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Chapter Nineteen

EMMA

Emma slouched on the worn couch, the cushions sagging beneath her as she stared numbly at the television. A pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream lay cradled in her lap, a quarter of the carton already gone. Images flickered across the screen, but she barely registered them, her fingers worrying at her phone.

Don’t call Dante.

She tossed the phone on the side table in frustration and took another heaping spoonful of ice cream. Joey hadn’t called her back either. Emma grabbed her phone again, fingers hovering over Dante’s number. A wave of longing washed over her—yearning for him.

She pulled up Kiki’s Instagram with trepidation. The videos were still there, racking up views and mocking comments by the thousands. Dante had assured her Kiki would take them down. Why hadn’t she? Hot tears of shame pricked at Emma’s eyes.

The sudden shrill ring of her phone made Emma jump, nearly spilling ice cream in her lap. Mom’s smiling face lit up the screen. Her spirits lifted as she swiped to answer—talking to Mom always made her feel better.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Mom’s voice sounded strained, wrong. A chill ran down Emma’s spine. “It’s about Joey. He’s in the hospital.”

The spoon clattered to the floor as Emma bolted upright, ice cream forgotten. “What? Why? Is he okay?”

“He had some kind of psychotic break. Scared his poor girlfriend half to death.” Mom’s words trembled. “The doctors say he didn’t really hurt anyone, but...”

Emma was already on her feet, scrambling for her purse and keys. “I’m on my way. Which hospital?”

She ran out the door, thoughts of Dante and Kiki obliterated by blinding fear for her brother. Please let him be okay...

***

EMMA BURST THROUGH the hospital doors, heart in her throat. She spotted her parents huddled together in the waiting area, hands clasped tightly. Mom’s face was streaked with tears. Dad looked haggard, deep lines etched around his eyes.

“How is he? What happened?” The questions tumbled out as Emma rushed over to hug them.

“We don’t know much yet. They’ve got him sedated...” Dad’s voice cracked and he cleared his throat roughly. “Apparently he’s been on medical leave from the army. Should’ve been seeing a therapist after his last mission, but...” He shook his head. “He never told us. Bottled it all up inside until he just snapped, I guess.”

Emma’s chest tightened, her mind flooded with guilt. She should have known, should have noticed the signs. But she’d been so wrapped up in her own desires and frustrations that she hadn’t been paying enough attention to her brother.

The sharp click of high heels made her turn. Kiki stood in the doorway, a cardboard tray of coffees in hand.

“What are you doing here?” The bitter words flew out before Emma could stop them.

Kiki’s heavily made-up eyes widened and then, to Emma’s shock, she burst into tears. Mascara ran in black rivulets down her cheeks as she sobbed.

Dad lurched to his feet and grabbed the teetering coffee tray before it could spill.

“Emma!” Mom admonished sharply. “That’s no way to speak to Joey’s girlfriend. She’s upset too.”

Emma bit back a scathing retort. Kiki, upset? What a joke. The conniving little fame-chaser was probably thrilled to have more drama to splash across social media. But causing a scene wouldn’t help Joey.

Drawing a deep breath, Emma managed a tight smile. “Sorry. It’s been...a tough night.” The words tasted like ash, but she forced them out.

Kiki hiccupped and swiped at her ruined makeup. “I just wanted to be here for Joey. He means so much to me.”

Means so much to her follower count, more like. Emma fought down a surge of anger. Telling her parents what Kiki had done, that Kiki’s sickly-sweet attitude was a sham, wouldn’t solve anything right now. She had to focus on her brother.

Sinking into a hard plastic chair, Emma knotted her fingers together until her knuckles turned white. She tried to pray, but her thoughts scattered like frightened birds. How had things gone so wrong?

Dante strode into the waiting room, his features etched with concern. He halted abruptly when his gaze landed on Kiki, his eyes narrowing. The scheming influencer seemed to wilt under his piercing stare, shrinking back in her chair as if trying to disappear.

Emma surged to her feet and launched herself into Dante’s arms, clinging to his solid frame. His familiar scent enveloped her, a momentary respite from the sterile hospital air. She stretched up on her toes to whisper urgently in his ear. “Please, don’t say anything to Kiki right now. I know what she did was awful, but causing a scene will only upset my parents more.”

Dante’s jaw clenched, a muscle ticking in his cheek. Clearly, biting back his anger at Kiki took immense effort. But after a long moment, he gave a short nod, a silent promise to keep the peace for her family’s sake. Emma sagged against him in relief, infinitely grateful for his support.

Easing back, Dante kept an arm around her waist as he turned to her ashen-faced parents. “Any updates on Joey’s condition?” His deep voice remained carefully neutral despite the circumstances.

Dad shook his head wearily. “They sedated him when the ambulance brought him in. No one has been able tell us much more yet.” He scrubbed a hand over his haggard face.

“What happened?” Emma asked, though she dreaded the answer. “What made Joey lose control like that?”

Kiki spoke up, her voice quavering. “We were at Infinity, that new club downtown. The band was doing this whole crazy light show—fireworks, strobes, total blackout. It was wild.” She rubbed her arms as if chilled by the memory. “Suddenly Joey just freaked out. He grabbed me and hauled me toward the door. I’ve got the bruises to prove it.” Extending her arm, Kiki displayed livid finger-shaped marks on her pale skin.

Even though Kiki probably liked that, Emma’s stomach twisted at the ugly sight, at the thought of her gentle brother lashing out in a blind panic.

“That wasn’t the worst part though,” Kiki continued, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. “When the house lights came up, Joey started swinging at anyone within reach. He clocked a bouncer before they could get him under control. It was awful.”

