“Here. I have what you asked for,” handing it to him.
He takes a seat across from me and empties the contents on his desk. He looks up at me. I quickly explain what it is.
“This is the GPS tracker for Emma?”
I nod. “You just need the jewelry. You need to buy something like a pendant to put on a bracelet or necklace.” I motion with my hand at the small tracker.
Eduardo’s smile is wide as he opens his desk drawer and removes a large blue velvet box. “You mean like this?” He opens the box to reveal a stunning emerald pendant. There is a necklace and bracelet in the box.
“May I?” I ask before I pick it up.
“Of course.” Eduardo hands the box over to me, and I pick up the pendant.
“This is perfect, Eduardo.”
He smiles. “Yeah, it reminded me of Emma’s eyes, and I had to have them.”
I hold onto it, and a strange familiarity works its way into my memory of similar eyes that shone through a mask at me, once at the club and once at my home. I touch the green of the pendant and run my hand across the flawless gemstone. I straighten my shoulders. “Let’s get this thing installed, and I’ll show you what to do.”
Chapter Thirteen
EVIE
“Through Glass” by Stone Sour
I’ve spent most of my days stalking Cherry after I found out she was harassing my sister and her friend while they were shopping. I saw her in the shop talking to my sister with a snarled expression, like the bunny boiler that she is. That girl is certifiable, and I swear if I didn’t need her alive to lead me to Julian, I’d dispose of her properly.
I’m torn between following her to see what she is up to, but then I would have to leave my sister. I immediately call Mateo, but he isn’t in the area, and I’ve lost that god-awful box red-dyed hair of a disaster walking out through the crowded city streets.
“Ugh.” I stomp my foot, causing a woman to startle, jumping back and cursing at me under her breath. I see Liv laughing, arm in arm with her best friend as they enter a restaurant to have lunch. I’ve become an intruder in their life. I am no longer my sister’s best friend; I am just a lonely woman looking through the glass and watching what should have been my life, too.
My nights are not spent any better. My mind is consumed with pining over Jameson or watching him from afar. The holidays are approaching, and I’ve never felt more alone.
At least I have my brother.
Mattie and I have plans of our own. He was invited to spend the holiday with the older gentleman who he plays chess with. I am supposed to meet him today, and I am glad that my brother has found a friend, albeit a seventy-year-old elderly one. Apparently, he is alone for the holidays as well, so it seems like the logical choice, throw in being by the shoreline and we will take it. I am hopeful that this will be our last year in hiding.
Walking along the boardwalk, I see Mateo on the pier overlooking the water. I stop where I am to take in the sight of him. He’s tall, over six feet, with a solid build. The guy is not someone I would describe as lean, more so the type that is built for cage fighting. He is ruggedly handsome with his olive complexion and soft, wavy hair that falls into his eyes. His dark brown eyes stare at you with the innocence of a child, but I have also heard Mateo with some of his conquests and innocent is something he definitely is not. I also know he wasn’t afforded that luxury, having grown up in our family and being a soldier for our uncle.
At times, something about this appearance is familiar, but it is probably because I have spent more time with him in our hunt for Julian and to keep our sister safe.
Some college-age girls pass by him and attempt to gain his attention, giggling as they pass. I smile at them, wondering if my brother would have had a girlfriend like that. If he had gone to college instead of working for our uncle, he would never be free to choose his path.
He senses me approaching and turns, his eyes soften when he sees me, and I can’t help but skip a little as it turns into running towards him. He laughs, shaking his head at my antics.
“You’re late.” The lines around the corner of his eyes show his increasing age and sun-kissed skin, and he places his hand over his eyes to shield them from the bright Texan rays.
“I was busy,” I counter, a pout forming.
He rolls his eyes along with his head and then shoots me a look that screams bullshit. “Does it by any chance have to do with a certain guy named Jameson?”
I stab my pointed fingernail into his solid chest. “None of your business, Mattie.”
He leans away from the pier, standing tall as I fight the sunshine reflecting off the water to stare up at him.
“Right, then. Let’s go. I want to introduce you to my friend.”
I loop my arm in his as we approach their frequent meeting place.
