Earl stared at us. Seconds passed.
“Fine. Ashley will stay alive. I have no plans to kill her. But, and this is the big but, you will entertain Emily while I get her. She belongs to me. I want time with her alone, away from prying eyes.”
“Emily will want to see her.” I had to make sure Emily got what she wanted.
Earl ran a hand down his face and shook his head. “I get six months with Ashley before any visiting.”
“A month,” I said.
Caleb sent me a sharp look. They clearly hadn’t seen the connection between Emily and Ashley, but I had. I knew what was at stake. They could all take the credit, but I had to make sure she was taken care of.
“Not a chance. Five.”
“Two.”
“Four,” Earl said.
I stared at him.
“Two, and you get to bring her here and leave when you want.”
“Even if Ashley tries to convince you to let her go, you will make sure she leaves with me,” Earl said.
“If she wants to leave you, then you should think about the women you keep,” Caleb said.
“Deal,” Earl said. “Now, I don’t like to wait around. I want Ashley and I want her now. Let’s go and fetch our women, boys.”
****
Emily
“You’re nervous,” Ashley said.
We’d met up for coffee at a nice café. I’d decided to sit outside while she went to order for us. She returned with coffee and doughnuts. I nibbled on a piece of a doughnut, not really impressed with the texture of it in my mouth. It was a little cakey for my liking.
“I’m fine.”
“Emily, stop lying to me. You think I haven’t noticed the change in you? I have. I can see it, and I bet everyone else can as well. This isn’t good for you.”
I let out a sigh. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. Tell me what is wrong,” she said.
When I was sure everyone around us wasn’t assassins or Earl’s buddies, I turned back to Ashley. “Do you ever get the sense you’re being watched?”
“Is this some paranormal stuff? Like ghosts?”
“No, not like that.”
“I need you to elaborate, Em.”
“Like people are watching us. Familiar faces that are always there.”
“We have work colleagues, and we’ve been living here for seven years. I’m sure we’re going to experience that.” She frowned. “I don’t understand what the problem is.”
I dropped my hands to the table, spreading out my fingers. “I don’t know. Ugh. Ever since Earl came, I’ve felt it.” I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling the hairs stand on end. There was also a twist in my gut I didn’t like. Not one bit.
“What is it?” she asked.
“He came to warn me, and I don’t know. Something feels off about this whole thing.”
“You’re starting to scare me,” Ashley said. She took a long sip of her coffee and licked her fingers. “Your paranoia aside, I will be late tonight. I’ve got the late shift and also, Ronald has offered to show me how to make his Yorkshire puddings. I can’t wait. Mine are always coming out so dry and flat.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Really.”
“Come on. I want to make everything perfect for Christmas dinner.”
“We’re months away.”
“Nothing wrong with preparing in advance. Anyway, don’t worry when I come in late.”
“Oh, is this like a date date?”
“Ew, no. You do remember Ronald is married with three kids, right?”
“Right, yes, sorry.”
“My mom may have been a cheater. I’m not one of them.” Ashley sat back, her face pale.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to … insinuate.”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not. This is all my fault.” I felt bad now. I tried to never bring her mother up as it was full of bad memories. Her mother was a cheater, not that my father was any better. I reached across the table, taking her hands in mine. “I’m really sorry.”
Ashley pulled away. “I need to get to work.” She stood up and I watched her gather her bag.
“Ash, please, don’t leave like this.”
“I’m fine. I can forget for the most part, you know. She uprooted us, and I was more than happy to go along. I knew her man was married, and if it hadn’t been for that, I wouldn’t have met you.”
“I’m really sorry.”
“Doesn’t change the fact she’s dead. That they killed her.” Her eyes glistened with tears. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I didn’t get a chance to stop her. She moved too fast, but I also knew she wanted to be alone, and I couldn’t change that, nor could I blame her. Her only crime was having a mother who fell in love with my dad, who was a greedy bastard. The only saving grace we had was the fact he was dead as well. It didn’t stop her from missing her mom. I hated this. There was absolutely nothing I could do. No way to console her.
Running my fingers through my hair, I got to my feet and paid for our coffees. There was no point in sticking around.
As I left the café, I glanced back, sure I’d seen someone I recognized. When I glanced over the tables, no one I knew was there. None of it made any sense to me. The feeling of being watched was still strong.
Rather than linger, I left, but I didn’t go to work. I called the supermarket, claiming to be sick. Lying was second nature to me. With the unsettled feeling that rushed over me, I headed straight to my and Ashley’s apartment. No one stopped me on my way, but I found myself stopping to look for anyone who could possibly be following me. It made no sense. Why would anyone wish to follow me? I was no one now, as Amelia.
I thought about Earl Valentine. I hadn’t felt this way in a long time. My heart raced and I wished I had my knife with me. It had been a long time since I thought about having my knife. I thought back to the one River had taken. He’d never given it back to me after I killed that MC guy, stabbing him right through the neck. It felt like that had happened to someone else, not to me.
The way I felt was Earl’s fault. If he hadn’t turned up, I wouldn’t be nervous or panicking. I’d be in control of all of my emotions, instead of being pissed off. While I rushed toward my apartment building, I stopped for the hundredth time and glanced out across the street. People were going about their business, completely oblivious to my craziness. Why would they even have to think about my life, or what I was going through? They had their own lives.
There was no one there. No one who stood out. I hated this feeling so fucking much.
Finally, I headed into my building, but I didn’t take the elevator. I went for the stairs, running up them.
No one intercepted me.
As I grabbed my keys and went for my door, my hand shook. I didn’t like how afraid I was. Gritting my teeth, I let myself inside my apartment, slamming the door closed and resting my palms against the wood.
My heart raced.
Someone was inside.
I knew they were.
My hands were hidden behind my body and I grabbed the keys, sliding one between my knuckles, ready to cause trouble.