She doesn’t know you.
Killer Woman:
Don’t die, E. I might need a job again one day.
I laugh, pocket my phone, and head upstairs. I told Evie I wouldn’t stay in the room with her when she slept. But I can’t stay away either. I sit in the chair in the corner and watch as her lips part ever so slightly, the rise and fall of her chest giving me a sense of peace. Knowing her heart is beating is what keeps mine beating too.
Chapter Forty-Three
When I wake up, I’m in a pitch-black room, and I’m alone. My first thought is where is Emmanuel? And then my second is… this feels different. I woke up and I didn’t automatically think about what could have happened to me when I was asleep. No, my first thought is where the hell is my boyfriend? Fiancé…
Shit, that is a little odd to say. Emmanuel Lopez is my fiancé. I’m going to marry thatman.
A huge smile crosses my face. I’m really going to marry him. I know I’ve had my doubts about Emmanuel, about us. But something clicked. I realized that I don’t want to be without him.
Does that mean I have to marry him? No, but I want to.
Pushing the covers aside, I reach over and switch on the light. I don’t know why I’m disappointed he’s not here. He specifically said he wouldn’t be. He told me no one would get into this room, and I know when Emmanuel says something like that, he will do everything in his power to make it happen.
I open the bedroom door and look up and down the hall. It’s empty. Weird. He usually has men everywhere, even on this level of the house. The place has that eerie quiet to it. I don’t know where he is, but he is here. I hope.
As I make my way downstairs, that quiet disappears. Replaced by footsteps, people talking. I listen. But whoever’s speaking, they’re doing it in Spanish, and it’s not Emmanuel’s voice.
His office. It’s the most logical place for him to be. I walk towards that room, passing four guards who smile politely at me before turning their attention away. I know this is something I have to get used to. I’m just not sure I ever will.
When I reach the office, the two guards standing atthe door give me a nod. One of them knocks on the door twice.
“Is he in there?” I ask.
“Yes, ma’am. You can go in.” The one who knocked opens the door.
“You don’t have to call mema’am. Evie works just fine. Thank you.” I smile as I pass him to enter the office, but he doesn’t say anything. He just closes the door behind me.
“Mi alma, you’re awake.” Emmanuel stands from his desk and walks around. Why does it feel like he’s walking in slow motion?
Deciding he’s not moving fast enough, I meet him halfway and throw my arms around him. “I woke up and my first thought was where were you?” I admit, hugging him tight against me.
Emmanuel’s arms wrap around my waist. He holds me flush against his chest and his warmth envelops me. This is what I woke up wanting. This man wrapped around me.
“I wanted you to be there,” I whisper.
Emmanuel pulls his head back, staring down at my face. “We will discuss this later,” he says before briefly pressing his lips to mine. Way too briefly. When he pulls away, he lets go of me. “Evie, you know Paz. This is Alejandro and Rafael,” he says, nodding to the three men I didn’t even notice.
My face heats up. “Um… I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were busy. I can… I’ll be…” I don’t know where I’ll be.
“Right fucking here,” Emmanuel grunts, leading me over to the sofa. “They were just leaving.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Alejandro says. The greeting is repeated by Rafael as they both leave the room. Paz comes over and sits across from me. His face still looks like crap.
“Are you okay?” I ask him. “I mean, that kinda looks like it hurts.”
“I’ve had worse.” He chuckles. “You okay?”
“What day is it?” I rub at the side of my head, trying to ease the sleep fog.
“Thursday,” he says.
I jump up. “What? Why didn’t you wake me? We were supposed to get married yesterday. You didn’t even wake me. I missed my own wedding because I was sleeping.” I look to Emmanuel.
