Page 78 of Black Wave

“Jameson,” I answer, out of breath. “Where are you? Someone has Emma. I just know it.”

“I’m at this restaurant down the street. I got stood up tonight. I’m on my way. I see her in this warehouse not far from here. Do you see it?”

I look at the star shape on my screen, nodding. “Yeah, I see her. We're on our way.” Just then, we all get an SOS from the location Emma is at.

“Oh shit. Emma is in trouble.” I just hope we aren’t too late.

We speed to the location of the building that the SOS came from. We scan the area, and nothing looks out of the ordinary. The building is dark. I see Jameson running over from across the street, and a few of my men are walking around the park across the street, ready to intervene if necessary. Eli, Jameson, and I walk into the building, trying to be as discreet as possible. I have my gun, as does Eli, and we give one to Jameson should the situation arise for him to need it. Better to be safe than sorry.

The door is open, and we walk into almost blackness. Except, I catch sight of golden hair that shines brighter than any light. A beacon calls out from the dark of night, guiding a ship into the safety of storming waves at sea. A light shines, and I see Cherry. Her face is messed up, and I look at Emma, who is unhurt from what I can tell. She is tied to a supporting column in the middle of the room. Cherry’s eyes are bruised over, and it appears her nose may be broken. I take pride in my girl; she let her have it.I wonder what caused such an exchange. Emma locks eyes with me, and Julian steps in from the corner with his gun pointed at me.

“Drop your weapons and kick them forward.”

We all lower our guns and drop them, as he says. Cherry has a knife to Emma’s neck, and Julian has our firearms. Emma is still staring at me. Julian steps in front of my line of sight, blocking Emma.

“Don’t fucking even look at her. She’s mine and for my eyes only. You remember that.”

My jaw ticks, and I could murder that asshole if I knew that Emma wouldn’t get hurt.

Cherry’s head snaps over to Julian. Her knife leaves Emma's neck and falls at her side. She looks hurt by his words. She moves toward him, and we watch, anticipating what will happen. If she pushes him, we could get to Emma or take him down. There are three of us.

“What do you mean she’s yours?” The feral, unhinged look in her eyes is scary even for me to witness, and I see Emma cringe inwardly. Cherry snaps her sights on Emma. She is defenseless as Cherry lunges for her.

“I’ll fucking kill that bitch. She can’t have you too. I did everything for you, Julian.” She goes to attack Emma, and my girl braces for it, but Julian intercepts her and pushes Cherry onto the floor.

“No one else hurts Emma. She is only mine to hurt.” The spit flies from his mouth, and he is indeed the monster Emma described him as. Cherry lies on the floor and attempts to get up. Julian walks forward to her and points his gun at her.

“I can see you are going to be a problem. I was hoping we could have some fun together, but I don't think it will work out anymore, Cherry.” With that, he lifts his gun and shoots her twice in the chest.

She lands backward as red appears on the ground, pouring out from her chest wounds, making the red of her shirt even darker. She places a hand on her chest as blood comes out of her mouth in a cough that sprays blood all over the floor. Julian lifts his gun once more and shoots her in the head. Three bullets and Cherry is gone.

I stare at her dead body. Her eyes have fixed, locked on something she no longer sees. I know that she is gone. I look over at Julian, who has already lost interest in Cherry, if she ever held any interest for that man. He walks over to Emma and stands off to her side.

“I think this has gone on long enough, Emma, don’t you? Why don’t you tell Eduardo who you really love.” He looks over at Emma expectantly. I lunge forward, praying that I can get to him, but he sees me from the corner of his eyes. He lifts his gun at Emma.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you, Eduardo.” He tsks. “If you claim to love her as much as you say, it would be in your best interest not to move any closer.” He moves closer to us and kicks the weapons out of the way. I look over at Jameson and Eli. We all have the same pained expression of anger and sadness in our eyes.

“Say it, Emma!” he screams at her, and she looks him in the eyes, not backing down.

“I’ll never say that to you, Julian,” she says low enough, but its effects are crushing to Julian. His eyes narrow, and he lifts his gun to her. Emma locks eyes with me and mouths ‘I love you always.’

Epilogue

EMMA

Iknow my time has run out. Julian has found me, and it’s over. I can’t say that I don’t have so many regrets in my life. I can never make amends for all the lives lost at my expense. Eduardo has been the best at keeping me safe, at least up until now, but it was always going to come to this. This moment when it all changes.

I hope that he doesn’t blame himself for this. It was bound to happen, and now it’s over. I can’t control many things, but I can manage this. If I am gone, I won’t be a burden to anyone anymore. My family is all gone, and I know Eduardo might be sad for a long while, but eventually, he will move on and have the chance to be happy.

I glance over at Cherry and stare at her vacant eyes. She was so alive just a moment ago; now she is dead on the floor because she became involved with Julian.

“I think this has gone on long enough, Emma, don’t you? Why don’t you tell Eduardo who you really love.” I hear him say this, and I just continue to stare at him. He will wait a long time if he seriously thinks I will ever say that to him. I look over to Eduardo and mouth, ‘I love you always.’

This enrages Julian, and he lifts his gun and points it right at me. I can no longer look at Eduardo and see his sad eyes looking back at me. I close my eyes, accepting my fate, and think of all the times we had recently. I see all the time spent with my sister and my family in Mexico. I see all the times spent by Eduardo and me under the stars. The time he gave me my necklace. When he proposed and worshiped my body. I smile and accept my death. I hear Julian say good-bye to me, and Eduardo screams, “No!” I hear the trigger fire, and then nothing.

I hear a loud thunk, and I open my eyes to see Julian on the floor beside me. Eduardo is running over to me, and Jameson is looking over at someone with his mouth hanging open as if he is seeing a ghost. Eduardo is rubbing my arms up and down and is holding me tight.

“Oh, my Emma.” He is kissing me over and over and has a firm hold on me, getting me out of the chair and lifting me into his arms. I follow Jameson’s line of sight, and if Eduardo wasn’t holding on to me, I’d pass out.

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