Page 45 of Emani's Way
I’ve been wanting to take Emani somewhere, but I know she likes to schedule trips on school holidays so she doesn’t leave her students with a sub. I love her dedication to her career and her students.
“Really? A getaway where?” Emani’s eyes brighten with excitement.
“I was thinking somewhere close this time. That way, we don’t use up a lot of time traveling. Maybe Cancun or Cabo.”
“Ooh, Mexico. I can’t wait!”
Before we can continue our conversation, Emani’s cell vibrates on the kitchen counter. She frowns, but ignores it until it buzzes again. Emani sighs heavily before getting up.
“Let me check that.” She rolls her eyes before grabbing the phone.
When she looks at the screen, her face crumples with indignation. As her eyes scan the phone, she clenches it tighter and purses her lips. Her brows dip in the middle before she closes her eyes and breathes deeply.
The rage coming off my sweet baby pisses me off. Whoever had the audacity to upset her is going to have to answer to me. Emani is the most selfless person I know, so it would take an asshole of epic proportions to make her angry.
“What is it, Sugar? ‘Cause the way you’re looking over there is making me want to hurt somebody,” I say, getting up and moving behind her.
Emani hands me the phone before turning and wrapping her arms around me, and placing her head on my chest. I wrap one arm around her as I hold the phone up with the other hand. I absently rub her back as I read through the messages.
Unavailable: You need to answer me!
Unavailable: I’m giving you a chance. Stop ignoring me.
Unavailable: Answer my calls.
Unavailable: You’re going to regret this.
There are so many messages that I don’t even want to read them all. Emani hasn’t answered any of them. But I can see all of the messages are coming from different numbers.
“It’s Darrius. I blocked his number two weeks ago, but I’ve been getting messages every day since. Even though I won’t acknowledge him, he won’t stop.”
“Is it just the messages?”
“Yeah. He hasn’t called me since I blocked him. I don’t know what the end game is here. Harassing me isn’t going to make me want him,” Emani says before smashing her face back into my chest.
“We can get a restraining order. It will be temporary, but it will show him you mean business.”
“I don’t know, Maddox. I don’t think there’s enough to prove that Darrius is the one sending these. They’re from different numbers,” her voice is muffled because her face is still against my chest.
“Sugar, don’t underestimate me. If you want an order of protection, say the word.”
Emani shakes her head. “No, my Mama will throw a fit. She’s already mad at me. I just want to keep the peace.”
I can understand her not wanting to deal with her mother, but I’ll be damned if I let a man stalk my woman. If she doesn’t want me to use my legal favors, then I’ll use my illegal ones.
Chapter18
EMANI
The weekend got here way faster than I anticipated. I’ve been summoned to my parents’ house for dinner, so I wasn’t even able to look forward to Saturday like I usually do. Maddox had to meet up with another client, so he couldn’t make it tonight.
The only buffer I have is Amari, and her behind is running late. I suck it up and get out of the car. I enter the house, and my Daddy greets me with a big bear hug.
“Hey, Daddy.”
“How’s my baby girl?” He asks as he holds me out in front of him.
He studies me for a second before he pulls me in for another hug. I relish in his smell and the comfort it brings me. My Mama may not be affectionate, but my Daddy did his best to make up for it. There’s never been a time when I questioned my father’s love.