Page 27 of The Killer Who Kept Me

“I really think a champion is defined not by their wins, but by how they can recover when they fall.”

~ Serena Williams

Saros

I’d hadMike scouring every facet of the Internet to gather information on Em, but in one fell swoop Martha, my cook, had gotten more out of him than Mike could find.

November. It was a unique name, and I liked it. What I didn’t like was the reason for the name. When he’d explained that his parents hadn’t wanted him, my mind went to all scenarios, mostly to wondering if his parents had sold him to Ramsey or something like that.

Em had been through enough, so I didn’t want to press him for more right now. I’d let Mike know what I’d found out and see what he could do with it.

“I got you some comfortable clothes. I’ll arrange to get more clothing for you.”

“You don’t need to buy me clothes. I mean, I doubt Ramsey is going to hand over any of the ones I have there, but it’s too much.”

I placed the folded clothes at the bottom of the bed. “I’ll decide what’s too much, Em.”

He nodded and began eating. I watched as he closed his eyes briefly, savoring the taste as if he hadn’t eaten anything so wonderful in his life. And while it should make me happy to provide him with nourishment, I found it only angered me more.

“Paulo gave me these.” I put some pills on his tray. “To help with the pain. After you’ve eaten, take them and get some rest. We can talk more in the morning.”

I turned to leave, but Em’s voice stopped me.

“Ramsey isn’t going to just let me go. I’ve told you that.”

I faced him and regarded his worried expression. “I cease to care what Ramsey Brookes wants. As of tomorrow his life is about to change, and not for the better. He’ll be too busy trying to save the sinking ship he’s standing in to be able to retaliate against me.”

“You’ll start a war because of me? How ridiculous.” He scoffed and sipped his water.

“Wars have started over far less reasons. While, yes, you’re a factor in this, you’ve lifted the veil for me. I wasn’t paying very close attention to him. He wasn’t making waves. But it appears he actually was. For that alone, I’ll set him to rights.”

“H…how?”

“Rest, Em. You need to sleep—and I mean really sleep, and heal, and get stronger.”

His brow crinkled, but he didn’t say anything more. This time when I made to leave, he let me.

By the time morning came,I wasn’t well rested. If anything, I was more agitated. Mike had people digging through the web, and Cosmo and Benny had ears to the ground. I was curious what the mumblings were overnight and told Cosmo, Benny, and Mike to meet me for breakfast.

First, I wanted to check on Em. Dressed and ready for the day, I knocked on his door, hoping he too was up.

“Come in,” a soft voice answered.

I entered the room and Em was sitting up. At some point, he’d changed into the sweats I’d given him.

“Good morning.” I approached the bed. “Sleep well?”

“Yeah, pretty much. The bed is really comfortable, but I woke a few times, forgetting where I was.”

I chuckled. “I get that way sometimes at hotels.”

Em seemed nervous, and I imagined he had a lot of overwhelming thoughts and with the unknown in front of him, that had to be scary.

“I have a meeting this morning, and Martha will bring up breakfast for you. Afterward, I thought you and I could talk a little more.”

“Uh, okay, about what?”

I had a very good memory and listened when people talked. “Last night, at the club, you said you had more to tell me, remember?”

---