurs against my lips, “ Mine . Every atom in my body is made up of you, Blair . You are fucking MINE .” Every word of ownership and obsession makes my core burn hotter. The release I desperately crave growing nearer.
He keeps his lips sealed to mine, swallowing down every needy moan that falls from them, caused by the rocking of his hips. The sensation building inside of me is different from any I’ve experienced before. The kind that creeps up slowly and slams into you.
The way he moves is sensual, as if he’s showing me each beat of his heart and how it beats solely for me. Every pump, an erotic depiction of his obsession with me. His pace is lazier and more passionate as he slowly, yet with so much force, slams into me.
“ You’re everything, Blair . The air I breathe, the only thought I can fucking think. My entire purpose starts and ends with you. It’s like all the fucking planets aligned when I met you. A fucking phenomenon.” Emmett rasps. The moment the words leave his lips an orgasm so powerful racks throughout my body, tears form in my eyes and slide down my cheeks.
The feeling starts in my toes and sizzles through my limbs. It feels like an out of body experience as the sensations lick at my body, covering me in pure bliss. I scream out against his lips as it overtakes me.
I’m coming down from my high as my hips are being grabbed and I’m being flipped and tossed onto my knees. “ I want another. You will give me another, baby. Again and again and again, until I say that’s enough.” I peek back over my shoulder at Emmett .
“ Please ?” I whine, already missing the feeling of him filling me up. He slowly sinks into me and a fire ignites in my core. I want more. “ M -more. I want more. Harder .” I choke out, looking into his gaze that's pinned on me.
A small smile forms on his lips but I don't get to see it fully because my eyes roll back as he slams into me once again. “ F -fuck,” I whimper.
“ You look so fucking pretty with your eyes rolled back.” He gr oans, fully seated inside of me, once again. He grabs my hips and forces my movements to match his. His pace is no longer sensual and loving. It's ruthless now, more like the Emmett I came to know and…love?
The one that impales me so unbelievably hard with his cock, I feel like I may split in two.
He leans down so that his chest is pressed against my back, the movement of his hips never faltering. His teeth latch onto my neck as his hand grips the front of my throat, holding me to his mouth, making me immobile while he pounds into me. Much like a predator with their teeth gripping at their caught prey.
Releasing my neck, he kisses and licks the spot he embedded his teeth in. I feel his hot breath fan against my ear as he speaks, “ Be a good girl and grab onto the headboard.” My brain short circuits and I feel all the nerve endings in my body grow hotter.
Reaching up, I grip onto my headboard. The moment my hands have secured a grip, Emmett grabs my nape with one hand while his other latches onto my hip, and he slams into me. The unrestrained noises that leave me should make me embarrassed but it feels too fucking good for me to care.
“ Fuck . That's it. Just like that, baby.” He groans while continuing to snap his hips. The sounds of our smacking bodies and the wetness from where we’re joined, fill the room. “ You take my cock so fucking good. So deep.” My nails dig into the headboard while my body bounces with the force of his thrusts.
Incoherent moans leave my lips as he continues to pound into me. A harsh smack registers to my ass making me yelp unexpectedly , my pussy clenching tighter at the action. “ You like that, don’t you? I can feel your pretty little pussy gripping me tighter. Such a good fucking girl.”
He speeds up his thrusts, going faster and harder. My headboard slams into the wall with every pump. “ You take everything I give you so well. Such a greedy girl. My greedy girl.” He leans above me again, pressing his slick chest to my back. His hand wraps around to my front and his fingers circle my clit, making my legs shake.
“ F -f-fuck, that feels so good.” I mewl, pushing my hips back, wanting to feel him deeper. Wanting to feel him everywhere. Wet kisses are placed along my throat until he bites down. I let out a choked desperate noise, the feeling of pure euphoria coasting over my limbs.
My pussy spasms around his cock as he continues his relentless pace. “ That’s my good girl. Cumming on my cock, strangling me with your tight pussy. Fuck .” White spots dance across my vision.
