CHAPTER127
Just his voice is calming me down and the tears have stopped spilling so vehemently. I take a deep breath to steady myself, patting my face on my sleeve, not caring about the mess that it leaves. I look above me, up the small flight of stairs I’m sitting on, and locate the white sign high on the wall over the exit.
“Floor thirteen,” I sniff and swallow back the tears that are lingering, gaining some control as I wipe moisture from my chin with the back of my hand.
“I’m going to send security to get you. Stay on the line, Emma, I’ll be one-second. I promise. I won’t leave you,” he pleads gently, and the irony is not lost on me.
I cradle the cell to my ear as though my life depends on it, the only contact I have with him, and the version of him that I have been pining for. My line goes quiet; I’m calmer, but I can’t stop the fresh tears pouring down my face silently. This time they’re tears of relief because he’s come back to me. Jake is being Jake.
“Emma?” He finally returns, and I let my breath out, unaware I have been holding it in the tense gap.
“I’m still here.” I’m quiet and weak all over. I guess opening up this dam full of tears has caused considerable damage as I can’t seem to stop them nowadays.
“Who hurt you, bella?” His voice is soft and gentle. His pet name causes another fresh tear to roll down my face. “You need to tell me who he is so I can have them sweep the building,” he coaxes gently and firmly, sounding so warm and safe to me right now.
“I hate him.” I whisper softly, the child in me making herself known. I sit in silence for a moment, my throat constricting painfully, but I am starting to pull through.
“Talk to me, Emma, please. I can’t stand this.” Pleading and gentle, Jake is irresistible to me right now. I wouldn’t deny him anything when he is back to being the man I miss so very much, the one I can rely on.
“My father. He came here,” I sniff, wiping away residual tears, starting to gain control over them too. Jake just calms me effortlessly, and he has absolutely no idea. He’s my lifeboat in a stormy sea.
“To the offices?” A startled response, much like mine was.
“Reception, on the ground floor.” I swallow and sit up, able to take a steadying breath, my voice getting stronger.
“What did he do, bella?” His voice is barely above a whisper, treating me like fragile glass.
God, Jake, I need you so much.
“He asked me for money. To pay him to stay away from me,” I smirk bitterly through the pang it causes and laugh sardonically. I sound heartbroken. Maybe I am. There’s a deathly silence, then quiet curses calling my biological father an awful name. Jake, at least, gets it.
“I slapped him in the face. My hand hurts.” I drop my eyes down to the bright red skin on my palm and the throb it’s emanating. It was worth it.
“I would have broken his neck,” he snarls. “Emma, you need to calm down, okay. I’m getting on the first flight back, bambina. I’ll be home as soon as I can get there.” The genuine affection in his voice causes a fresh wave of tears, more relief. I’ve wanted him home more than anything in the world, and he’s finally coming.
“Why did you leave me?” It comes out before I can stop it, emotion-fueled desperation at finally having normal Jake back.
“Don’t talk about that now. When I’m home,” he breathes, as men come into the stairwell, feet clanking on the floor and a door creaking; they call my name out from above.
“Security is here,” I whisper and hear him sigh with relief.
“Go with them; show them what he looks like on the security footage, then I want you to go home … to my apartment. Stay there until I’m back; wait for me.” Bossy Carrero is back, but I won’t argue; this is who I need. I won’t even refuse going to his place; I want to be there when he gets back.
“Okay.”
“Emma,” he adds as an afterthought.
“What, Jake?” I pause.
“You won’t get fired for slapping that fucker in the elevator. The tapes will be wiped; I’ll deal with him myself.” The gruffness of his voice is reassuring; I sigh and sniff, finally calming my tears, relieved that he will take care of everything like he always does.
The man above me on the stairs is holding my shoes out to me and I accept gratefully; the other offers a hand to help me up. I’m suddenly aware of the mess I’m in, a little self-conscious now at being caught by two strange men this way.
“I need to go now,” I whisper into the cell reluctantly; I don’t want him to go.
“Put one of them on,” he commands gently, so I hand the cell to the one holding my shoes.
“He wants to talk to you.” I hold it out and he accepts, promptly putting it to his ear.
“Yes? … Yes, Mr. Carrero … Yes, sir,” he glances at me and away again, “Right away, sir … Yes, as soon as she identifies him … Understood … Yes, sir, she’s … she’s calming down.” He looks me over again; this time I frown at him. I’m fully calm and back in control of my faculties, but I just feel drained. “Okay, sir,” and he hands the cell back to me; I put it back to my ear.
“It’s me,” I utter softly.
“Go with them; do as they say. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Try not to think about this until I’m home.”
I tell him I need to go, calmer and grounded. Commanding Carrero has taken control, and suddenly I feel nothing but fatigue. I say goodbye before hanging up, a wash of warmth and relief overtaking me.
My Jake is coming back! He’s coming back for me. He’s going to make it okay again. He makes everything okay."