Mom turned and buried her face in Dad’s shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her, looking grim and shattered. Emma’s heart cracked at the sight of her strong parents so devastated. Despite everything, Emma couldn’t help but feel a reluctant gratitude toward Kiki.

Beside her, Dante had gone preternaturally still. She could practically feel the fury radiating from him, knew his protective instincts had ratcheted into overdrive. But true to his word, he didn’t confront Kiki, offering her nothing more than an icy glare.

“Would you be comfortable if I acted as a go between with you and the hospital staff? It might cut through some red tape.” Dante asked her parents.

Emma’s father raised his eyebrows, clearly considering the offer. Her mother looked at Dante gratefully, her eyes filled with hope and relief. “That would be great. It’s all so overwhelming.”

“I’ll do what I can.”

“Excuse me, are you the Hartley family?”

Emma spun to see a nurse in colorful scrubs hovering nearby, clipboard in hand. Mom and Dad straightened up, desperate hope warring with dread on their faces.

“Yes, we’re Joey’s parents,” Dad said. “Can we see him? Is he all right?”

The nurse smiled gently. “He’s stable and resting comfortably. The sedative is wearing off, so he’s a bit groggy, but lucid. He’s been asking for his girlfriend.”

Emma stiffened in disbelief. She moved quickly, placing herself between Kiki and the door to Joey’s room. “I think it would be best if my parents went in first,” she said, her voice firm. Kiki nodded reluctantly, and Emma’s parents gave Kiki a grateful look before disappearing into the room.

Emma’s hands curled into fists at her sides. Every instinct screamed at her to tear into Kiki, to make her pay for the pain she’d caused. But she wrestled the urge into submission. Revenge could wait. Joey’s well-being came first.

Now alone with Kiki, Emma’s anger flared anew. “Are you planning to upload footage of Joey onto your Instagram channel and humiliate him too?” she demanded, the words dripping with venom.

Kiki’s eyes widened in shock as she shook her head vehemently. “No, of course not,” she stammered, her hands twisting nervously in front of her.

As Emma’s body tensed, ready to unleash another verbal onslaught, Dante placed a calming hand on her arm—but she wasn’t having it. She shook off his touch and he raised an eyebrow at her, a silent warning. For a moment, she hesitated, the familiar feeling of impending punishment stirring within her. But then she remembered: they weren’t a couple anymore. In a surge of defiance, she shoved Kiki against the wall, her eyes blazing.

“Enough.” Dante caught Emma’s elbow in a firm grip. She tried to wrench free, but he held fast, pinning her with a quelling look. “This isn’t the time or place.”

For a moment, hurt flashed across Emma’s expressive face, quickly replaced by embarrassed defiance. “Fine. I’ll deal with her later.”

“No, you won’t.” Dante gentled his hold, thumb stroking the delicate skin of her inner wrist. “Breathe, Queen Mab. Focus on what matters most right now—your family.”

Emma sagged into him, anger bleeding out on a ragged exhale. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just when I think about what she did to me, what she could do to Joey...” She shook her head. “I want to wring her scrawny neck.”

“I know I’ve given you no reason to believe me,” Kiki stammered, raising a hand to ward off any further violence, “but I’d never post anything like that.” Her voice trembled, and she met Dante’s disbelief with a bowed head. “I actually like Joey.”

Emma sighed, her anger momentarily abated, and nodded. “Joey isn’t normally like that,” she explained, her words cutting through the oppressive silence like a sharpened blade. “He’s sick and needs help, but he was too stubborn to get it.”

“Here.” Kiki offered her phone to Emma, desperation lacing her tone. “Check it and see. I don’t have any pictures or video of him.”

Emma snatched the device, thumb swiping through gallery folders with grim purpose. “She’s telling the truth. There’s nothing here about Joey.” After several tense minutes, she looked up.

“I just deleted all the videos you had of me. And I removed them from our social media accounts.”

“Fine, whatever.” Kiki waved a dismissive hand. “Just...do what you need to do.”

“Whatever I need to do?” Emma tilted her head and then pointed the camera at Kiki.

“What are you doing? I look like hell,” Kiki shrieked.

“You’re going to film an apology for posting the roller derby videos and you’re going to be sincere about it.” Emma nodded. “And you’re going to promise to do better.”

Some of the old, familiar Kiki came out then. Her lips curled into a sneer. “That’s not my brand.”

“If you don’t, I’ll tell my parents everything, and make sure Joey knows just how deeply you hurt me.

Kiki’s eyes flicked toward Dante, searching his expression for any hint of leniency. “Will this get me back into Couture?”

“No.”

Kiki scowled at him and then glanced over at the closed door to Joey’s hospital room. She let out a resigned sigh, her shoulders slumping. “Fine, I’ll do it. Look, I know I’ve been a total bitch, but I really do care about Joey. What happened tonight...it scared the crap out of me.”

Empty words from someone who’d made a career out of carefully curated snapshots and hashtags. Emma couldn’t bring herself to completely believe her, not after the callous way she’d treated everyone. But she would try, for Joey’s sake. “He isn’t like this. He’s a good guy, but he’s struggling right now. He needs professional help to work through whatever demons followed him back from his last deployment.”

Kiki bit her lip, gaze darting between Emma and the closed door of Joey’s room. “I had no idea it was this bad. He never talks about his time overseas.”

“Most vets don’t. They carry their ghosts in silence. They don’t want to burden the people they love. Joey’s going to need a strong support system around him. Not just family, but friends too.” Dante fixed Kiki with a hard stare. “Can he count on you? Or is he just another name to drop for clicks and followers?”

Kiki flinched as though he’d struck her. Color high in her cheeks, she lifted her chin. “I’m here, aren’t I? I could’ve bailed the minute things got real, but I stayed. Doesn’t that count for something?”

“Time will tell,” Emma said. And then she pressed record.

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