Is it? Am I only fixated on her because I want a second go at saving Laura?
I don’t think that’s it. I’ve liked knowing that Laura is dead. It’s peaceful. No one can hurt her anymore. She didn’t deserve to die so young, but it’s better that she did.
Evie, though, I’m almost certain I’ll do anything to keep her alive. But if I can’t, then I will take whatever part of her I can. Even if that’s her death.
I will keep this woman to myself. I never have been very fond of sharing.
Chapter Seven
When I wake up, Charlotte is sitting on the sofa in the living room. She looks like she’s just showered and made herself up.
“Hey, you look nice,” I tell her as I cross the suite. I don’t sleep often, but when I do, I always wake up groggy as hell.
“I’ve been waiting for you to wake up,” she says.
“Let me getcoffee first.” I head into the kitchen area. There has to be a coffee pot here somewhere.
Charlotte follows me. “Hey, I think you should get an early flight back home,” she says.
When I find the already full coffee pot, I thank God that I have good friends. Charlotte knew I’d need it. “Why?” I ask her. I just got here.
“Remember that guy from last night? The one you were flirting with?”
“Emmanuel, kinda hard to forget.” I smile at the memory of him I have imbedded in my brain. The sight of him in that suit, the smell of him whenever he got close…
“Yeah, well, I don’t think he was kidding around about being a cartel boss, hon. When I woke up, he was holding a gun to Louie’s head,” she says.
“What?” I gasp, coffee spilling from my mouth.
“He wanted to wake me up and Louie wouldn’t do it.”
“You mean, the guy you just met had a gun to his head and still wouldn’t wake you up? That man is a keeper, Charlotte.” Maybe this whole marriage thingwillwork out for her after all.
“Yeah, well, I did marry him. But that’s not the point. Emmanuel wanted to know what happened.”
“What happened when?” I ask.
“To you,” she says, and her voice goes quiet. “Hewas watching you sleep. I didn’t know. He left after he had carried you up to the bedroom. I didn’t know he came back.”
My blood goes cold. He was watching me sleep. I take a mental inventory of every part of my body. I don’t feel like I was touched. I don’t feel like anything actually happened. But I’ve been wrong before…
“He carried me up to bed? Doesn’t matter. What did you tell him?” I don’t plan on seeing the man again, but the last thing I need is for him to think I’m broken or have issues. Appearances are everything, remember?
“You were talking in your sleep, Evie. He was adamant on finding out why. I didn’t tell him anything other than to look into the pageant world.” She flinches apologetically.
Crap. Fuck. No.
“It doesn’t matter.” I shake my head. “I’m sure he’s forgotten about it by now. But you’re right. I do need to get home.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. I know that.”
“It’s fine. He can dig all he wants. He’s not going to find anything, because there is nothing to find. I’m glad I was here when you got married,” I say, quickly changingthe subject.
“Me too. It’s crazy, right?” She sighs.
It’s fucking insane, but that’s not what she needs to hear right now. She needs support.
“It is, but I think it was for the best. You seem… happy with him.”
