Emery chuckled. “I love the way you lie, Mrs. Aldana. Look, I know you got shit to do, so I ain’t gon’ hold you. As soon as you’re done with whatever it is that’s not important, I need you to be home before six. I have a surprise for you.” I looked over and saw Carmen coming out of the building.
“I have to go. I’ll see you at court tomorrow.”
He chuckled. “Yummy, I will come kidnap the fuck out of you if you’re not here by 5:42.”
That’s an odd time.
“Emery, please,” I begged.
“Think I’m playing, stink. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon.” He hung up just as Carmen approached the passenger side. I hit the locks, and she got inside.
“Hey, bestie,” she greeted, kissing my cheek.
“Hey.”
“So, what’s going on that you couldn’t wait until our girls’ night this weekend?”
“I think I just fucked up royally.”
“How?”
“First, Liam and I are at a place in our relationship where I’m getting fed up with the distance between us. I completely understand that his job is demanding, but so is mine. I make time for him all the time, but he can never sacrifice time for me. So, last night we had a debate, and he has not called me or texted me since. I don’t know. I don’t think he’s trying hard enough to secure me. I saw the ring at his place last week, and he has yet to propose.”
“Maybe he’s waiting on the right moment, Mimi. Don’t start being dramatic.” She laughed.
“I’m not, but I’m not trying to wait until I’m forty to get married either.”
“And I’m almost sure you won’t. Give him a break, sis. You know it’s coming, so don’t trip.”
“Yeah, but now I’m in trouble.”
“Why? What happened?”
“The Aldanas came across my desk, and now I’m defending Emil and Ellis in a murder case along with a heap of other shit. I knew defending them would put Emery back in my life, and now it seems as if I’m not going to be able to run from him this time.”
“Whoa. I haven’t heard that name in ages. If this isn’t some full-circle shit, I don’t know what is.”
“Exactly . . . Salah has Langston and me on the case, and we had to go to their house. Since seeing him that day, he has not let me breathe long enough to take in the fact that I’m even seeing his face after all these years. He . . . He broke into my house last night, Carm.”
“What?” she screeched.
“And fucked me stupid.” I slid down in my seat a little and covered my face.
“Yumi! What the hell, sis?”
“I know! I know. I was trying to avoid this happening, but it seems as if the moment he saw me again, he won’tstopseeingme again. He keeps referencing me as his wife and was at the restaurant a few days ago while Liam and I were having dinner. When Liam got called away, his ass sat in the chair as if we were on a date.
“When Liam came back to the table, this negro gave him a fake name and told him that he was my client. Now, he’s threatening me, saying if I’m not at his house by 5:42, he’s going to come and kidnap me. Carmen, I don’t know what to do.”
“If he’s like the Emery we used to know, then I think you may be able to get away with not showing up, and that’s abigmaybe.”
I looked over at her and shook my head. “He’s worse.”
“Then your ass better be at his house by 5:42 on the dot.”
“You’re no help, bitch.”
“What do you want me to say, Yumi? Unfortunately, he’s back, but you should have been stronger than that.”
