Page 53 of Black Wave

“I had no idea,” he says, looking between Tatiana and me.

“Yeah,” I admit. “I have my hands in a little bit of everything, I guess you could say.” Changing the course of this conversation, I say, “Emma was telling me about the gala. Are you guys going?”

I hear Tatiana snort—a very unladylike snort at that. I smirk, knowing precisely what I am doing, getting the hoped-for response. I look at Dax, the mirth dancing in my eyes. He scowls, knowing and understanding setting in. Tatiana must have thought I was referring to her when I asked if ‘they’ are going. Dax knows I am referring to Liv.

“Well," she replies sluggishly, “I thought I was going, but it appears that I am out of a date,” she retorts, practically snarling like a rabid dog at Dax.

The guy has the decency to look remorseful. I look over at the girl who is now out of a date. She is attractive, no doubt, and well put together. Any man would be happy to have her as a companion to that function. No doubt she would be dressed to the nines. Tatiana perks up at my perusal, but it is not what she presumes.

I scrutinize people, assessing, judging, and calculating to see if they are a threat to anyone I care about, which happens to be Emma. I don’t want any retaliation that could affect my little thief. Emma would be very upset if Tatiana is resentful toward Dax and takes it out on Liv, since they all work at the same hospital. They both have had some terrible things happen in their past, and as for my Emma, well, some are beyond that.

“Well, that’s a shame. A beautiful woman like you shouldn’t be waiting on anyone that doesn’t put you first.” She seems to perk up, eyes alight. “Unfortunately, I am already promised to another or I would take you.” I give her a sincere smile and a good-bye handshake, hoping she can be someone’s everything one day and stop taking the offered scraps.

“It was nice talking to you, Dax. I thought you should know that the girls will show up at the club for a girl’s night. If you understand my meaning, I have everything set to ensure they are well taken care of.'' He nods appreciatively. I ask anyway just to confirm. “You work that night, right?”

He runs his hand through his hair. “Yep, Liv mentioned it briefly but didn’t go into details, but I know I work. I appreciate that, Eduardo.” His expression softens at the mention of his woman, Liv.

I wave it off dismissively as I walk away from the clusterfuck of this conversation. I chuckle to myself. Poor guy almost shit himself watching me, and the look on his face when I told him I dabbled in a bit of this and that. Fucking priceless, I laugh to myself. Now I have to wait until noon to call Emma.

CHAPTER 29

Emma

Eduardo and I fall into a pattern of domesticity. I almost forgot that I have an unhinged stalker after me. He vows to keep me safe, and I feel the safest I have ever been. Since the day Julian revealed his true colors, I haven’t been familiar with having someone care about me like this. Not since my family was alive.

It’s not that I don’t appreciate everything Uncle Andrés did for me, risking his life and that of his men to break me out of Julian’s stronghold. Now, I have someone I talk to every day. We eat dinner together when I am off, and if I have to work at night, we have breakfast before he leaves for the gym, and I sleep after working a night shift in the ER while he is off working. It’s, umm, nice? Normal? I have a family again.

I try not to let the memories of my past taint my day. After all, it is my day off, and I want to see Liv. We had been making plans with the girls coming up from Corpus Christ to visit us, and it’s finally here. Eduardo encourages me to have fun with them, but I have to have security with me at all times. I honestly don't fight it. I feel better knowing that I have someone watching out for me where I can let my guard down a bit.

I sent a group text to Emma, Val, and Ainsley, letting them know I was going to the apartment Liv and I shared. We are all meeting there, and the girl should be making record time on the interstate if I know my besties and their problem with adhering to the speed limit on the open Texas highway.

I pull up to the apartment with Philip by my side. “I don’t see anyone around.” I look in the parking lot as Philip drives us around once again.

“I’ll walk you up and check things out. If everything looks clear, I’ll wait in the car to ensure you are okay.” He looks over at me, and I smile.

“Thank you, Philip. I appreciate that.” I haven’t returned to this place since I saw the writing on the wall. Literally. I shudder at the thought of him being around my belongings. Did he touch my things, place anything there to allow him to watch me?

When Eduardo and a few of his men went to gather most of my essentials, they checked the room extensively and couldn’t find anything, but it still wouldn't surprise me if there were. Julian is very resourceful, and that thought is the nightmare my dreams are made of.

While waiting, I make a cup of coffee and get my laptop out of my bag. I glance down at my watch and wonder what is taking so long. “They should have been here by now,” I mumble under my breath as I search for articles in the Brownsville newspapers about anything related to Julian. I’m reading an article about Julian’s father being re-elected when the door swings open. A very green-looking Liv walks in with the assistance of Ainsley and Val. I jump out of my chair.

“Liv, what’s wrong?” I immediately think the worst. Did Julian do something to her?

She looks up at me, and some vomit is on the side of her mouth. I grab a rag and head over to wipe it away. “Hey, girls, make yourself at home. I should have something for vomiting.”They look at each other, worried about schooling their features, but they bring their bags to the living room and sit on the couch, looking over at us.

Liv tries to downplay things as usual. “I have been exhausted from school and work in clinicals. I felt super dizzy today and must be dehydrated because I haven’t been drinking enough water.'' She looks around at us, seeing if we are buying the lies that she is selling.

I narrow my eyes at her, and she continues.

“You know how it is?”

I shake my head. “I think I have some medication to help with that. Come on, let's get you cleaned up and find something to wear.” I grab a water bottle from the fridge and hold her hand, leading her to her bedroom.

Once we get into Liv’s bedroom, I close the door and turn around, hands on my hip. The annoyance is displayed in my features. “What the fuck, Liv?”

She looks like I slapped her. Okay, that may be too harsh. Her eyes narrow back at me.

“I could ask you the same. What the fuck is up with you, Emma?” she retorts as we stand there, not allowing any secrets we may have to be spoken between us.

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