Page 106 of Renascence

“We know anyone in there?”

“I know a guy, Prez,” Booker answers Gage’s question. “I can go see him.”

“Can we trust him?”

“Yeah. He’s my brother.”

“How come you never told us you have a brother in State?” Charger asks, turning to Booker.

“It never came up.” He shrugs.

“Okay,” Gage says. “Pay him a visit, see if he can tell us anything.”

“Sure thing, Prez.”

“I’ve got a contact in ATL I can call, see if he has info on the Vitallis,” Chopper offers.

“Thanks, Pop. I hate to cut out, but Raven has an appointment with Einstein. Venom, talk to Emily again, see if she’s thought of anything since last night. Tek, keep digging. Send Crow a shot of that woman so he can look out for her, too. I doubt she’s still around here.” Gage turns back to me, eyes empathetic. “If we have nothing concrete by the time I get back, we’ll head to Atlanta. Just give us a couple hours, brother. I promise, when we find who’s responsible, he’s all yours to do your worst.”

Oh, that motherfucker’s gonna wish he was never born. “Thanks, Prez.”

“I’ll let E know what’s going on when I see him.”

I’m the first to leave the table because I need to check on Em. She barely slept last night, tossing and turning. I felt so helpless, being right there and unable to do anything. As much as I love fucking her, sex is not a panacea. I was only joking with her last night to take her mind off the situation. Don’t get me wrong, if she wanted me I wouldn’t have turned her down, but I figured she needed more.

More.

A word I’ve been running from all my life. She wanted it and I gave it willingly, no reservations. Is it something I can sustain? Provide on a long-term basis? I have no idea. Right now, I can’t think about myself. Emily is all that matters.

Without thinking, I open the bedroom door and step in. Emily is in the middle of changing and she squeals, grabbing a shirt and covering herself up.

“Sorry, darlin’, it’s just me.” I quickly shut the door, making my way over and pulling her into my arms. She’s shaking. “Everything’s going to be okay, Em.”

“How?”

Stepping back, I cradle her face, forcing her to look up at me. “Do you trust me?”

“Of course.”

“Then trust and believe I willmakeit okay. What did I tell you last night? Back at the house?”

“That you take care of what’s yours.”

“And are you mine?”

Her eyes close, head slowly bobbing. “Yes.” Her lids flutter open, tears clouding her precious green eyes. “I’m yours, Liam.”

My chest tightens with an unfamiliar feeling. This is nothing like when she says the words while I’m inside her. This… this is as if my heart is beating for the first time, like I was dead and her words jumpstarted the cold, black, shriveled-up organ hidden behind my ribcage. It’s pumping blood through my body once again, and I feel revived.

Fuckingalive.

My throat closes up, words refusing to pass my lips. What would I tell her? That I say things in the heat of the moment and can’t back them up? That I’m blurring the lines of our relationship but expect her to stick to the terms of our stupid arrangement? And itisstupid. How did I think I could be with a woman like Emily and not develop feelings for her, expect her to be happy with the status quo?

I’m a motherfucking asshole of infinite proportions.

“Get dressed. I’ll find you some breakfast.”

She changes into jeans and another of my T-shirts, leaving the baggy garment untucked and hiding her curves. I lead her to the bar and over to where some of the old ladies are.