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“When did you wear a yellow dress, Emma?” he asks, his voice as tense as I feel.
“Today.”
“Goddamn it,” he rages, tossing the card down. “Come with me.”
He grabs me hand and pulls me to the back office, where Moe glances up and immediately drops his pen on the desk.
“What’s going on?” he asks and the only thing I wonder is what my face must look like right now. It’s probably not good if all it took was a single glance to make him realize something was wrong.
“Ryan just sent her flowers with a note that makes it very clear he was watching her today. I don’t think she should be here tonight.”
Moe nods, flashing me a sympathetic look. “I agree. Take her home and stay with her. I’ll call Bree in.”
“Tell her I owe her one, okay? I know she’s worked almost every night this week,” Trey says and I zone out, wondering how many times in the last week alone that Ryan was hiding somewhere watching me while I convinced myself that I was safe. Also, why now? After a month of no contact, why did he reach out now? I fear the answer is to torture me just as I was getting comfortable in my relationship with Nix and I hate him for it.
“Hey,” Moe says, getting my attention by grabbing my shoulders as I let out a yelp. “Didn’t mean to scare you, girl. Head on home and try not to worry about this. We’re not going to let anything happen to you.”
I nod and he flashes me another reassuring smile as Trey leads me out of the office and back to the bar where I grab my bag and keys before following him out to his car. As he pulls out of the parking lot, he calls Tucker and Nix and I relax back into the seat, closing my eyes as I try to focus on the fact that in a few minutes, I’ll be back in Nix’s arms. That gives me a little bit of relief and I suck in a deep breath. The steady hum of the tires on the road is comforting but I can’t help but wonder where Ryan is and if he’s watching me. I’m not brave enough to peek behind us though.
“We’re here,” Trey says, pulling the car to a stop and I open my eyes, letting out a breath when I see Nix waiting for me on the sidewalk. As soon as Trey has the car in park, he yanks my door open and pulls me into his arms.
“It’s going to be okay, baby,” he whispers in my ear and I nod as I cling to him, praying that he’s right.
* * * *
“Emma, I told you I would get you back.” His voice makes my skin crawl and I look around frantically for him but I don’t see him anywhere. “You didn’t really think I would ever let you leave, did you?”
My mind screams at me to run. It’s my only chance, the only way I’ll ever get away… but, which way? It’s dark and I’m surrounded by trees in every direction, making it impossible to judge a safe route. This is what he wants though. He wants me off my game and scared so he can win. Where do I go? One wrong move and this all could be over. Spinning, I check behind me but it doesn’t look any different and I let out a whimper.
“Trying to escape, baby? You should know better by now.”
“Shut up!” I scream into the darkness and he just laughs.
“You remember how much I hate it when you run from me, don’t you? I’ll tell you one thing, Emma, if you run, you’d better get away because if I catch you, it won’t be pleasant for you.”
I take a step forward and his sharp laugh has me stopping immediately.
“Decisions, decisions,” he taunts. “Don’t go the wrong way. If you do, you’ll never be free.”
“No!” I bellow into the darkness, scraping my fingers through my hair. Nix’s face pops into my mind and a tear rolls down my cheek. No, I won’t let him win because I have too much to live for now.
“Emma,” Nix says from somewhere in the darkness but his voice is all wrong. It sounds frail and weak like he’s fading away from me.
“Nix!”
“Did you really think your brothers or this asshole would be able to save you?” he asks and Nix’s limp body falls at my feet. I drop down, running my hands over his face in an attempt to wake him. Oh, God, he’s not breathing. “You’re mine now, Emma. Forever.”
“No!”
“Emma!” Nix yells as he shakes me and my eyes snap open. “Hey, sweetheart. It’s okay. It’s just a bad dream.”
I let out a breath as a sob catches in my throat and his bright blue eyes soften as he stares down at me and wipes a tear from my cheek.
“I’m sorry.”
He sits down on the bed, pulling me into his lap so I’m straddling his legs as he runs his hand down my back. “Do you want to talk about it?”
I bite my lip as I stare at him and the look he gives me in return makes me feel safe in spite of the awful dream I’m about to share with him. “I guess.”
