Page 29 of Play With Me

I lifted my legs up to the bench, curled them underneath me, and lay on my side. I wasn’t sure whether I fell asleep waiting for my answer or not, but I jolted up at the sound of approaching footsteps. From the way my eyes reacted to the sun, it looked like we’d welcomed daylight some hours ago.

“I knew I’d find you here. You’re going to catch pneumonia or at least a cold if you’re lucky.” My friend sat down beside my head.

I yawned, blinking as a sun ray caught a reflective stone on a grave, and so I sat up. Fortunately for me, the night was warm enough to stay here.

“Hey, Emma. Is something wrong?”

“Not that I know of. But I’m worried about you, Lola. I called you ten times and you didn’t answer.”

Wanting to avoid Brook, I’d turned off my phone.

“I’m fine. Really.”

She sighed. Emma didn’t believe me. “You know, sometimes I think you’re taking this second chance thing a little bit too seriously.”

I pressed my hand to the middle of my chest. “I can’t waste this.”

Never.

Emma covered my hand with hers.

“Sebastian would have wanted you happy.”

A sudden lump formed in my throat, and I slowly leaned my head to my left until it rested on Emma’s shoulder. We both stared ahead. Emma was smart. She knew exactly how to shut me up.

“Sebastian wouldn’t want you to give up on love and happiness and living, sweetie. He’d want you to laugh until your lungs burst, cry until your tears dried up, and dance until your feet blistered. He’d want you to carry the memory of you two for the rest of your life. Every single memory, even the ones that now make you sad. Remember how happy that same image made you when he rubbed your belly and your swollen feet or when you went for your first ultrasound? It hurts now, but it was your happy moment. Keep it as such. Remember those good times as much as those bad times because it’s their combination that makes you the beautiful and talented woman that you are. I miss him too, sweetie. We all miss him. My cousin will always be remembered as one of the bravest men I’ve known.”

After the accident, after I nearly burned alive, Emma saved me. Someone else saved me first, but Emma saved me afterward, when it was time to recover and I didn’t want to. She mourned with me, cried with me, and once even slapped me. In her defense, I’d needed a good slap. In my defense, I was on morphine. But that’s how I knew that she was a true friend. Kate was like that too. My decision to take over the case Sebastian had worked on was easy. My partner in life and crime would have wanted me to finish his jobs. Kate’s file, which had been started by her missing father, Xavier Black, was the only one remaining on top of Sebastian’s desk.

A few weeks after my hospital release, Emma was there with me, punching the shit out of a boxing bag at her brother’s club. I’d hit it over and over until my bandaged knuckles bruised. The pain I felt those six months I came into the gym every morning was nothing compared to the pain I felt from my loss. The punching bag was finally beginning to hold my attention long enough to forget that pain for at least a few minutes.

“I hate you,” I whispered.

“I hate you too,” she echoed. I lay down on the bench again, but this time I rested my head on her lap, and she combed her fingers through my hair. Over the next few minutes, I went over every letter on the gravestones, memorizing their curvature and depth, admiring how the sun sparkled in the middle of the O when it hit the granite stone. It was beautiful.

“I should get going. Maybe I can catch some real z’s before another drama ensues at the Madden house.”

Besides, I needed to be there where Kate woke up; though if I had to bet, she’d probably made up with Cameron and would sleep in his arms until at least noon. Those two loved each other too much to let a stupid coincidence meddle between them.

I rose and zipped my coat. Emma slid her palms into her jacket and stood up. “Take care of yourself, and let me know if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Emma. I owe you.”

“All you owe me is a satisfied client.” She laughed back.

“Yeah, but Xavier’s missing.”

“We’ll chat about that soon enough. Fill Kate in on everything first.”

Got it.

She disappeared behind a corner before I had a chance to reply. She was acting more like a fucking “M” from James Bond each day, and it suited her.

I took a cab to my house and then drove to Cameron’s condo, making a note to talk to them both about moving to a more secure location. Cortez was still on the hunt, and we couldn’t let our guard down now. I parked behind the building and extended my chair backward. It was only nine in the morning, and the lovebirds were probably sleeping it off. Not a moment after I closed my eyes, my phone rang.

I slid my finger to accept the call, ready to tell Brook that I needed more time, but he cut in first. “Kate may be in trouble. Cameron’s condo.” He hung up before I had a chance to tell him that I was on my way. I shot out of my car and didn’t wait for the elevator.

It felt like I banged on that door for hours, but it was only minutes before Cameron and Brook arrived, looking for Kate. Then they were telling me that she had been kidnapped by her half-brother, who I thought had died decades ago. The next thing I knew, we were all heading for the airport, chasing my client back to Pace, praying she was still alive.

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