An hour later, I’ve basically torn my place apart looking for some kind of clue and I’m not any closer. Her stuff is gone. Everything except the things Cat needs and the lingering sweetness of her smell is gone. I’m coming unglued, and if I don’t get some kind of sign soon, I’m going to snap.
I throw my body down on the couch and take in the room. Everything is where it was when we left earlier. The remote is on the table. The magazine she had been flipping through before we left is sitting in the chair I’ve started thinking of as hers. The candles she bought to make my place smell like a damn apple pie sit unlit on the counter next to the phone . . .
The phone that isn’t on the cradle, where I know I put it earlier. I jump up from the couch and walk into the kitchen, spying the cordless lying on the counter. With a pleading prayer that maybe this is the clue I need to figure out where she went, I grab it and press redial.
I know that number.
Sway.
Not wasting a second, I quickly press the on button and wait for him to pick up. God, I hate this feeling of being out of control of everything around me.
“Hello?” David’s voice comes through the line and I want to scream.
“Where is he?”
“Hello to you too, Maddox,” he laughs, getting a growl out of me in return.
“Yeah, hello, David . . . Where is Sway?”
“He got back a second ago, and I’m guessing, since you’re calling now, that you’re wondering where Emmy is?”
“You would be correct,” I grind through my clenched jaw.
“Hold on. Let me go get him.”
I hear him moving around and then speaking softly. I wait, trying my hardest not to snap the phone in half with the force of my grip.
“Well hello there, you sexy man. If only I would have known how popular I would become tonight. You’re lucky we decided to leave in the morning to go to Davey’s parent’s house. Did you hear? I’m meeting the parents.” He sighs deeply, and I growl again, hoping he takes a hint and gets to the point.
“Where is she?”
“Right to the point, I see. Well, my hunk of silence, she’s safe.”
He just stops talking, and I’m seconds away from blowing up on him. I know he doesn’t deserve my wrath, so I try to push it down.
And fail.
“Sway! Where in the hell is my woman? I need to fucking find her two hours ago!”
“AH! Now that’s just what I needed to hear, sweet cheeks. You know, I’ve been waiting for the moment when you would let the smoke clear out of your delectable ass. You’ve been so foolish. So Sway is going to help you out now, and please, Maddox, do not make me regret this. That girl deserves her slice of happiness, and you’re lucky that I feel like that is you. You can find her at the Marriott over on Brookfield. I watched her walk through the doors and check in with my own eyes—so, my love, that is where you’re going to go get your woman. You can thank Sway later. Toodles!” He giggles softly as he hangs up.
Two seconds later, I’m out the door and making my way to my Charger.
CHAPTER 19
Emmy
The pounding at the door wakes me after what feels like just two seconds of sleeping. My whole body feels like it weighs a hundred extra pounds. I should have known that Sway wouldn’t keep his mouth shut. I was so focused on getting the hell out before Maddox came home that I didn’t give a second thought to who helped me.
I stand at the door, my forehead planted against the wood, and breathe deeply. I have to remember that, whatever he says to me in anger, he doesn’t mean. He never means it. I can tell when he’s looking right at me that his eyes are begging for me not to believe what comes out of his mouth. I have to stay strong and let him know that he’s off the hook. He won’t have to deal with my stupid love anymore.
“Open the door, Emersyn.”
His voice hits me with a force so powerful that, even through the thick door, it makes me shiver. Stay strong, Emmy. You can do this. Just let him know that you’re done.
Wrapping my fingers around the door handle, feeling the cold steel against my skin, I try to let it center me. One last little push to stand strong and put a cold layer of ice over my heart.
I swing the door open right when he’s about to knock again and his fist stops just inches from my face. I gasp.
“Shit,” he growls.