Chapter 23

Emma

I stood at the stove cooking breakfast as if it was a typical Thursday morning, as if there was such a thing in my life as a typical day. I fried strips of thick-cut bacon and scrambled eggs while the buttered bread crisped up in the oven and then I got lost in thought. I’d dressed quickly in jeans and a baggy old t-shirt and tossed my hair up into a sloppy bun since I no longer needed to dress to impress, except for online job interviews and figured I’d give Ash one last big breakfast until we found our own place with a kitchen.

I had no clue how Slate would react to me this morning and I had everything ready to go, just in case.

“Mommy it smells so good in here. What’s for breakfast?” Ash stumbled into the kitchen still half-asleep, which was proof enough that she was very comfortable—possibly too comfortable—in Slate’s home.

I turned to her with a bright smile that she didn’t notice was a little too bright. “Everything is for breakfast. Bacon and eggs, toast and fruit.”

Her eyes widened comically. “Really?” She jumped up and down and then stopped, her brows knitted in confusion. “Why? What’s wrong?”

Those three words shattered my heart. My little girl had gotten a little too used to disappointment. She expected anything good to be followed by something bad. “Nothing, I just felt like cooking. But if you don’t want any.”

“I do! I do!” She picked a chair and jumped up into it with an eager smile. “Where’s Slate?”

“Here,” he said in a husky voice still thick with sleep. “Looks like I’m the last one up.”

I stared at him for a long moment, shirtless and beautiful with his tattoos and muscles on full display. He was a good-looking man, kind and generous. And I didn’t deserve him, not that he would ever forgive me, and I couldn’t blame him. Before our gazes could connect, I turned back to the stove. “I hope you guys are hungry.” I took my time piling the food onto plates because a bachelor like Slate didn’t have serving platters.

“I’m hungry,” Ash declared as she plucked a slice of bacon from the plate. “So hungry.”

Slate laughed, his gaze was filled with affection and amusement as he stared at Ash, studying her. I hoped he finally saw how much they shared beyond physical similarities.

I turned away quickly to get plates. And glasses. And silverware. Anything to focus on other than the pair at the table so enamored with each other. The ache started in the pit of my stomach, and it expanded by the time I had the table set to the point that I could hardly breathe. “I’ll be back. Eat slowly,” I instructed Ashlyn before I made my escape upstairs to the guest bathroom.

I’m a horrible person. I kept those two apart for all those years and they’re clearly meant to be together. Maybe I deserved Alex after all. I splashed cold water on my face, but it did nothing to wash away my guilt or quell the nausea in my belly.

I dried my face and looked at my reflection, at the battered and exhausted woman who stared back. “Forget about that. They’re together now and that’s what matters. Focus on finding a job. And a place to live.” And staying out of prison. Those were my goals.

Nothing else.

Not love.

Not romance.

Not even sex.

Just life.

“Emma, are you okay?” Slate’s deep voice was filled with worry and his knock was hard enough to rattle the door. “Emma?”

I pulled the door open and flashed a brittle smile. “I’m fine.”

His gaze told me he didn’t believe me, which was fine because I didn’t care. “Bullshit.’

I shrugged and tried to push past him, but he refused to budge. “Doesn’t matter. I said I’m fine and you need to accept that.” I made the mistake of looking up and right into his gray-blue eyes. “I’m not your concern.”

His jaw tightened and his nostrils flared. “You and Ash are my concern, period. Always. A young girl needs her mother.”

My breath hitched but I reminded myself of the truth. He cared about Ash, and she needed her mother. He didn’t need me. “I said I was fine, Slate. You should go eat. Someone needs to keep an eye on Ash.”

He froze for half a breath, jaw clenched tight before he leaned in and got in my face. “You’re not leaving.”

I looked at the floor, the wall, anywhere but into his eyes. “It’s for the best. This way you and Ash can have time alone together to get to know each other properly and once I’m settled, we can work out living arrangements.”

“Where will you go?” His voice was flat.

“A hotel, at least temporarily. Maybe I’ll go back to the house since it’s not like Alex is coming back anytime soon.” I didn’t relish the idea of being ambushed by Mark anytime of the day or night, but it would help me save up some money.

“Just stay here Emma. I can keep you both safe here better than anywhere else. Please.”

I knew he had a point about keeping us safe and I knew that, like me, keeping Ash safe was his top priority. Mark wouldn’t hesitate to use her against me, which meant he was right, here was the best choice. For now. “Just go back to the kitchen. Ash needs to be watched.”

His jaw clenched and his nostrils flared, indecision warred within him.

“Go,” I whispered.

Finally his broad shoulders relaxed. “Don’t be long.” I nodded and held my breath until I heard him pretend to shout at Ash. “You ate all the bacon!”

She giggled and I knew she was all right. “It was so good. You can have this piece.”

“Thanks, kid.”

The tension left my body, and I sagged against the wall just as my phone rang. Without looking, I answered. “Hello?”

“Ms. Roberts, it’s Sheriff Cross. We need you to come in again.”

A shaky sigh escaped, and I dug my fingertips into my closed eyes and bit back a grunt. It wasn’t as if I could decline, especially considering everything. “Yeah, fine. I’ll be there soon.” I ended the call and quickly got dressed.

“You’re dressed.” Slate’s gaze raked over me from head to toe, there was disappointment in his eyes.

“Yeah, but I’m not going anywhere, what you said just before? You’re right, it’s safer if I stay with you.” I saw the look of relief cross his face. I gave him a weak smile, then flicked a gaze towards Ash. “Sheriff Cross just called and requested that I come in. Again. Are you two going to be okay for a little while?” I crossed my fingers behind my back that it wouldn’t be forever.