Emmett’s pace falters as he thrusts his hips. Coming down from my high as he slams all the way forward, letting out a guttural groan as he releases into me. I feel his cock jerk as his cum fills me up. He gives his hips a few small pumps, seemingly burying it inside of me.
He pulls out and immediately grips my hips, keeping me from moving. I peer over my shoulder to see him staring at the spot between my legs. “ You look so fucking good filled with my cum. Mmm . Fucking mine.” He drags his finger through some of the thick, white substance that started to drip out.
With his finger coated in cum, he starts to write a letter on my ass. By the movement of his finger, I know he wrote an E . “ Look at you with my initial on your ass. Covered and filled with my cum. Such a good fucking girl, little obsession.” He leans down and bites my other cheek, hard enough to leave teeth imprints in my skin. “ You hold my cum in you and you wear my fucking initial on your skin. You look so beautiful.”
I roll my eyes at his possessiveness, even though it sparks something deep inside me. I’d be lying if I said his obsession didn’t feel good. That it didn’t make me feel cherished, important.
Wanted .
I get up and attempt to wipe off the quickly drying cum on my asscheek when Emmett’s hand wraps around my throat. His grip is tight, but not tight enough to hurt or constrict my breathing. “ Leave my initial on you, Blair . Let my cum dry up and stay there. If you remove it then I’ll have to punish you, which will result in a permanent E in your skin. Do you understand me?”
He yanks me to him by my neck and kisses my forehead before releasing me. “ You belong to me. Your pussy filled with my cum is mine, your heart is mine, your fucking soul is mine.” He growls.
“ I own you.” My eyes whip to his and my heart thumps wildly in my chest.
“ Don’t forget, you own me too, Blair . I belong to you. You could destroy and rebuild me as you please, but I am ultimately yours.”
He kisses my forehead like he didn’t just threaten to brand me if I remove his cum from my skin. I don’t doubt for a second that he would, either.
I shake my head and lay back down, letting his cum dry to my skin. He lifts me slightly and brings himself under me so I’m lying against his body. I watch the little B on his arm move as he lifts his hand to rub my back.
It’s something I’ve noticed recently, and I haven’t asked him when he got it. He branded himself with my initial, whether it was to reassure me that I own him or not, is the question. It shouldn't shock me that he would go as far as to brand me too. Minutes pass by in silence as we lay together. It’s peaceful.
While we lay there, I trace my fingers down the hard muscles of his chest.
“ Can I take you somewhere?” I ask.
He looks down at me with a soft smile, “ Of course, baby. I’ll follow you anywhere.” He kisses my head and my heart starts to pick up. I shared my demons with him, my pain. Why does it feel scarier to share my dreams?
We get up and get ready to leave the house. We’re about to leave as mom returns home from the store. Emmett offers to help her put the groceries away, making sure to pull his dimple out every time he smiles at her. I swear I catch her blushing.
A black SUV is waiting for us outside. I turn to Emmett , my brows furrowing.
“ Car service?” I ask, peering up at him.
“ Yeah , something like that.” He says with a smirk.
We walk up to the car and he opens the passenger door, waiting for me to get settled in, then shuts the door. Rounding the front o f the car, he gets into the driver’s side and starts the engine.
“ So , where are we going?” He asks with a smile.
My heart thumps at the sight of his dimples and I give him directions to my second home and my father’s legacy, “ Bub’s Grubs .”
Besides my guidance, the ride is quiet. It’s calming and Emmett doesn’t pressure me for more. Instead , he connects his playlist and lets the songs roll out. Fuck Em Only We Know by Banks sounds throughout the car speakers and I look over at Emmett . His sharp, angled jaw flexes and he smiles, giving me a sidelong glance.
“ It’s my dad’s restaurant and my reasoning behind being a business major at Blackwood ,” I say, anxiously peeling at the skin around my nails. I lower the volume and continue.
