Page 30 of Black Wave

After completing my work posts, I started to go the personal route. I don’t post much on my personal page, but I keep it updated. I have a close group of friends from when I was in college and maintain good relationships with my frat brothers. We had so much fun then and stayed in touch. We get together quite often, but work prevents me from hanging out with them as much as I would like. I allow them access to my VIP area with exceptional bottle service whenever they want. It’s a perk of being the boss. I can still work and then spend some time with them if they can come to party at my establishment. They also don’t mind being granted access to one of the finest clubs in the city with VIP service.

I decide to pull up the social media for Emma and am not surprised when I see nothing recent. The last time she updated anything was a couple of years ago. It has pictures of her and her sister. I zoom in on the one picture of her and Evie. I almost stop breathing when I zoom in on the image and see Emma up close. It isn’t her beauty that catches my breath, but the necklace around her neck. The chain that I gave her about a decade ago. She still wears it. The thrill that racks my body is intense, and my possessive side that has been fighting the urge to claim her rages. I knew it. I slam my fist on the table, and my laptop jumps. Fuck. Her mother kept me away, but I hadn’t considered Emma’s feelings.

Does she still think of me? Does she still want me? Is she waiting for me? These are all questions that I will get theanswers to. She still wears my necklace, a telltale sign that she remembers me. Now, I just need to recreate our past and make her remember me in the present tense.

We are both of legal age now, and unfortunately, we never got to explore the possibility of more because of her parents. I respected their wishes, but I know they aren’t around. She has no immediate family, and I’ll find her, despite what her uncle wants, and I will protect her. I’ll be the family she needs. If she will have me, that is. And if she won’t, I’ll have to convince her otherwise. I know I won’t give up easily like I did last time, thinking I was doing the right thing. I am doing this for me and Emma—for our future.

Without considering it, I pick up the phone and call my brother, Ram. He finally picks up as I am about ready to hang up. “Hey, fucker, why did it take you so long?” I am annoyed, but the humor in my voice is still present.

“What the fuck, asshole? I was busy.” I hear a woman in the background laugh as he discreetly tries telling his fiancée that it’s me and he has to take the call.

“Is that Anna?” I say mostly to annoy him.

“Of course it’s Anna,” he growls into the phone. I hear my future sister-in-law’s voice in the background and her telling me hi.

“Hello,” I say into the phone.

“Yeah, just a second.” I hear him kiss her, and the door closes. “Okay, I’m back.”

“Wow,” I mock. “Someone is pussy-whipped.”

He laughs. “Damn straight. You’re just jealous.”

He isn’t wrong, but I hate to admit that. I gather up the courage to ask him about what I called for. “Hey, I was hoping you could help me with something?” He doesn’t comment; he just waits for more pieces of information. “So, I was looking through my social media stuff and came across Emma’s profile.”

He laughs at this. “Just fell into the profile, did you? Just stumbled across it, or did you type in her name and Insta-stalk her.”

Not wanting to lie, I go with the truth. “I Insta-stalked her. What was more unsettling was that she was wearing my necklace in a picture. I gave her that about ten years ago.”

“No shit,” he says.

“No shit, brother,” I echo his words. “I was wondering if maybe we could look for her. See where she is. I know her parents died in that sketchy-ass fire, but perhaps it is nearby?” He stays silent, but I know that he has listened to me and is absorbing it all, devising a plan.

“I think we could do that if that is what you want?”

I don’t hesitate to reply. “That’s most definitely what I want.”

CHAPTER 17

Emma

After consuming our weight in pizza and beer, I’m slightly buzzed as Adrian helps me back to my apartment. He brings his duffle bag and throws it on the couch. He begins to get out his toiletry bag and sleep pants.

“Hey. I’m going to use your bathroom for a second, okay? I’ll be right back.” He disappears into the bathroom, and I sit on the couch, twirling my hair, something I do out of habit when profoundly thinking about a problem.

Adrian emerges shortly after changing to get ready for bed. I stand and go to my room, returning with bedding for the couch. I hate that he has to sleep there after driving all this way. Soon, I’ll be able to buy my house or become more settled, where I’ll have a spare bedroom for guests.

I start to make up the couch with my bedding, and Adrian grabs a side of the fitted sheet and pulls it over the pillowed cushioned seats. I apologize to Adrian for the accommodations, but he just blows it off. He is too kind to comment about having to sleep on a sucky couch.

“So, cousin, what do you think of the plan?” He tugs on the last side of the sheet, and we drape the other top sheet and blanket, placing a couple of down pillows on top.

I actually love the plan because I have other feelings about it. Feelings I have yet to say aloud. Liv is also my best friend, and it seems like the right choice to help her. “I love it. Houston sounds like the right move.” I instantly touch my necklace, and Adrian notices right away.

“Emma?” he asks. “Is there something more I should know about you wanting to go to Houston?” He motions with his chin, nodding at my necklace.

I look over at Adrian to see him frowning as he observes me, waiting for my reply.

I realize I’m still holding the necklace and drop it quickly. I cannot lie to my cousin. First, he would see right through it because we grew up together. Second, I find that I don’t want to lie to him. I am at a time in my life when I have no one to confide in, and it scares me. I used to have my sister, and she is gone. I live with that realization every day, so I decide to be honest.

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