I’ve known for longer than I’ve been willing to admit that I love Emmanuel. I never believed he would be able to love me back, though. Not until this last week really. He’s shown his obsession, his need to possess me. But now, I understand that’s his way of showing love. Especially because he doesn’t give that side of him to anyone else. When we’re alone, he’s not as guarded. When he’s around his men, or his friends, he has walls up so high I doubt anyone could climb them. And then he’ll look at me and those hard eyes soften ever so slightly.
“So, I’m thinking pink,” I say, changing the subject back to the store.
“Baby pink?” Charlotte suggests. “Oh, Evie, we’re going to have babies together, and our kids will be best friends, and we can have a boy and a girl each. Imagine if they fall in love and then we get to share grandbabies.” She sighs wistfully.
“Okay, that’s a lot to take in, Charlotte. And I’m not sure I want kids,” I admit.
“Yeah, you do,” she tells me.
“We’ll see.” I shrug. “What do you think about green?”
“I think pink and green. And gold!” she says. “I also think, before we really get into this planning, we need more coffee.”
“I’ll go get it this time. You stay here. Start looking through these. We need so much stock.” I hand her catalogues from my suppliers.
“Okay, but don’t judge the ones I pick if they’re not what you’re looking for. I’m not the fashionista here,” she warns.
“It will be fine,” I tell her. “Be right back.”
Starbucks is just around the corner. Another perk of this store’s location. I do love my coffee. After placing my order, I stand to the side and wait. Those little hairs on the back of my neck lift. I look around. Someone is watching me, but I can’t see anyone.
It’s probably Emmanuel’s men hiding in the shadows. I’m pretty sure. He always has me followed, even when I don’t know they’re there.
“Evie!” the barista calls out my name.
“Thank you.” I take both cups and turn to make my way back to the store. Stopping when someone steps right up in front of me, blocking my path.
“Miss Carter, nice to see you again,” Agent Shawn Something says.
I look up at him. “I’m sorry? Have we met?” I feign disinterest.
“Cute. We need to talk. I need to show you this,” he says.
“I don’t need to see anything you have to show me. Excuse me.” As I try to step around him, he steps to the side, blocking my exit again.
“Do you have any idea why your boyfriend is going around killing old pageant judges? Cutting their hands off?” he asks. “Just this morning, six more judges were killed, brutally, before the building blew up. Know anything about that?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I tell him.
“You see, I think you’re lying. Considering you’re an ex-beauty queen, who happened to be judged by every single man who’s now being slaughtered. Hell of a coincidence, don’t you think?” he asks.
“There are millions of girls around this country alone who compete in the pageants. Is every single one of those girls suspects?” I ask him.
“Not every one of those girls is fucking a known cartel leader,” the agent retorts while staring down at my cleavage. Gross.
I smile. “I’ll let you in on a little secret.” I’m really tired of men thinking they can intimidate me. “I don’t fuck Emmanuel. I let him fuckme—something you’ll never get to do.”
The agent smiles back at me. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that. When I lock your boyfriend away, you will be back to being a no one, having no one. You’ll need a shoulder to cry on.” His hand reaches out to touch my face.
On instinct, I push one of the cups into his open palm. The lid comes off and hot coffee pours all over him. Okay, maybe I helped the coffee spill out a little.
“I don’t let scum like you touch me,” I tell him.
“Evie, you okay?” Emmanuel’s voice comes from right beside me.
When the hell did he get here? Where the hell did he come from?Then panic sets in. He should not be here. This cop wants him.
“Take me home,” I tell Emmanuel.
