“He’s not my boyfriend,” I whisper. I’m not sure who he is to me anymore. What else isn’t he telling me?
“Yeah, well, he doesn’t know that,” Lailani mutters under her breath. She steps into the elevator and tugs me behind her again.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and read the message from Emmanuel.
E:
Do whatever Lailani and Paz tell you, Evie. Don’t argue.
Don’t argue? Does he even know me at all?
Me:
Is it Lailani or Lai, Emmanuel? It’s not a good look to have hidden girlfriends, even if they are in plain sight.
E:
She’s a contractor. Not a girlfriend. Now is not the time for this conversation.
The moment we step into the garage, five men start walking in our direction. They quickly surround me. I spot Paz.
“Miss, boss wants you to come with us,” he says.
He looks slightly better than he did a few hours ago. He’s standing upright and doesn’t look like he’s in pain. There’s a little bit of comfort in seeing him. I know it’s stupid, but Emmanuel trusts him. Which means I should too, right?
“I bet he does.” I roll my eyes and pocket my phone. “I’m staying with them.”
“You’re all coming with us,” Paz says.
I remind myself that Emmanuel trusts these men, and no matter what happens, I know Emmanuel wants me to be safe. He wants me alive. He also trusts Lailani.
I’m on autopilot as I climb into the back of an SUV. Paz eyes me with concern but doesn’t say anything. It’s such a stupid thing to focus on, but right now, this jealousy is giving me the distraction I need to avoid thinking about the bodies we just stepped over.
Thirty minutes later, we are pulling through the large iron gates of Emmanuel’s estate. Guards line each side—although, this time, they don’t seem to have rifles. Until I look closer and see that they do. They’re just hiding them behind their backs.
As soon as I’m out of the car, I’m ushered into the house, once again surrounded by men in black suits.
“Miss Evie, welcome back. I have a bottle of your favorite wine on the table in the conservatory along with a tray of your preferred snacks,” Maria greets us.
I smile at the woman. I like her. She’s always so nice to me when I’m here.
“Thank you, Maria,” I say before turning to Charlotte. I see all the questions on her face.“Don’t ask,”I hiss at my friend. I am not in the headspace for an inquisition right now.
“Oh, you can bet your sweet ass I’m asking,” Charlotte replies.
“Now, you must be Miss Jazzy. I’ve heard all about you, and your Tío E requested that a plate ofbanana pancakes be waiting for you upon your arrival. I have those on the table too,” Maria says, bending down to Jazzy’s height.
“Pancakes, yes! That’s a good surprise.” Jazzy smiles while bouncing with excitement.
“Call if you or your friends need anything else, Miss Evie.” Maria looks to me before she disappears.
“Miss Evie?” Charlotte whispers.
“Not now. Come on, I don’t know about you girls, but I need some wine.”I really, really need some wine.
“I’ll, ah, catch up with you. I have something I need to do,” Lailani says.
I know I’m being a bitch, but as I watch her turn and walk her way through Emmanuel’s house, I’m hit with a deeper sense of jealousy. Why the hell am I jealous?
