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CHAPTER17
EMERSYN
“Hold up,” Lunchbox said, putting a hand up to keep from going any further. Granted, I was just coming out of the clubhouse and into the warehouse, but what the hell? “Sorry, Doc didn’t say you were going anywhere today, and we don’t have coverage.”
We don’t have…
“I’m not going anywhere. I just needed to get out of the clubhouse and walk around.” That meant walking out here in the warehouse. I was fine with that. Increased security meant no leaving without at least two others and not leaving the clubhouse unarmed.
I wasn’t leaving the warehouse, and I was definitely armed.
“Excuse me.” Without waiting for him to agree, I circled around him and set off on a circuit of the warehouse interior. No trucks were being loaded or off-loaded. After what happened to both the auto body shop and the tattoo place, no one was allowed inside the warehouse who hadn’t been cleared by the guys.
Mickey’s friends were an exception. Though technically, he had cleared them so I guess the guys cleared them. Swinging my arms, I set out at a brisk pace to do circles. The awareness of being watched crept over me and the steady thump of shoes to concrete told me I had a tail.
Cutting a glance back over my shoulder, I eyed Lunchbox. “You can see me just fine without actually following me.”
“Sure can,” he said with the barest hint of a drawl. “I can absolutely see you. But I can’t intercept anyone trying to get at you if I'm more than five feet away.”
That almost made me trip. Who was going to—you know what, stupid questions got stupid answers. We’d already had one invasion. If someone busted in one of the doors and I was more than five feet away—dammit, he had a point.
With that, I just nodded and returned to my walk. Restlessness was like a fever in my blood. Inside, I had to deal with my mother, who had discovered she was not allowed to leave. I’d tried to talk to her, but that hadn’t gone as well as I would have liked.
Milo and Kellan were both of the opinion that she was hiding something. I wanted to argue with them, fuck did I want to argue with them. I wanted to dispute every single thing. At the same time—
The slam of a door startled me and I pivoted, but it wasn’t the door to the clubhouse at all. It was one of the outer doors.
“Gracey,” Alphabet called, his voice almost aggrieved as he followed her inside. Honestly, I hadn’t seen much of these guys at all. Instead of answering him, the dark-haired woman marched straight toward me—no, she was marching toward Lunchbox.
“Grace,” he rumbled, turning to face her. She hit him hard enough that the slap almost echoed in the warehouse. I winced for her, and he didn’t do anything except look to the right after she struck.
Alphabet huffed as he caught up to them, but she darted around Lunchbox and stalked right toward me. “Grace Black,” she said, sticking her hand out. “I know you. You’re Emersyn Sharpe.”
That was fantastic. I eyed her then her hand.
“Goddammit, Gracey,” Alphabet swore, before he shot me a crooked grin.
“Ignore them,” she said, determination in her smile. “I intend to.” I took her hand and shook it slowly.
“Nice to meet you.” It was hard to ignore the two men practically towering over us, and Lunchbox wasn’t keeping a five-foot distance anymore. Letting go of her, I pivoted to walk again.
I wasn’t sure what to make of Grace when she fell into step with me. The guys backed off a fraction, but their low conversation spoke volumes for their annoyance.
“Sorry to stage a raid on your—what exactly are we doing?” Like me, she was dressed in comfortable clothes, though I had on leggings and she wore jeans. She was also in pumps, but I had on ballet flats. It was more just to keep my bare feet off the warehouse floor.
“Walking,” I said. “And I don’t mind. I already had company.” I glanced at her again, then focused my gaze forward. “I’m sorry if we met before or if I should know you. You look familiar, but…”
“We haven’t really met,” Grace said, folding her arms. Her long, raven hair had been pulled back into a braid, emphasizing her delicate cheekbones and porcelain features. “Well, we met briefly when we got here, but that was before the funeral, and it’s been a little busy.”
I nodded.
“I recognized you because I’ve been to one of your shows.”
Ah.
“And I probably look familiar because I did the campaign for Enchanté last year.” The minute she said the name, I could almost see the ads from the magazines that ended up in my dressing room on the road.
“You’re a model,” I said unhurriedly. “I never knew your name—sorry.”
