“Excuse me?” Emery tried to pull her hand away, but his grip tightened.
“Why do you have my scent on you?” he repeated.
She snorted. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let go.”
7
J
Nina stepped in, her expression hard. “She just had a procedure done, alright? Whatever this weird thing is, now’s not the time. Just take the money and go.”
He didn’t move. His eyes stayed locked on Emery’s face.
11
“Hey,” Emery said sharply. “Let go. If that money’s not enough, I’ll give you more. Just let go.”
Her knees buckled a little. She staggered.
He caught her again.
But instead of steadying her and letting go, he pulled her closer. His arms went around her.
Then he leaned in and inhaled like he was trying to smell something specific.
Emery’s expression twisted. She pushed at his chest.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Sadly, the man seemed to be <b>so </b>engrossed in his own world and didn’t let her go.
“I’m not mistaken,” he said. “You have my scent on you.”
27
Emery frowned, and then she shoved him hard. “Back off.” What scent? Is this man high or something?
Nina also grabbed her arm and pulled her <b>a </b>step back.
“You’re insane,” Emery muttered. “We’ve never met before today.”
He stared at her. “You were in that clinic.”
“So were you,” Emery snapped. “That doesn’t mean anything”
He nced <b>at </b>her stomach<b>, </b>then back to her face. “What procedure did you have?<b>” </b>
Emery didn’t answer. She just red at him.
Nina quickly stepped between them. “We’re leaving, Please don’t follow us, or I will call the cops.”
“What procedure did you have<b>?</b><b>” </b>the man said, ignoring Nina’s threats.
However, she already had no intention of saying another word. With Nina’s help, she walked towards their car, leaving the man standing there alone, on his own.
From inside the car, Emery looked out the window. <b>The </b>man was still standing there, motionless, like he was trying to figure something out. She couldn’t really see his eyes, but she <b>was </b>pretty certain he looked angry, fuming.
Nina nced at him through the windshield, then started the engine “Don’t mind him Just rest. There <b>are </b>a lot of weird people like
that.”
Emery didn’t respond right <b>away</b>. She kept watching him. Something about him didn’t sit right. She couldn’t exin it, but it felt off.
Nina pulled out of the parking lot. <b>“</b><b>Are </b><b>you </b>really sure <b>you </b>want to <b>stay </b>at my apartment? It’s small ”
“I don’t have a choice,” Emery said. She took out her phone and opened the settings<b>. </b>She found the location–sharing feature and turned it off. Then she opened her notes app and <b>typed </b>a reminder to do the same on her <bptop </b>and other devicester.
<b>The </b>drive <b>was </b>quiet after that. It didn’t take long before <b>they </b>reached Nina’s apartment building. <b>It </b><b>was </b>a secure <b>ce </b><b>in </b>Florida, tucked <b>in </b><b>a </b>high–end area<b>. </b>Samuel knew where it was, but the security here <b>was </b><b>tight</b>. They could easily tell the guards to deny him ess <b>if </b><b>it </b>
12:34 AM P <b>P </b>
came to that.
Emery stepped out of the car and reached for her bag. Then she paused for a moment. It felt like someone was watching her. She quickly nced around the parking lot, but quickly realized that no one was there. After a second, she shook her head and followed Nina toward the building.
After everything that happened with Samuel, one thing was clear–she needed therapy. And notter. She needed it now. But first, she needed to rest.
They entered the lobby and crossed to the elevator without speaking. The ride to the sixth floor was quiet as well.
<b>28 </b>
Emery had been there before and was familiar with the ce. She liked how the building was sleek and upscale, with polished floors and subtle lighting that gave everything a muted glow. It was the kind of ce where rent alone could cover someone else’s mortgage, and Emery knew not many people could afford to live here. It was the perfect ce for her to hide until she found a new ce for herself,
When they entered the apartment, Nina walked straight to her room and grabbed her keys. <b>“</b>You know where the guest room <b>is</b><b>. </b>I need to pick up a few things. And some clothes for you.”
Emery immediately reached into her bag and held out her card.
Nina shook her head. “Don’t do that again. I’m just helping.”
Emery exhaled and slid the card back into her wallet. “Fine.” She and Nina had been friends for years, long before money ever mattered. Both came from wealthy families in New York and splitting bills or covering for each other had never been a big deal. It was just how they were.
Once Nina left, Emery walked to the guest room. She opened the small dresser and found a pair of old pajamas she had left there a long time ago. They were wrinkled but clean.
She went to the bathroom, washed up, changed clothes, and dried her hair with a towel she found under the sink. Then she crawled into bed and pulled the nket over herself.
She didn’t bother checking her phone again. She had already blocked Samuel’s number, but thetter shamelessly used a new number to try and call her. Sadly, she couldn’t just turn her phone off. She closed her eyes. She was too tired.
For now, all she wanted was to sleep. And she did.
A knock pulled Emery from sleep.
She sat up slowly, eyes still adjusting. Her head felt heavy. She grabbed her phone from the nightstand and checked the time. She’d been out for over three hours. She quickly checked her messages and found a message from Nina: [Runningte. Won’t make it for dinner. There’s food in the fridge. Rest. I’ll be backter.]
Emery sighed and tossed the phone on the bed. Her stomach growled, but she ignored it for now. She stood, brushed her hair back with her fingers, and walked out of the room.
The knock came again.
Without thinking, she reached for the door and opened it.
Her eyes widened the second she saw who was standing on the other side.
Tall. Broad shoulders. The same leather jacket. And those light brown eyes–too gold to be normal, too beautiful to forget.
Her heart skipped a beat<b>. </b>
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said.
She tried to shut the door, but he blocked <b>it </b>with one hand.
“We need to talk.”
Emery sighed and leaned her forehead against the <b>edge </b>of the door. <b>Her </b><b>grip </b>on the knob tightened until her knuckles turned white. “I <b>swear</b>, my lucktely is unbelievable. Look, if you’re not leaving. I’m calling the police,
He didn’t move. His expression shifted, his jaw tensed<b>, </b>and <b>something </b>flickered behind his eyes like he was choosing his next words carefully. “I think you’re <b>pregnant </b>with <b>my </b>child.”
12:34 AM p p.
Chapter &
Emery’s head snapped up. Her eyes locked on his. For a second, she didn’t move, didn’t breathe. Then she startedughing. “That’s it…. Incalling the cops.”
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AD