Leaning in, I catch it with my lips and hear her breath catch. “You’re right, some times they can’t be, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stop trying. This case may be what brought me back, but it doesn’t change what I feel for you, what I have always felt for you. No matter how long it takes, Em, I will not give up,” I tell her truthfully, making sure she knows where I stand. Her gaze is watery and mistrustful. I know she doesn’t believe me, not yet, but I didn’t really expect her to. Giving her one last kiss at the corner of her eye, I decide to back off and go take a seat at the table.
She goes back to filling the coffee pot, and I don’t miss the tremble of her hand. I watch her move around the kitchen with precision and notice her grab for things without even looking, knowing exactly what her hand will encounter. She clears her throat, pulling me from my thoughts. “So when are you leaving to get your vehicle and go back to your hotel?”
“I’m not.” Her gaze snaps to mine in surprise. “I was serious, Emily, when I said I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying glued to your fucking side until this case is solved.” If I have my way I won’t be leaving her side ever.
“Well that’s impossible. You can’t come with me to work, and…”
“You can’t go to work.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Of course I can.”
“No, you can’t. It’s not safe for you to be anywhere without me.”
She gapes at me aghast. “Ryder, I work at a rehabilitation clinic with children. Not…”
“Exactly! After what happened last night do you want to risk bullets flying at them?”
I feel like an asshole when her face pales. “No, of course not, but you don’t even know if what happened last night has to do with me.”
“No, I don’t, but I intend to find out soon.”
“And how are you going to do that?”
“There’s a reason why I left my vehicle at the theatre last night.”
She frowns. “Why?”
“Because when the cops run the plates they will be able to track me down.” She continues to stare at me in confusion, not understanding my intention. “Witnesses saw us flee the scene. Any cop in their right mind is going to find out why. If they don’t come asking questions then I know it’s being kept quiet and they aren’t seeking us out for a reason.”
She pours both of us a cup of coffee while mulling over what I just said then walks over and puts mine down in front of me. “I just can’t believe my father is capable of any of this. I know he’s vindictive, but to sexually assault young girls? To want me dead? I’m his child, Ryder, he may not love me but I’m still his daughter.”
Her voice catches and she turns to walk away, but I grab her hips before she can and bring her down on my lap. I wrap my arms tightly around her so she can’t escape. “I know this must be hard to accept, Em, even if you aren’t close to him. Maybe I’m wrong about the shooting. I guess we’ll find out by how it’s handled, but I’m not willing to risk it, I’m not willing to risk you. So until this is over I’m not leaving your side.”
I hear her sniffle as she swipes at her cheeks. “I can’t stop thinking about those girls. I feel sick to think he could do that to them, that anyone could. And does my mother know? Would she even care? Some days I think she’s worse than he is.”
“I don’t see how she couldn’t know, she must at least suspect something.” She shakes her head and I feel her back tremble from crying. I decide to stay quiet and just hold her, knowing there is nothing I can say to make this better. It feels really goddamn good to hold her like this; I just wish it were under different circumstances.
A few minutes pass before she speaks again. “So what’s the plan? And what do I tell people about you?”
“You tell them the truth, except leave out the part that I’m an FBI Agent.”
She tries making sense of that. “How am I supposed to tell them the truth if I can’t say you’re an FBI Agent?”
“You tell them everything else.” I hold her closer and bring my mouth to her ear. “You tell them I’m a part of your life again and I’m not going anywhere.”
“Since when is that the truth?” She means to be sassy but her tone is soft and unsure.
“Since the day I came back, and everyone is going to know it, including your parents.”
She stiffens. “Don’t, Ryder. I told you I would help you, but I won’t let you use me just to piss my father off as part of your revenge.”
She tries escaping from my arms but I hold her tighter. “This has nothing to do with pissing your father off. This has to do with taking back what was taken from me, Emily, and that’s you. You are fucking mine, you have always been mine, and I’m not going to let anyone get in my way from getting it back – including you.”
She keeps silent and I know it’s because she doubts every word I just said. Sweeping her hair to one side, I press a kiss to her bare shoulder and watch goose bumps break out over her soft skin. “Say it, baby,” I whisper, placing another kiss, but this time to her slender neck. “Tell me, you’re mine.” Her breathing turns erratic and the room becomes thick with tension. Right when I think I have gotten through to her, and things are about to take a turn in my favor, I hear the front door fly open.
“Emily?” I instantly recognize the Mexican lady’s voice.
Fuck, what bad timing.
Emily immediately jumps up. “I’m in the kitchen, Rosa.”
Rosa comes rushing in and pulls Emily into her arms. “Oh, honey, are you all right?” she asks, her voice thick with worry, clearly knowing about last nights events.
“Yes, I’m okay.”
She cups Emily’s face and inspects it before turning to me. She takes in my shirtless state and bandaged ribs, and if looks could kill I would be ten feet under right now.
“You!” She spits my name accusingly before grabbing the dishtowel off the sink and starts slapping the shit out of me with it. “I told you to leave my girl out of this!”
Emily gasps in horror then tries reaching for the dishtowel while I’m blocking the soft blows from my face. “No, Rosa, stop! This isn’t Ryder’s fault.”
“Oh yes it is!” she argues, continuing to hit me. I finally get a good grip on the towel and rip it from her, but that doesn’t stop her from one last blow. With her bare hand she slaps my arm hard enough that I swear she leaves a fucking imprint. Jesus, she’s a feisty one.
“Really, Rosa, it’s not Ryder’s fault. He saved my life.”
“It is his fault!” She exclaims while pointing a finger at me. “You don’t listen! I told you this would happen!”
Emily looks back and forth between us, her face pinched in confusion. “What do you mean you told him this would happen? What are you talking about?” Realization quickly dawns on her expression. “Is this what you guys were arguing about the other day? Does she know who you really are? Is there anything I haven’t been lied to about?” she asks hurtfully.
“No, she doesn’t know. It’s not what you’re thinking, Em. It’s…” I get cut off when the sound of the door flies opens again. Jesus, don’t people fucking knock around here?
“Emily! Where are you? We need to talk to you right now!” The cold and demanding female tone has me tensing.
Emily glances over at me nervously. “It’s my parents,” she mouths before rushing into the living room.
Rosa follows close behind her, looking terrified as hell. I decide to stay where I am for now, and wait to see what they want.
“Were you ever going to tell us that you were at the scene of a crime last night?” I hear her mother ask snidely, sounding as big of a bitch as I figured she was.
“How did you find out already?”
“Cece told her father after your phone call to her this morning, then Paul called your father. He figured he had a right to know.”
I’ll bet the motherfucker already knew.
“I was planning on telling you. It happened late last night and I’m fine. I…”