Sammie clears his throat. “I’m going to take Jazzy to my place for the night. Lailani is there.”
“She’s already asleep. Someone needs to sit in her room. She’s going to wake up. She has nightmares, and she can’t wake up alone,” Carlo says.
“I’ll go,” I tell him and walk out.
I step into Jazzy’s bedroom and sit on the floor, resting my back against the wall. I’ve heard about her nightmares. Lailani says they happen daily.
Not even ten minutes later, the sweetest little girl I’ve ever met wakes up screaming. I jump to my feet. “Shh, princesa, it’s okay. Tío E is right here,” I tell her.
She looks over, jumps out of bed, and runs for me. I catch her as she wraps her tiny arms around my neck and sobs onto my shoulder. “I thought they found him,” she cries.
My hand rubs at her back. “You thought who found who?”
“The bad men, the ones that were looking for daddy,” she whispers.
“Princesa, I’m not going to let anyone hurt your daddy or you. I promise,” I tell her. “Whoever these bad men are, I will find them and I will make sure they can never hurt anyone.”
“I love you, Tío E. Don’t tell Uncle Louie, but you are my favorite.” She hugs me tighter.
I smile. I knew I was the favorite, and as much as I want to rub it in Louie’s face, I’d never break Jazzy’strust like that. “I won’t tell anyone. I love you, princesa. Now, tell me everything you know about these men? Did they hurt you?”
I already have a long-ass list of names I’m hunting down. What’s a few more?
Chapter Forty-One
Something feels wrong. I can’t put my finger on it, but I have this feeling of dread. Emmanuel left me in Carlo’s apartment with Charlotte and Lailani. He went out with Louie, Sammie, and Carlo to do God knows what. I didn’t ask, because let’s face it, ignorance is bliss sometimes.
I’m not naïve. I know the man I’m in love with.
God, that feels weird to admit, even if itis to myself. Truth is, I’ve fallen for Emmanuel. At this point, if he said he wanted to skin me alive so he could wear me like a coat, I’d probably not bat an eyelash.
Okay, maybe I wouldn’t go that far, but I feel real fear for him… Not myself.Him. I’d do anything to be able to make sure he’s okay. I totally get why Charlotte jumped in front of that bullet for her husband now. Although I think if I ever did do that for Emmanuel, he’d likely kill me himself in a fit of rage at my carelessness for my own safety.
These feelings are giving me whiplash. As hot and cold as I’ve been, Emmanuel has been nothing but patient. Obsessively demanding but patient. He is so used to always being in full control of every situation. And yet, when it comes to me, he’s prepared to give me a little of that control. Or… should I say that he gives me the appearance of control.
I’m not stupid. I’m fully aware that if I were to leave, if I ran, he’d find me and he’d drag my ass right back into his orbit. I don’t think there is any way out of this thing with Emmanuel. Not that I want there to be an out. At least not right now. Ask me again when he does something else to piss me off. I’m sure it won’t be long. He has a knack for it.
“I’m going to go check on Antonia.” Charlottestands and walks out of the living room. Leaving me alone with Lailani.
The woman keeps looking at me very intently. As if she’s trying to figure me out. I’m used to people staring at me. I’ve had to deal with it my entire life. But this is different. It’s as if she knows something I don’t.
“You know he’s going to be okay. You shouldn’t worry,” she says.
“Who?” I ask her.
“Your boyfriend.” She smirks. “I get the feeling that one is like a cockroach, impossible to kill.”
I scrunch up my nose. “Emmanuel is not a cockroach. He’s more like a… phoenix.”
He’s far too good looking to be called a cockroach.
The sound of the elevator pinging has me standing. They’re back.
Lailani jumps up, shoving me aside. “Stay there,” she hisses as a loud bang erupts through the apartment, followed by another and another. Lailani runs out of the living room with two guns in her hands.
Where did those even come from?
It’s at that moment that I realize those bangs… are gunshots. There’s three more and then silence. What the hell is happening?
