Page 24 of Owning Emma

Shit, I didn’t either, but it didn’t stop me from stepping forward into both their personal spaces and accessing the situation. “Did he have anything to drink?”

“Only a soda.”

I felt his clammy skin and looked into his unfocused eyes. I tried talking to him, but he looked at me with confusion, his speak long and drown out. Eric shifted on his seat beside me, probably equally displeased with Shaw’s state. “Did you leave the table at all? Did he?”

She thought for a second. “He walked me to the bathroom and waited by the door.”

“What did he do after that?” I watched Eric, sure he was getting somewhere. He was a smart kid and one of the few people at my compound I knew I could trust fully.

“He finished his drink, paid, and we left.” She blinked a few times. “Why?”

He licked his dry lips as if he was buying himself time. “If I didn’t know any better I would suspect Rohypnol.”

I looked back at Shaw. “You think?”

“The onset and symptoms seem to align.” He pointed out and he was right.

“What?” Emma finally asked, her head shaking as she forced the words out.

“He got roofied.”

She gasped, her little hand covering her mouth. “NO.”

I ran my hand through my hair. “Eric, want to help me get him home? I’ll stay here with Emma until she’s finished.”

Eric agreed, helping me take Shaw outside where he leaned against the truck and lost his battle with nausea. Eric cringed, but otherwise said nothing until we managed to wedge his body into the passenger side of the truck, buckle him in and shut the door. “Man, it must have taken a lot to knock this guy out of orbit.”

I nodded my agreement. “He’s a beast. Text me when you get home. Put him in my room, have one of the guys help you out.”

“You sure on that? His room is close enough to yours should he need anything.” I knew it was. But, truthfully, until he was a hundred percent, I wanted him with me.

“My room. Tell my mother to stay with him until we get back and explain to her what happened. We should be back home within a few hours.”

I wanted to go now, drive Shaw home and watch over him until I was a hundred percent sure it was a drug and not some mystery illness, but Emma needed me, too, and I didn’t trust her safety with any of the other guys. The situation had my stomach in knots. Knowing that someone we trusted could hurt him like this, for no apparent reason but to be vengeful, made me feel physically ill.

I watched as Eric slid into the driver’s side, then buckled up before looking over his shoulder to pull out. He gave me a slight head nod before pulling away, and I watched him until he was entirely out of sight before walking back into the bakery.

Emma stood behind the counter and the minute she heard the bells on the door, her head popped up to look at me, her pretty little eyes zoomed in. “Is he . . . is he going to be alright?”

I sucked in a deep breath, trying not to let my fear show. “Why, if I didn’t know any better I would almost think you cared.”

“You know I do. I’m not a complete monster. Or, any monster at all, really.” There was a heavy suffocating pause where I could almost hear her voice whispering in the back of my mind, I’m not a monster, like you. Because even though she didn’t voice it, she didn’t have to. I know the way she looked at me sometimes, like if she stood too close I might char her skin and rub off her good luck. It seemed to be a look I got more often since the night of the auto shop.

I ran my hand over the stubble of hair on my head as I looked down toward my feet. “I mean, I hope he will be okay. My mom is watching him until we are done here.”

“You didn’t have to stay. I could run this place just fine, even with my father gone. I don’t need a babysitter for something I’ve spent my whole life doing.”

I looked around, suddenly noticing her father’s absence. “Where is your father?”

She put her tiny little fist on her hips and held a defensive stance. “I told you he had to go out of town for a few days. He had a meeting with one of the suppliers, trying to get a lower cost so that we can raise our profit.”

She did mention something like that to me, although I thought it was ridiculous because wining and dining suppliers to get a lower rate wasn’t going to get them out of this predicament. “Sorry. I remember.”

“Yeah, so it’s just me today and tomorrow.” She shifted as if she felt awkward, as if talking to me was the most uncomfortable thing she’s had to do.

“How did you get all this out this morning?”

She bit her lip, fighting a smile. “I might have had some help.”

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