Page 130 of Renascence

***Emily***

This day keeps getting worse.

After telling the cops my side of the story a million times, I had to deal with Johnathan. I appreciate his concern, but he didn’t have to call the police. With everything that’s happened, being rejected by Liam again, plus my ordeal at the police station, all I wanted was to come home, have a hot bath, and curl up in bed. Instead, I arrive to find James being pulled by his collar away from Uncle Jeff’s door. Liam looks pissed, but the sight of him still makes my heart jump.

“Stay in the car, ma’am,” one of the officers instructs.

With hands poised over their guns, they approach Liam, Gage, Tyler, and Crow. It’s obvious that James is drunk, so I have no idea how he got here. He spots me sitting in the cruiser and tries to stagger over to me, but one of the officers stops him.

“Em-Emily!” he shouts. “L-let’s talk. I just wanna talk. Come talk to me.”

He stutters and slurs his words, beckoning me to him. The longer he waits, the angrier he becomes.

“Youbitch!”

He lunges in my direction but Liam pulls him back, saying something I don’t hear.

“You know what she did?” James asks the officers. “In… in front of my girl, she says I have a little dick. I don’t have a little dick. Do you think this is little?” Despite the situation, I burst out laughing when he attempts to show the officers his penis.

“We’ll take your word for it, buddy,” one of them says, stopping James from whipping it out.

“You,” James turns his anger to Liam. “She said you’re th-the bigger, better model. Wha-what doyouhave that I don’t?”

“I think that’s pretty obvious,” Liam answers, smirking while grabbing his crotch.

Everyone except James laughs.

“What’s so funny?” he asks.

“Come on, let’s get you to the station so you can sleep it off.”

“My girl’s here,” he tells the officer. “She can take me home.”

I look around, and that’s when I see the blonde fuming in the car across the street. If looks could kill, I’d be dead ten times over. I ignore her, turning my attention back to the men. James is led to the car and helped inside, the officers giving them a warning and telling her to drive straight home. When they leave, Liam and his brothers hop on their bikes, riding behind the car. I’m bummed he didn’t stay, but I also know I need to put space between us. My two bodyguards lead me to the house, telling me they’ll be out front. Uncle Jeff is waiting by the door, arms outstretched.

“Baby girl.” I soak up his warmth, finding comfort in his embrace. “I called Belinda. She and Frank will be here in the morning.”

“You shouldn’t have done that, Uncle Jeff.”

“You should’ve called them yourself. No matter how old you are, you’re still their baby.”

“I know. I just don’t want them to see me like this.”

“It’s okay, sweetheart. Come on, I’ll get you some ice for your face.”

Foregoing my bath, I grab a quick shower and crawl into bed with an ice pack. I watch my phone on the bed next to me, praying for it to ring. It finally does, but it’s my parents. I cry exhaustion after a few minutes and they hang up. As much as I love them, they’re not what I need right now.

It doesn’t matter what Liam says. He’s already in my heart, and if there’s a way to get him out, I don’t know of it. I wish he’d even check on me, see how I’m doing. Nothing.

I close my eyes against the tears, willing them back. I refuse to cry over that man. How can he be so smart yet so dense? I got hurt because Ididn’tlisten to him, because I wasn’t with him. He could have protected me, but I didn’t allow him to.

He thinks he’s the reason Vitalli got to me.I’mthe reason. My stupidity is the reason. My need to have more than what I was promised is the reason.

Now what do I have?

Nothing.

***Venom***