Chapter 4

Emery

I left the office pretty soon after our conversation had ended. My thoughts were piling on top of each other and I needed to get back home. It had become my sanctuary for the last few days.

My house wasn’t as extravagant as most of the others in the business. Most of them owned high rise apartments and basically freaking mansions. But I loved my spot. It was surrounded with huge pine trees in the front and back yards. The house itself was all wood and it made me feel as if I were one with nature.

Plus I had paid for it all by myself. None of the money that went into this house was blood money. And that’s probably what I loved about it the most. My parents left me a large sum of money after they passed away but I wouldn’t get the trust until I’d turned twenty six - next year. But I also had a steady income from several real estate properties they owned and the money in stocks and bonds. But I wanted my first official home to be just mine — something no one would ever try to take from me.

I’d started working straight out of college and saved and saved. I made pretty good money and so last year … I’d gotten the house all by myself.

When I had almost made it to my car I heard a whistle. I turned to see both Elijah and Frankie jogging up behind me.

“What’s up?” I asked them, wondering why they’d followed me out.

“I’m driving you home.” Elijah stated.. leaving no room for arguing.

“But .. I came here in my car.” I said to him.

“Frankie will follow us. I don’t want you going to your place alone.. just in case. It might not be safe.” He told me.

I huffed, rolling my eyes but not arguing with him. The truth was .. he was right. It might not be safe. I’d called off my engagement to a very prominent family. An engagement that’s been agreed on since we were kids. I was pretty sure this was my uncle’s idea, and I didn’t want to cause more trouble for him than I already had.

Elijah drove my car and Frankie followed us in his. I kept sneaking looks over to Elijah .. his younger features still throwing me for a loop. He seemed .. angry .. for some reason. His grip on the steering wheel and ramrod straight back gave me a nervous feeling.

But I was being silly.. this was Elijah.. and we’d grown up together.

“So… how have you been?” I asked him.

He smirked …

“I’ve been busy. Thanks for asking.” He said.

I laughed a little.

“Okay…. What does that mean?” I questioned.

“You haven’t been around Rey …” he answered using my nickname he and Frankie and Oliver - our other friend - used to call me when we were kids.

I lowered my head. I knew I basically had ignored the guys during the months leading up to the wedding. I had been doing my best to give my full attention to Jasper… doing any and everything he wanted me to.

“I’m sorry… I know I haven’t been around much lately..” I was saying

“At all.” He interrupted. “You haven’t been around at all.”

We pulled up to my house and got out.. Frankie pulling in behind us. I offered him a little wave and got a small nod in return.

Okay.. guess he’s mad too?

Elijah didn’t hand me my keys he only locked my car and then proceeded to let himself into my house. Guess he was going all out and checking to make sure the house was safe as well.

And if I were being honest.. I was sort of glad.

After he’d walked through every room and checked to make sure no crazy person was hiding anywhere he brought my keys back to me in the kitchen where I was currently making coffee.

“Everything clear?” I asked him as I turned my back to hang my keys up.

“Seems that way..” he said.

I was expecting him to leave then.. but instead I felt him move closer to me. His tall lanky but perfectly muscled body towered over me. I turned to look at him… but barely had room to move between the counter and his large frame.

“Umm …” I giggled nervously. “What are you doing?”

He stared at me. The intensity of it was doing something strange to my insides. Something was bubbling just beneath the surface…

Excitement, nervousness… maybe both?

But there was more…. something else there.

Danger.

Elijah exuded danger. And I had no idea why it was affecting me so much. I had been surrounded by dangerous men my entire life. Jasper was dangerous. But this was something entirely different, something .. extra.

“I’m just letting you know my intentions.” He said darkly, quietly.

“Your.. intentions? With what?” I asked him.. a little too breathlessly for my own liking.

“With you ..” he said.

Then he smirked and backed up. He gave me a little finger salute wave goodbye and walked out my door.

“Lock this behind me!” He yelled before it slammed shut.

But I was still standing in my same spot in the kitchen, trying to stop the shaking that had started and attempting to get my breathing under control.

What the hell just happened?

He couldn’t have meant what I thought he meant … could he?

Did he.. like me? Like - like me like me?

No. Of course not.

But that’s exactly what it seemed like. It was really hard to tell the difference in his emotions. I wasn’t sure if he had been feeling angry, or lustful.

His eyes had bored into mine with so much intensity. They had darkened until they were nearly black.

I shook my head .. trying to come out of whatever this was. I still hadn’t moved from my spot against the counter.

I shivered, remembering Elijah’s close proximity to me a moment ago.

But he couldn’t have those feelings towards me. Elijah was practically my brother. We’d grown up together … been close friends as kids and teens. We even used to have sleepovers together. And his dad… was like a dad to me.

Well it doesn’t matter anyway… I was about to leave for six months. And when I got back ..

I’m sure whatever Elijah thought he was feeling …would be long gone by then.