“She’s a bit of a genius. Finished her PhD at twenty-two. I’d like to say that she got her brains from our dad’s side of the family, but I’d be lying.” I lift a brow. “Different mothers,” he elaborates. “My father’s on his fourth wife. I think this current one is an actress.”
I tilt my head, fiddling with the business card. “Like father, like son.”
Amir playfully scowls at me. “I’ll let that one slide since you’re clearly in distress, but be nice to me, Emery, I’m still your boss.” His pocket vibrates, and he pulls out my cracked phone. He reads the caller ID. “It’s?—”
“Quin, I know.” I sigh, holding out my hand. “I’ll take it.”
Amir stands up, polishing off his cocktail. “Call Safia. She’ll be able to help you.”
I give him a small nod, and he exits the office, leaving me to deal with the repercussions of my childlike behavior. I flick my nails anxiously as I draw in a sharp breath, wincing as I answer the call.
“Hello?”
“You promised me, Emery.” Quin’s voice is deep, guttural. “You promised that you’d take this seriously. You can’t miss appointments, not when?—”
“I know,” I cut him off, shoulders slumping with regret. “I’ve already rebooked it for Friday.” I stare at Safia’s card, my chest pounding with longing.Help me. Please. Help us.“Will you…” God, I’ve been unfair to him. “Will you come with me?”
Quin sighs, and I can hear the relief in his tone. “Of course I’ll go with you, darling. You never need to ask. I’ll be there. Every time.”
My lip quivers as the floodgates open, crashing down on me with grief and sorrow. “I miss him, Quin. I…”
“I know, darling. I do too.”
“He should be there.” My voice catches in the back of my throat. “He should be there when we…”
“I’ll try and talk to him again,” he says. “I’ll go to his condo and?—”
"Why would he leave me?" I choke out, the pain of abandonment cutting deep into my heart. The tears come unbidden, unruly. "He said he would never leave."
“He’ll come back. I promise you, love, hewillcome back.”
There’s a veiled threat in his voice, and I can sense the mountains of rage bubbling beneath his stoic, confident exterior. Quin's loyalty to me is unwavering, but his patience with Damon's absence is wearing thin. Almost too thin.
I wipe away my tears, trying to regain my composure. “I’m sorry, Quin. I’m?—”
“You’re allowed to be upset, Emery. You’re allowed to be angry. Never apologize for how you feel. Ever.” He’s silent for a moment. “I love you, my darling girl. No matter what, we'll get through this together."
This hollow chest is temporary. It has to be. I can’t live without a heart.
And Damon ran away with half.
THE HIDING PLACE
QUINTON
The linebetween understanding and judgment is thin. I understand that Damon is hurting. I understand that he’s lost. I understand that he can’t seem to see past his mistakes. I understand that he thinks he’s doing the right thing. That he’s sacrificing his happiness to keep Emery safe.
But safe from what? The cosmic dangers of the world? The uncertainty of life? He truly believes that he’s a magnet for misfortune. And while his history with love and loss is devastating, his departure isn’t a solution. It’s the problem. And that’s where judgment comes in, simmering millimeters away from understanding.
I pound my fist against his Tribeca condo, theechoes like claps of thunder in the empty hallway. He must have forgotten that I know every single one of his properties. I’ve viewed them with him. While he may have forgotten that our past wasn’t always tumultuous, I didn’t.
I’ve scoured every single flat. I’ve searched for him, high and low. This is the last one left. He has to be here. He wouldn’t leave the country or the state. Not even the city. Despite his need for distance, he wouldn’t run far. Not with Emery’s condition. And while bouts of crying are not uncommon for pregnant women, Emery’s relentless tears aren’t a symptom of her hormones. They’re a symptom ofhim.
“Damon! Open the fucking door! I cleared my entire schedule. I have nothing to do today but stand here and wait for you to grow the fuck up.” I pause, banging my knuckles against the oak door. “Open the door!”
“Go away!” Damon growls from inside.
“Open the door!”
