Page 38 of Black Wave

“I’ll find out what you need. I’ll be in touch, Eduardo. Be safe. Love you, bro.”

He hangs up, and I ponder my choices while I sit at my desk. First things first. I call my main security detail, Philip, and have him come in.

A few moments later, Philip walks into my office. I will explain the reason why he is here. I need to make sure Emma is safe. He is her detail from now on, and I need him to keep me updated on her whereabouts and everything she does. I also ask him to order some red roses and deliver them to her address.

“I need you to give her access to the club at my office and put her name on the VIP list. Give her this card with the roses so she knows to come here.” I hand him the access card for the club. He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.

I know what it must look like. I have never cared for another woman in my life besides my mother, but Emma is not an ordinary woman. She’smywoman, and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to protect what’s mine.

CHAPTER 21

Emma

The girls are planning a visit to Houston. Val, Ainsley, and Piper are coming soon, and Liv and I look forward to the company. I send out a text to Liv.

Emma

I’m picking up some things for the girls’ upcoming visit.

Do you want to come?

Liv

YES

Emma

Well, that was easy. I thought I was going to have to bribe you. I know how much you hate shopping for clothes.

Liv doesn’t reply, so I go about my business and rush home. Even though I am off, I promised my favorite people at work that I would meet them this evening. I got off early today. Well, early this morning, and I slept until noon. Remind me never to work another night shift. Hell, that was rough, but it turned out to bea very good thing, I think to myself as I touch the beautiful floral arrangement Eduardo sent, now sitting pretty on my table. Only day shifts for me. That work-life balance keeps my sanity, unlike my bestie, Liv, who continues to burn her candle at both ends. I laugh at that idiomatic expression.

My mom used that saying often, and I think of her every time I use it. It physically hurts my heart to think about it, but I refuse to make myself forget about them by not talking about them or taking the time to remember the good moments with my family. Maybe I am a glutton for punishment, but I miss my parents and Evie so much. I try to carry their memories with me as if they are still around. I probably need an appointment with a therapist, but what do I say when I am interviewed? “Yes, my family was kind of killed, but my psycho boyfriend tried to keep me in a locked house to rely on only him. His dad has political affiliations with the mafia, but my mom’s parents are the mafia, too.” Yeah, that won’t go over well. Instead, I am trying my best to cope with the grief and guilt that occupy my daily life.

I get dressed quickly and am ready to meet my friends at the sports bar near the hospital. It is a place we frequent for some pre-clubbing drinks. It’s kind of like tailgating before the main event. Happy hour is usually packed with people behaving worse around seven p.m. I grab my keys and admire the roses that occupy most of the kitchen table. They are so aromatic, and as I touch them, I sigh, remembering our encounter from the other night. Staring down at my key fob, I decide against driving there. Instead I open the app settling for an Uber, and place my key back on the table.

I glimpse at my phone. “Five minutes until they get here. Gotta love this city,” I mutter as I close the door behind me.

I enter through the door and look for my friends. I go around a few people and head toward the other side of the bar, seeing the group sitting by the bar at a side table. As I walk over, I see a guy approaching me with purpose, and I stop mid-stride, worried about Julian, until I recognize him—Jameson. The guy that I met with Liv and Dax on Padre Island over a year ago. Geez, crazy. He pulls me into a hug as if we are long-lost friends.

“Oh my god. Who are you with? What are you doing?” I exclaim, throwing my hands in the air like I can’t believe it.

Jameson points over to the table he was sitting at. “I’m here with the guys from the beach when we all last hung out, when…” He doesn’t finish that sentence because we all remember what happened that night before the accident. “I honestly didn’t think I’d ever see you again.” He throws me a megawatt smile, and I can’t help but smile in return. “Come on and say hi to everyone.” He pulls me over to the table where his friends are engaged in conversation, until they all stop to look at us.

“Hey, everyone. Do you remember Emma?” He goes through the introductions, but I remain focused on Dax. He looks at me until recognition dawns on him, and it’s as if the poor guy wants to ask a million questions. “Dax, you remember Emma, right? Liv’s friend?” He pulls me in for a hug, and I laugh.

“Well, gentleman, what a warm reception I’m getting this evening.”

Theo and Eric wave at me in unison, like they are waving to the Queen of England. Jerks. “Well, the whole gang's here tonight.” I quickly turn my gaze back to Jameson, and we begin to catch up on everything we have been up to in the past year. I enjoy how easy it is to talk to him. I can see Dax from the cornerof my eye sitting on the edge of his seat, radiating excitement at the possibility of asking me questions about Liv. Instead, he turns to me and asks if I want a drink.

I raise an eyebrow at him, calling bullshit, and he chuckles in response. “Sure, I’ll take a gimlet.” I hear them all laugh at me. “What?” I reply, shrugging, not getting the joke.

“A gimlet? Isn’t that what older people drink?” He pats my arm in a placating fashion.

“First of all, shame on you, Jameson, for age discrimination and…well, I guess I am just an old soul too. Lastly, it also helps when it is later on in the night, and I just end up getting soda water and lime, and everyone thinks I have the fastest elimination process for alcohol consumption.”

Jameson snorts. “All right, smarty pants. One gimlet is coming up.” He steps away, and I can feel Dax staring at me. I look over at him.

“Will you just ask me already?” I laugh because he is so predictable. He looks like a love-sick popular jock in high school crushing on the nerdy booktrovert.

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