Red After Dark (Blackwood Security #13) - Elise Noble Page 0,93

the closet, which was bigger than the first apartment he’d rented in Thailand, and rummaged through the drawers. Wallets, purses, a selection of firearms… Eight drawers in, he found a selection of underwear, not the sporty stuff she used to wear but frilly, lacy lingerie, each set in its own compartment. He grabbed a black bra and panties and tossed them out the door.

“You’ll need these.”

And pants. She needed pants. Skinny jeans, or leggings, or…yes, this looked like a cross between the two. And that shawl would work as a cover-up. When he’d first met Rune, she’d been a quivering mess for weeks, and she’d liked to wrap herself in a blanket. Even now, she resorted to scarves and big, bulky jackets whenever she felt insecure.

“Here you go.” He emerged into the bedroom just as Emmy tugged the panties up her legs, and he hurriedly averted his eyes. Yes, he’d seen it all before, but that was then and this was now.

“Good thing I waxed, huh?”

Even joking, she still sounded sad, and when Alaric tried to wrap the shawl around Emmy’s shoulders, she shrank back.

“Cinders, I won’t hurt you. I promise.”

“You already did,” she muttered.

He deserved that.

“And I’ll forever be sorry, but I’ll never do it again.”

“Thanks, but you can go now.”

That stung. After the way he’d run out on her, he deserved to be pushed away, but it still stung.

“I’m not leaving you alone. Who can I call? Who do you trust?”

“Right now? No one except Ana, and she’s out.”

“What about Dan? Mack? Nick? Sofia?”

Emmy shook her head. Why not them? They were her oldest friends. Alaric’s synapses fired, and suddenly he understood. Shared loyalties. They were Black’s friends too.

“If you want space, I can sit downstairs.”

“Just leave. You lied to me. Everybody lies.”

“Cinders, if I could turn the clock back, I would, but I can’t. I left you, and I’ll always regret that, but I swear I never lied to you.”

“Oh, really? So you…what? Just completely forgot to mention your daughter the whole time we were dating? Even if you weren’t with her mother, surely you knew she existed?”

Alaric laughed. He couldn’t help it, even when Emmy gave him the mother of all glares.

“You’re talking about Rune?”

“Unless you have two daughters?”

“Emmy, Rune isn’t my biological daughter. I didn’t tell you about her because I hadn’t even met her at that point.”

Now Emmy raised her eyes and met his gaze.

“Then what…? Did you adopt her?”

“It’s a long story. How did you find out about Rune?”

A shrug. “Sources. Are you going to tell me the story? Or is it a big secret?”

“I’ve been waiting for the right time. We’ve both been so busy, and…” They’d been finding their way back into each other’s lives slowly. Truth be told, Alaric had been on tiptoes, sticking to business for fear that Emmy might slam the door in his face. And there’d always been somebody else around. Black, or Beth, or Sky, or Emmy’s staff. But that wasn’t a great excuse. “I should have made the time.”

“Seems our communication could do with some improvement all around.”

Alaric held out a hand. “Then let’s talk. But not here—too many bad memories.”

If Black was being a prick, then Emmy could do with getting away from Riverley too. He’d probably bugged the place, and if not him, then Bradley had a habit of planting clunky surveillance devices he bought from internet spy stores. Weekly sweeps picked them up for the most part, but every so often, one slipped through temporarily. Alaric didn’t exactly want their private conversation, their secret thoughts, broadcast to all and sundry.

Emmy put her hand into his. “Okay. Where are we going?”

“I’ll drive.”

They often used to sneak out to CJ’s Diner in the old days. CJ’s served the best cheeseburgers, and the high-sided booths kept private conversations safe from prying ears. Eight years had passed since Alaric last set foot in there, and the place hadn’t changed a bit. Same wood-panelled walls, same faded red vinyl seating, same crackly jukebox. Even the same waitress, although her hair was mostly grey now.

“I haven’t been here in forever,” Emmy murmured as Alaric led her towards “their” table—the one right at the back, nestled beside an ancient cigarette machine. An Out of Order sign was taped over the coin slot.

“What can I get ya, hun?” the waitress asked, no hint of recognition in her eyes.

Alaric already knew what Emmy would have. “Two cheeseburgers with everything, two portions of fries, one of onion rings, a diet cola, and