I roll on to my back and look up at him. His jaw is tight, ticking, and his eyes… He looks… hurt. That can’t be right. Am I still dreaming?
“What’s wrong?” I ask, sitting up on the bed.
“We’ve landed. I’ll have Paz take you to the Royal. Call me if you need anything,” he says and then leaves the room.
What on earth just happened? Did I say something in my sleep again?
I continue to lie on the bed for about five more minutes. When I realize Emmanuel isn’t coming back, I get up.
Paz is waiting for me in the main cabin. “Miss Carter, you ready to go?”
“Sure.” I look around, expecting to see Emmanuel but he’s not here.
“He had an important meeting to attend,” Paz tells me.
“You don’t need to lie to me,” I say, walking past him.
I climb into the front passenger seat. Paz sits in the driver’s seat. “Whatever he did, I’m sure he meant well,” he says as he pulls out of the airstrip.
“I think this time it’s something I did,” I admit. “I just don’t know what.”
“I doubt you could do anything that would piss off jefe, Evie,” Paz says, dropping all formalities. “I’ve never seen him like anyone as much as he likes you.”
“He seemed pretty pissed off when he left. But It’s fine. I’m not here for him anyway.” I sigh. “I’m going to spend time with my friend, figure out how I’m going to rebuild my store. Deal with the insurance company and all that.”
“Your insurance is going to be denied,” Paz tells me.
“What? How do you know that?”
“It was arson. They won’t cover it.”
I lean my head back and groan. “Great, so I’m screwed. I literally have nothing.”
Paz laughs, literally laughs out loud. “You’re the girlfriend of Emmanuel Lopez. You definitely do not havenothing.”
“I’m not, and whatever he has is his. Not mine. I don’t want it.” I still need to figure out a way to return the hundred million he deposited into my account. I’m afraid if I send it back, he will double it again like he has the two times before that.
“Sure, you’re not,” Paz mumbles.
The rest of the drive is quiet. I can’t get the look on Emmanuel’s face out of my head, though. I need to know what I did. I need to know why he was so pissed at me. I shouldn’t care. I wanted him to leave me alone and he finally is. I should just go with it. But I can’t. My stomach is turning.
“Where did he go?” I ask Paz. “Emmanuel—where is he?”
“Ah, I’m not sure,” he replies.
“Yes, you do. Can you take me to him? Please.”
“I can’t.”
“I can always tell him I needed to see him and you wouldn’t let me.” I shrug and dig my phone out of my purse.
“Fucking hell, you are more evil than he is.” Paz smiles at me. “I like it.” He picks up his own phone and types a message to someone. No doubt Emmanuel. “Okay, I’ll take you to him,” he says. “But don’t let the place get to you.”
I don’t know what he means by that. Well, not until he drives into a cemetery. “Whose buried here?”
“I honestly have no idea.” Paz shrugs.
It clicks. Laura. She’s here. This is where he comes to talk to her. And all of a sudden, I don’t want to be here. Is it because of her? Is that why he ran out of the room and left me there?
