Page 119 of Debts and Desires
I barely heard the sound of his vehicle leaving before I collapsed on the bedroom floor. I hugged my knees, burying my face as I cried.
A cold nose nudged my arm, making me jump. Mac gave a soft whine, nudging me again. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him tight to me.
“Good boy, Mac. Good boy,” I sniffed. We sat there for a while, not that he seemed to mind.
Remembering Jed’s twenty minute warning, I stood.
“I need to go pack, bud.” I sniffed. Mac whined again, nuzzling his head into me further as if saying no. He looked up, tilting his head.
Carter.
I needed to go to Carter. There was no way Jed could get to me if I was with Carter.
Carefully, I peered out the window and looked down the lane. It looked like Jed was gone.
“C’mon, baby,” I whispered to Mac as if Jed would jump back out any moment. I grabbed the keys to Carter’s truck and all but sprinted to the driver’s side. My hands shook as I unlocked the door, but once it was open, I let Mac jump in and I followed. After the doors were locked, I buckled and headed down the drive.
My heart stopped at the end of the lane when I saw Jed in his truck, waiting.
Quickly, I maneuvered around him and sped away.
As he started to follow me, I pretended to head to the highway. He turned back around, more than likely believing he had this victory. I took the next exit, using the back roads I’d learned from being on a few tow jobs with Carter to get to the shop.
45. KILLSWITCH
November 8
Day Seventy-Three
Ihummed along with the song on the radio as I finished up the last bit I planned to do before leaving. I was already out of my jumpsuit and made a mental note of where I was. I was going to surprise Emmy for lunch, even though I’d said I wouldn’t be home.
A vehicle tore into the gravel lot, pulling me from my thoughts, stopping just in front of the open bay door. I turned in time to see Emmy getting out of my Chevy. It was adorable seeing her short, curvy frame climb out of it. Mac came barreling out, too, but he stuck close to her instead of coming to me. I assumed she had beaten me to it, bringing me lunch. Part of why I was so in lo?—
I noticed her puffy, pale, splotchy face and the smile I had vanished. A cold knot of fear settled in the pit of my stomach. She looked like she’d seen a ghost.
“Emmy?” I asked, throwing my tools on the table beside me and quickly wiping my hands. She collided with me, her sobs echoing in the garage. “Shhh. I’ve got you, baby,” I murmured, running my hand soothingly down her back as I held her. “Talkto me. What’s goin’ on? What happened?” She clung to me tighter, her whole body trembled. Mac rubbed his head on her leg, a soft whine coming from him.
“Emogen?” I asked again, my voice breaking. Emmy only shook her head, her tears soaking into the fabric of my shirt. I felt utterly helpless. “Talk to me, baby,” I repeated.
“H-he…” she breathed, sobbing once more.
He?
He?!
“Did someone hurt you?” I asked, my voice low and fierce.
The thought of someone laying a hand on her filled me with a white-hot rage. Emmy was my everything, and I would move heaven and earth to keep her safe from harm. I pulled back slightly, cupping her face in my hands and forcing her to look at me.
“Emmy, whatever it is, tell me,” I said firmly. “What happened?” She met my gaze, her eyes swimming with unshed tears. The look on her face had me ready to snap someone’s fucking neck. No one touched her. No one.
“He came by again… and he…” she started finally, her voice barely a whisper. “He’s usually so nice,” she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. “I think he was… he was drinking. He wanted me to leave, threatened to… to… Oh,God.” She hiccuped, more tears coming. “He said if I didn’t leave he would…”
“Did he touch you?”
“He has p-pictures. Of us… Carter, he said he wouldhurtme and frame you.”
“Did. He. Touch. You?” I wasn’t angry at her and I was trying so hard to be sensitive for her, but I was barely holding it in. Whoever this prick was would be seeing me and then their maker very fucking soon.
