“Because I don’t want to yet.” Truth is… I don’t know why. I guess it’s because, when he does decide I’m not good enough and leaves me alone, I won’t be as embarrassed? I have this fear that he’s going to wake up one day and realize his mistake. No matter how much I might look like his dead girlfriend, I will never be her.
“We should get back in there. Remember, don’t eat anything. I’ll get you something when we leave.”
“If you think the pizza is poisoned, why are you letting your friends eat it?”
“Because them, I can lose. You, I can’t,” Emmanuel tells me.
“You know, that’s sweet in a really messed up way.” But it’s the same thing he said to his mother, right before he shot her. “Get out. I need to pee,” I say as I shove him through the bathroom door.
Emmanuel walks out, and I turn on the tap. Because knowing him, he’s standing right on the other side of the door. And that’s exactly where I find him when I finish up and step into the hallway.
“You ready to get out of here?” he asks.
“Um, I’m going to leave first. You wait thirty minutes before following me,” I tell him.
“Room 666. Meet me there,” Emmanuel says.
“Why 666?” I ask, suddenly curious. It’s the same room number he uses at the Royal.
“It’s the room I book out in all of their hotels. Where else would the devil stay when he comes to town?” E adds with a wicked smirk.
“Ah, his own compound?” I laugh.
When I get back to the table, I make up an excuse that I have a migraine and I need to leave. Charlotte offers to come with me, but I manage to convince her that I’m fine. I thinkeveryone was surprised when Emmanuel didn’t get up and follow me out.
He didn’t need to, though. As soon as I step off the elevator on level six, two of his men are there waiting for me. “Miss Carter.” One of them nods politely at me.
“Evening,” I mumble and then make my way to the room that says 666 on the door. I tap the magic card across the panel and it clicks open. This suite is nice. I wonder how often Emmanuel stays here? Has he brought other women here?
Five minutes after I arrive, there’s a knock at the door. That’s weird. I knew Emmanuel wouldn’t wait the full thirty, but I didn’t expect him to knock either.
“Did you forget your key?” I open the door. A gasp leaves my mouth, and my hand rises to cover it. “What happened?” I ask a bruised-and-bloodied Paz.
“Where’s E?” he questions.
“He’s not here. What happened? Shit, come in.” I hold the door open. The guy has seen better days.
Paz limps his way inside. When I go to help him, he flinches. “Don’t touch me,” he hisses.
“I’m sorry.” I close the door and look around the room. “What can I do?” I have no idea how to actually help him.
“Call E. Don’t tell him I’m here, just insist that you need to see him.”
“Okay, I can do that.” I look at Paz as he falls on to the sofa. One of his eyes is swollen shut, his lip is cut, and there are scrapes and bruises all up his torso. Did he walk through the casino like that?
I grab my phone out of my purse and dial Emmanuel’s number. “Mi alma? Did you get to the room okay?” he answers.
“Uh, yeah. C-can you meet me now?” I stutter.
“What’s wrong? Who’s there?” I hear his footsteps. There’s an echo on the phone.
“I, ah, I just need you to come, E,” I tell him.
“I’m going to be right there. I’m on the elevator now. Do not hang up,” he says.
“Okay.”
Paz groans as he tries to get into a more comfortable position.
