“Um, it’s been closed for the past two weeks. Susie has been MIA since the same night you left. I’ve tried her house, phone, the places she hangs out the most, and nothing. It’s like she vanished.”
There’s worry in her voice. Surely it can’t be a coincidence? Emris can’t be right. Oh god, this is bad. Really bad.
Maybe he’s not the man I made him out to be. Maybe… I can try to give him a chance. But thankfully, we got off that subject before I got the chance to spiral. Bex goes on telling me all about how well her son has been doing at school before we hang up with the promise of lunch together soon. I’m not sure if it’ll be possible, but I miss her, and I think Emris will let me go as long as he or Carson goes with me.I hope. If not, maybe I’ll steal his gun again and not miss.
I set the phone back down and sigh, throwing myself over the arm of the chair onto my back, just as a knock at the door comes. Glancing at the clock, I see it’s only been about fifteen minutes since I ordered room service. I guess maybe they’re quick when you order food off the children’s menu.
Groaning, I roll myself off the couch and walk to the door, not bothering to look through the peephole. But as I pull it open, I regret not doing so instantly.
My eyes grow wide when I see two giant ass men standing outside the door. I attempt to push the door closed, but the scarier-looking one with brown hair and tattoos covering his forearms presses his hand against the other side of the door and forces it back open.
I trip over the rug and crash to the floor, my hands catching me when I land on my ass. The two men step further into the room, towering over me.
“Who the fuck are you, and why are you in my hotel?”
30
EMRIS
“We can headout first thing in the morning. Ray and Troy are staying there with Ash, so they’ll make sure everything is held down until we get back,” I tell Carson as the elevator dings open. We enter and click the floor number.
“That’s fine with me. This place has the best fucking chicken tenders, and I’m starving.” He sends me a devilish smile, and I shake my head. My whole body freezes the second the doors open, and a scream erupts from down the hall leading to the penthouse.
I don’t say anything as I take off running, my gun already out and waiting.
Fuck. I knew I shouldn’t have left her alone. I’m ready to blow the head off of whoever dared break in and hurt my girl, but the second I rush through the cracked door, I see Brielle standing on the couch with a lamp in her hand.
Archer stands by the kitchen counter with his arms crossed as he listens to Brielle and Killian argue over why she’s here.
“I don’t have to tell you a damn thing! I don’t know you, and I’m fucking done with answering to stupid men who demand answers from me!” she yells, still not noticing me standing by the door.
Brielle has the lamp pointed out, ready to swing anytime she needs. Killian’s only a few feet away, his hands on his hips as he tries to get answers from her, but my girl is stubborn.
Archer raises an eyebrow in question as I lower my gun and put it away, knowing Brielle isn’t in any real danger. Although if she drank all the Sunny D in the mini fridge, Killian might lose his shit.
Carson sits down in a chair, bringing a leg over his knee as he watches the entertainment in front of us.
“Little girl, if you don’t tell me who the hell you are right now—” He stops talking when I grip his shoulder. Killian’s head swings to me, annoyance turning to happiness as a smile breaks out over his face.
“Emris!” He brings me in for a hug before releasing me, and that’s when I get the chance to glance over at Brielle, who looks so fucking perfect. She’s so mad right now, I’m surprised there isn’t steam coming out of her ears.
I close the distance between us and gently take the lamp from her and set it back where it goes. Holding my hand out, she takes it willingly and hops down from the couch.
“Guys, this is Brielle. I guess I should’ve told you we were staying here tonight, but I’ve been a tad busy. I had some business to attend to in town and knew this was the safest place I could leave her.” My eyes meet Archer’s across the room, and he nods, knowing the ‘business’ was taking care of Susie.
“The safest,” Archer reassures, closing the distance between us and holding his hand out to Brielle. She looks from me to the giant hand in front of her before she takes it and gives it a shake and a small smile.
Killian, on the other hand, isn’t so gentle. Instead, he wraps his arms around Brielle in a bear hug and lifts her feet off the floor. But unlike with Troy, she doesn’t look tense or uncomfortable with my cousin.
“The famous Brielle! I’ve heard great things,” he says once she’s safe back on her feet.
“Oh yeah, I’m sure all great things.” Sarcasm leaks through her voice as she runs her hands down her arm as if cleaning off the invisible dirt on her sleeve, all while glaring at me.
“Something triggered an alarm from this room, and I’m assuming it’s from the bullet hole in my window.”
A knock comes to the door, saving that conversation for a later time. Archer pulls the door open and a staff member from the kitchen has a rolling cart with a single tray of food on it, which, if I’m guessing correctly, is for Brielle.
The man nods his thanks when Archer hands over a tip, and he leaves after rolling the cart into the living room.
