Early Grave by Lori Drake

Author:Lori Drake [Drake, Lori]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Clockwork Cactus Press
Published: 2018-06-18T16:00:00+00:00

18

True to his word, Dean arrived within the hour. By then, Emma was settled on the couch staring blankly out the window. The doorbell failed to rouse her, so Joey answered the door.

“Thanks for dropping by?” she said, uncertainty coloring her words. “I’m not sure why it was so important.”

He waved it off and smiled faintly as he came inside. “House calls, just one of the many services I provide.”

“What do I owe you for this one?” she asked with a smirk, snagging her purse and removing the envelope of cash she had for him. He didn’t bother counting it when she handed it over, just tucked it into an inner jacket pocket.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said, brown eyes glancing toward Emma in the living room. “Is that her?” he said.

Joey nodded. “Yeah, what’s…” He turned away, heading for the couch. Scowling, she dropped her purse on the table and followed him.

Dean set his helmet on the coffee table and crouched in front of Emma. “Hi,” he said. “I’m Dean.”

Emma leaned away from him in her chair, mistrust plainly written on her face. “Emma,” she said, flatly.

Joey had seen her react this way to unfamiliar men before, especially ones that got up in her personal space. Figuring that Emma deserved a little discomfort for her part in all this, she stood aside and watched.

Dean reached for Emma’s hands. She flinched away, but he halted with his hands open to her. “It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.”

Emma took a deep breath and slowly reached out to place her hands in his. She didn’t look comfortable at all, but Dean’s demeanor was gentle and non-threatening.

“Chris wants me to tell you something,” he began, waiting until she nodded for him to continue. “He says that what happened to him isn’t your fault. He wants you to know that he doesn’t regret helping you, and he’ll do whatever he can to keep you safe.”

Joey snorted softly, perching on the arm of the nearby couch, arms folded across her chest. Dean glanced at her but she held her tongue, watching.

Dean’s attention shifted back to Emma. She was crying again. Not the anguished sobs of before, just a steady stream of tears running down her cheeks.

“Chris,” Emma said, looking around the room. “You’ve done more than enough. Be at peace.”

“It’s not that simple,” Dean said, drawing Emma’s gaze once more. “He doesn’t know how long he can keep the truth from her, now that he knows what she wants.”

“What?” Emma’s brow wrinkled in confusion, watery eyes flicking between Dean and Joey.

“She keeps summoning him,” Joey said. “Interrogating him. Now we know why.”

Emma’s eyes flew open wide. She started to tremble again.

Joey swallowed another snort. God, I wish she’d stop doing that. She’s stronger than that, or she wouldn’t have gotten this far.

“How is that even possible?” Emma asked, her eyes taking on a distant quality as she cast them elsewhere. “She must be much stronger now,” she murmured, thoughtfully.

Dean and Joey exchanged a

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