Page 63 of Not Your Hero

“Okay.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. If you think you can handle me,” she laughs a little. It’s the perfect sound coming from her. I know it’s been a long time since she’s laughed the way she just did, and I want more of it.

“I think I can handle you. The question is, can you handle me?”

“I’m pretty sure I can.”

“Hmm. Even downstairs?”

“Even more so downstairs.”

“You liked it?” I ask her.

“I did. It was different, but it was also freeing in a way.”

“I’m glad I could do that for you.”

“What happens now? With your brother?”

“Why do you think this involves him?”

“You’re tense.”

“You’re right. I’m not going to lie to you, Emerson. He’s gone.”

“What do you mean gone?”

“I mean, he’s missing. He packed up and left his house. Everything has been stripped as if he were never there.”

“The girls?” she asks. I scrub my free hand over my face.

“Gone. I don’t know where their bodies are.” I can feel her tensing in my arms, and I hate it.

“He’s coming for me.”

“He isn’t going to touch you, baby.”

“You don’t know that!” she snaps before climbing off my lap. “He got me once, didn’t he?” Now I’m on my feet in front of her.

“And you think I’d be stupid enough to let that happen again?”

“I don’t know, Gannix! I don’t know what to believe!” She yells, throwing her arms out to her sides.

“You should believe I’m going to protect you, Emerson. I’m going to keep you safe because you belong to me now.”

“It’s not that easy, and we both know it. He could … he could be out there right now, Gannix.” Her voice has lowered, and I can tell this is really bothering her. I move closer and grab her shoulders, forcing her to look at me.

“Emerson, I will not let him harm you. Do you understand me? I promise you.” Her eyes are full of tears as she looks up at me, and I wish there were more I could do for her and make her see I’m not going to let anything happen to her.

“You can’t promise that.”

“I can. I can promise that,” I vow.

“He’s your family. He’s your blood.”

“Emerson, look at me,” I demand. She brings her eyes to meet mine and holds them there. “He might be my blood. He might be the only person alive who knows me, but you, you’re everything to me. Do you understand that?” She licks her lips and starts to look away, but I reach up and grab her face, forcing her to look at me. Tears slip down her cheeks as she slowly nods her head, causing my heart to swell.

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