what to do, I just want to talk to Emily. I don’t know what kind of magic Louis keeps weaving to lure all of you women to him, but I just need to talk to Emily and she needs to listen. She owes me that much.”
Sara smirks to herself before pinning me with her beautiful, sad gaze. “Yes, I was having sex with someone last night, but it wasn’t my best friend’s husband, you idiot. Louis is more of a brother to me than someone I’d ever want to sleep with; his magic only works on Emily.”
I was here, I saw with my own eyes the man she had in bed; he was tall and broad with black hair. It had to be Louis, I’m certain of it. “Who were you with, then? I came up here, per your instructions, and it was quiet. I sat down to wait for Emily and I dozed off. I woke up and came up here to check and make sure she wasn’t in bed waiting for me. I saw you in bed with him! Was it some kind of setup? Was I supposed to see you two in bed together and think it was Emily and Louis and just leave?” My head is a mess and nothing makes sense anymore.
“You need to stop talking. It wasn’t Louis Bruel in bed with me last night, it was Jeffery Rossi,” she says and closes her beautiful eyes. The way she just uttered his name reminds me of the way I say Emily’s name. It’s an unconscious submission and I recognize it immediately. I’m silent, patiently waiting because I know she has more to say. “I came up last night to meet you and talk to you. Emily told me you were in New York waiting to speak to her. She isn’t legally permitted to have any contact with you, so we decided that it would be best if I spoke to you instead. I came upstairs and Jeff was here waiting for me and I tend to just forget the world when he’s around.” Her lip is trembling and I reckon more tears are coming.
“Why did you tell me to use his name to gain access to this suite? Did you not know he would be coming to see you?”
She shakes her head. “I gave the hotel staff and you his name so Emily, or more importantly Louis, wouldn’t know I had you up here. I just wanted to talk to you and explain that Emily doesn’t want any problems for her family. I’m hoping to convince you to leave her alone. She wanted to thank you for bringing her back home to her family safely and she just wants some answers.” She says all this very calmly and professionally. She sounds like an attorney but looks like a broken ballerina.
“Who is this Jeffery fella to you?” I ask, somehow knowing that my simple question doesn’t have a simple answer.
“He’s everything and nothing,” she replies and it takes all of my restraint to not pull her in and try to soothe her. She’s a nobody, don’t you bloody touch her, I keep repeating to myself. She’s trying to be strong. I can see the moment that she hears the words she just uttered out loud sink in. Jeff and Louis must be best mates. Louis fancies being surrounded by bastards that enjoy hurting women.
I need to change the subject and have this fragile girl talk to me about my Emily. If they’re best mates, maybe I can convince her to arrange a meeting. I have things that must be said that Emily must know. “Sara, tell me what I must do to see Emily. I would never hurt her or her children. I just want her to be safe and aware as to whom she married. There are things she ought to know about him. I have a book that Emily should see for herself.”
“I don’t think I can help you with seeing her, but I can listen and pass along your information to her.”
I don’t like the sound of that. I have no guarantee that what I tell Sara will ever make it to Emily’s ears. And besides, I need to see her again. I can’t carry on with this unfinished business hanging over my heart.
“Sara, I have information about Louis that I can’t share with you for legal reasons. I’m willing to lose everything as long as I get to tell Emily the