The way he smiled at Ash settled my nerves and warmed my heart. No matter what happened to me, Ash would be safe. “Ash will keep me in line, I’m sure.” He winked and she giggled.

“Great. Then I’ll be back when I can.”

***

The drive to the sheriff’s office was nerve-wracking. My mind wandered to the other day and the person who’d been following me. I was sure it was Mark, but without proof all I had was a suspicious mind and shaky hands. It was daytime and the roads were busy, so I felt safer, but still, my eyes wandered to the cars all around me as I drove, which made the drive feel two hours long instead of ten minutes.

By the time I arrived I was a wreck, and I gave myself five full minutes of deep-breathing exercises before I went inside. I was as calm as I could possibly be given the circumstances as well the events of the past couple of weeks, when Sheriff Cross ushered me into his office rather than another suffocating cement box.

“Thanks for coming in.” He offered a smile that I might’ve considered handsome if he wasn’t trying to put me in prison.

I dropped down in the chair across from where he sat at his desk. It felt like a standoff of sorts, and I found myself gripping the arms of the chair. “What can I do for you today, Sheriff?”

He offered up a patient smile and studied me for a long minute. I gave him nothing in return. I didn’t flinch or swallow or look away, simply stared back with a blank expression on my face. “Have you heard from Alex?”

“I have not,” I sighed, thankful Slate suggested that I call his number a few times each day to check on him. “When I call, the phone goes straight to voicemail.”

His brows arched and surprise was written all over his face. “You’ve been calling him?”

“Of course,” I said, hoping my voice sounded calm. “I left messages, but now I get a message saying that the mailbox is full. Until he returns my calls everyone will continue to think I’m the reason he disappeared.”

That answer seemed to satisfy him. “Do you or Alex know anyone in Florida?”

I frowned. “I don’t. I’ve never been and as far as I know, Alex doesn’t either but who knows who he met at medical conferences all around the country.”

“His phone pinged close to Miami and his credit was used to make several purchases. There were no cameras so we can’t confirm if it was him.” His eyes tracked every muscle twitch, every breath.

“I don’t know what you want me to say. He didn’t tell me much of anything about his friends other than the few who sometimes came to the house.” Which always turned into a disaster.

He stared at me.

I stared back.

We were locked in a staredown, a battle of wills before finally, the sheriff looked away. “This is suspicious Emma and whether we like it or not, if something happened to your husband you are the most likely suspect.”

I nodded my agreement. “Which is why I hope you find him soon, that way I can get on with my life. Hopefully, now that I’ve given statements about his abuse your office will make sure I’m safe from him in the future . ”

“We didn’t handle your situation well and I’m sorry but—”

“But you’re happy to use that as a reason why I’m to blame for his disappearance.” I couldn’t believe I cut him off, but I guess with Alex gone, a new me was emerging. Or maybe the old me was making a comeback. “How about you do something about Mark harassing me? Oh wait, I have no proof, so you won’t do anything about that either.”

“Ms. Roberts.”

“You’re trying to take away my freedom, Sheriff, no point in standing on ceremony at this point. My name is Emma.”

“Emma. Do you have any enemies who would do something to Alex in an attempt to frame you?”

His tentative question made me laugh. “Alex is the only person who seems to hate me, oh and now his brother Mark. He’s never been a fan but now he worries me.”

“If you get anything concrete, I’m happy to act.”

I was about to tell the sheriff about the car that followed me the other night, but then I thought twice. That would mean giving more statements, and right now, I just wanted to get back to Slate and my daughter. “I will do. Do you need anything else from me today?”

“One thing. You’re staying with Asher Miller.” It wasn’t a question.

“Mark showed up at my house the day after I reported my husband missing and scared my daughter, and since he’s been harassing me and you all don’t seem to be inclined to do anything about it, he offered us a place to stay where we can be safe.” My pointed words hit their mark.

There was something behind the sheriff’s eyes that made me curious, but I knew better than to ask questions. “If you think of anything that can help, feel free to call.”

“Thank you, Sheriff Cross, I will do. In the meantime I have a daughter who needs me.”

“Emma,” he sighed and followed me out of his office. “There’s only so much we can do.”

As I walked towards the entrance I muttered under my breath, “It seems like your entire department is willing to tear my life apart just to find a man who left, yet no one was willing to lift a finger when I needed help.” I pushed the glass door with enough force that it nearly smacked against the wall, but I froze at the sight of Mark waiting for me.

“Hello, sister,” he said. I glanced through the door to see if Sheriff Cross was still there. He was talking to the officer on the reception desk.

I swallowed down my fear and squared my shoulders. “I’m not your sister.”

His fake pout hid a delighted smile. “Just tell me what you did to my brother, and I’ll leave you alone.”

“Why don’t you tell me what you did to him? I mean, he refused to loan you money just a couple months ago, right?” While I was still terrified of what Mark might do, I felt bolder. Braver. I was standing outside the Sheriff’s Department, he couldn’t hurt me here.

“You stupid bitch,” he shouted and pushed off his car as I walked down the short cement steps that led to the parking lot. “If you’ve done anything to my brother,” he began but I cut him off.

“You know what he did to me! How the fuck do you think I could hurt him? He’d kill me!” I shouted.

Anger and hatred flashed in his eyes.

“Is everything all right out here?” Sheriff Cross’s voice sounded behind me.

I looked over my shoulder, my heart was racing with fear and anger. “If it isn’t will you be able to do something about it?” I didn’t wait for him to reply. “Didn’t think so.” With my head held high, I pushed my shoulders back and walked to my car with as much confidence as I could muster, though inside I was shaking.

So much for my life being more peaceful without Alex in it. I wished that this nightmare would end, but could it? I was always going to have the specter of Alex’s death hanging over me.