Page 81 of Killing Emma

“Shut the fuck up, Henry,” I snap. “You act like you didn’t stalk and basically kidnap your wife in order for her to be with you.”

“And you kept yours in the basement,” Jude reasons.

Henry’s eyes grow wide. “You kept her in the basement?!”

I give him a weary look as I punch in the code to the door. “Just until I knew she wouldn’t try to run.” I push down on the lever, and step inside, only to freeze as I flip on the light.

“Holy shit,” Jude says what we’re all thinking.

My system is fucked.

“Damn, female rage is brutal,” Henry mutters. “You must’ve really pissed her off.”

“There’s no way to track the Tahoe now.” Defeat crushes my chest. “Why the fuck would she do this to me?”

“If she didn’t see the note…” Jude steps across the mess, swooping up a monitor and the keyboard. “She might’ve thought… I don’t know. I told you she was unhinged.”

“This is not the Emma that Lydia describes,” Henry says as Jude picks up the pieces and sets them on the desk. “Not even close.”

“She’s come out of her shell, apparently.” I grab the mouse from the floor and take it to Jude’s pile. He’s going to try to patch the system back together to get a track on the Tahoe. But deep down…

I already know where she’s going.

And she’s taking my fucking dog with her.

The alleged betrayal cuts like a fucking knife, but I force a breath. I don’t know for sure if she’s going to him. She could be going to talk to her attorney. She could just need to get away for a while. Maybe she’s just mad and needs to cool off.

“I think this will work,” Jude hums as he kicks on the power. The screen is cracked, but much to my relief and anticipation, it kicks on. “I doubt she knew that doing this would make it harder to track her.”

“I wonder how long ago she left,” Henry comments, leaning against the wall. “She must be one hell of a woman to live here with you, Luca.”

I ignore him as I glance up at the clock. “She easily could’ve been gone for… thirty hours? That’s if she left not long after I did. But I don’t know when she left. I don’t know anything.” And as I admit it, worry rocks my chest. This is bad.

“Where do you think she’s headed?” Jude turns to me as the computer powers on. “You know her better than any of us—Lydia included,” he adds. “Sorry Henry. It’s just true.”

I swallow the hurt that comes with what I have to say. “She’s probably going to Jared. I don’t know why…”

“Closure,” Jude says thoughtfully. “I bet she wants closure.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’d do to whoever thought they’d kill me.” Henry shrugs. “I bet the shock value on the asshole’s face will feel really good.”

“He could hurt her,” the words spill out of my mouth with a sick feeling. “We need to get a plane ready.”

“I’ll get one ready.” Henry gives me a nod. He pulls out his phone and steps out of the room, leaving me to pace and Jude to curse at the computer.

“Why the fuck would she do this?”

“Why the hell wouldn’t she?” Jude makes a face at me.

“She was so fucking adamant about me not touching him,” I growl, rage boiling up and making head grow light. “She loves him.”

“Or she hates him, and she wants to confront him. Again, closure. It’s not really about her feelings. It’s about the fact that he hired someone to kill her, and I don’t think love has anything to do with it—maybe a little—but not because she loves him. I think she wants to hear his answers.”

“I would’ve taken her,” I exasperate. “I would’ve helped her and kept her safe while she did whatever she needed to do. She chose to do it this way. She’s choosing him.”

“You’re so fucking blind,” Jude mutters as he clicks through the computer. “She’s two hours from his house. And that’s the address she has plugged into the system.”

“Call the car,” I demand, my heart thrumming in my ears. “Call the fucking car.” She’s running right back to him.

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