Her smile reaches her eyes as they meet mine, and suddenly my annoyance at the asshat melts away, along with Beckham’s hard-to-swallow words.
“I…um…I know it’s not in the job description,butcould you possibly organize the food situation while we’re here? I’m a little wary about?—”
“It’s already handled.” Folding my arms over my chest, I arch a playful brow. “Your securityismy job description. That includes everything that comes within a hair’s breadth of you. And following what happened with Damon, that extends to food, too.”
Emmy’s shoulders sag with relief before she jumps to her feet, dropping her cell onto the vacated seat with a grin. “Do I want to know what you ordered me, or should I assume it’s some of those wonderful tamales?”
I follow alongside her as she walks to set, maintaining a healthy distance despite my desire to be near her.
“No tamales today, I’m afraid. I happen to know ofthebest deli in Tribeca, and?—”
Emmy stops dead in her tracks, holding out her hands with her eyes blown wide. “Luciano’s?”
I snort a laugh, placing my hand at the small of her back to hurry her along down the corridor even as I ignore the shot of adrenaline the simple action sends through me.
“I’m well aware that it’s your favorite. It’s my job to know. Luciano’s has been my own go-to since moving to the city, and I trust him and his staff implicitly, so it was a no-brainer.”
Then I glance down at her and slide my hand away, feeling bereft at the loss as a frown forms across her brow. She swallows roughly, raising her eyes almost hesitantly to mine as we reach the door that leads into the main set.
“Have you beenherein New York this whole time?”
My chest tightens like I’m not getting enough air to my lungs, and I inhale deeply through my nostrils as I nod.
“Never left.” My voice is coarse, fringed with emotion as pain flickers through Emmy’s bright blue gaze, but the moment is splintered before she can voice her thoughts.
“Come on, Em.”
The asshat jogs up behind us, throwing his arms around Emmy to pull her toward the set, leaving me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and nothing I can do about it.
It’s a shock that Emmy broached our history, and despite needing to know what she might have said next, I can’t be the one to bring it up again—not when she specifically asked me not to.
With my thoughts shifting between the desire to continue our conversation and ways I can maim Lawson Wilde, I move away to stand silently in the shadows as production begins.
The rest of the morning moves forward as such while I watch over the proceedings alongside Zane, Thom, and Kyle, who are posing as crew members in case of any further incidents.
Best to have all bases covered.
My cell rings between takes, displaying an unknown caller, and I nod to Kyle, alerting him that I need to take it. As I leave the set, I can feel Emmy’s eyes on me, and despite telling myself I should keep my gaze forward, I’m powerless against her pull.
Before I push open the door leading into a long grey corridor, I look back at her, sending her a reassuring smile. Her own lips lift upward in an attempted half-smile that doesn’t meet her eyes, and I’m left wondering why she looks so anxious as I move farther into the corridor.
“Ford speaking.” My tone is curt, and I’m initially met by silence. “Hello? Who’s there? I don’t have time for?—”
“I thought I told you to disappear, Holloway.”
My jaw clenches, teeth grinding so hard against one another that I’m surprised they don’t shatter. “Well, hello to you too, East.”
“I’m not calling to make small talk. I’m calling to remind you of the reasons you walked away in the first place.” His voice is even, having developed more of a Texan twang in the years since he’s taken over Broken Hart following the decline in Danny Hart’s health.
“How’d you even know I’m?—”
“Hayles told me. She’s worried about our sister. And with due cause, I might add.”
I inch open the set door and glance back inside, watching as Emmy thanks one of the crew members for bringing her some lip balm. My eyes remain glued to her as I answer my once-upon-a-time good friend.
“My company was hired to protect your sister after several incidents pertaining to her well-being.” I ensure my words are spoken carefully and succinctly, leaving no doubt about my reasons for being in Emmy’s periphery. “The security detail I assigned was poisoned in Emerson’s stead, and I have stepped in to ensure the perpetrator is uncovered. That alright by you?”
There’s a pause before he hisses a reply. “I don’t fuckin’ trust your intentions?—”