“ Once he passed, it felt like it was my responsibility to keep it up and running. He put so much time, effort, and love into Bub’s . I want it to stay open for as long as possible, in his honor.” I share.
Emmett reaches over the center console and grabs my hand, lacing our fingers together.
“ That’s awesome, baby. I can’t wait to see it.” The crater in his cheek makes yet another appearance and I can feel the pool between my legs forming. I’ll never get tired of seeing this happy, smiley side of him. I want to see that smile every day, forever.
We park and I practically run inside. Thankfully , Emmett has no problem keeping up with me as his long legs carry him across the parking lot. Just as we make our way inside the front doors, I spot the landlord exiting dad’s old office. He’s an older ma n in his late seventies, with sun-spotted skin and kind eyes. I flash him a bright smile that slowly dies as I take in the look on his face. He looks sympathetic but I don't understand why?
“ Hey , Mr . Daniels !” I say, trying to keep my voice cheery, despite the doubt swirling in my gut. My intuition is trying to brace me for what I know is coming.
“ Hey , kiddo. I've been meaning to catch you or your mom. Why don’t you sit down so we can have a little chat, yeah?”
I nod while following him to a nearby booth. Emmett squeezes my hand and I give him a reaffirming look. Mr . Daniels is not a threat, he’s far from it. Of course, that means nothing to Emmett as he shoots daggers at the guy when he slides in next to me instead of across. Mr . Daniels first leased this building to my father when he was only twenty years old. Dad built the restaurant from the ground up. Put his blood, sweat, and tears into it. He was always super grateful for Mr . Daniels for seeing a boy with a dream and giving him a chance.
He looks at me with so much sympathy and I feel like I’m going to be sick. That’s how everyone seems to look at me these days. Letting out a sigh, he reaches into his bag and brings out a stack of papers, placing them on the table to face me so I can read them.
I feel my heart sink to my feet when I look at the words reflected back at me. That can’t be right.
“ What do you mean, final notice?” The words sound like they’re coming from someone else and not me.
“ I am really sorry to do this to you, Blair . Truly , I am. But there’s b een no one here to run the restaurant and it’s not bringing in enough money.”
He pauses and goes into his bag to grab some more papers. I can’t focus as Emmett leans in and whispers in my ear, “ I'll kill him right now. Just say the word and he’s gone.”
Mr . Daniel’s head shoots up and stares at us as he clears his throat. I guess from the sound of my heart beating, I figured Emmett had been whispering. He wasn’t, though. He said it loud and clear for Mr . Daniels to hear.
Shaking my head, I put my hand on his thigh, “ No . No , Emmett . Don’t do that, please.” I look over to Mr . Daniels as he places more papers in front of me, anxiously eyeing Emmett . I zone out as he starts to explain the process and what will have to happen moving forward.
My barely stitched-up heart severs the flimsy strings that were holding it together. As he wraps up and gives me one final look, sadness shining in his eyes, he turns to leave. I feel a tear escape from my lashes and trail down my cheek.
Emmett seems to notice it too because he’s standing up and grabbing a knife from a nearby table set. He starts to go in the direction that Mr . Daniels went when I finally realize he’s about to kill him. I swipe away the lone tear and quickly scramble out of the booth to go after him.
Grabbing his arm, he looks down at me. Rage covers his features and his eyes look cold and dead. “ Just let it go. Please . I just want to go home.”
His eyes harden on me, “ But he made you cry? No one but me makes you cry. Even then, it's only in pleasure. For that, he’s done.” He shrugs like it's a simple solution but I tug on his arm again .
“ Please , Emmett . It’s not his fault. Please , just take me home.” His eyes bounce between mine, searching for a reason to not go kill the landlord. He must see it because he leans over and sets the knife on a nearby table, taking my hand. He leads me out of the restaurant and to our car, opening the door for me to climb inside.
I don’t speak on the drive home. I sit quietly, staring out the window, thinking about the way life continues to deal me the shittest hand possible.
When am I going to catch a fucking break?