“I promised you, you would be safe.”
He started to turn away, but I grabbed his arm, stopping him. It hurt my wrist. “You’re beating yourself up because I was dumb enough to open the door for Frank?”
He turned toward me again, frustration plain on his face.
I shook my head at him. I wasn’t mad. How could I be? Emmitt had found me before anything really bad had happened.
“To me, safe doesn’t mean I’ll never get hurt. It means you’ll be there to help pick me back up when I do. Now, do we really have to stay here?” I remained on the counter, not wanting to step on the bathroom floor without shoes.
A slight smile lifted his lips. “This was just to get you cleaned up. I couldn’t take you anywhere nicer, looking like you did, without someone calling the police.”
He grabbed the towel and started to rinse it. Vivid pink water ran down the drain. I wondered how I’d looked to the guy downstairs. I hoped he wasn’t calling the police. Regardless, we had to keep moving.
“Frank got a call while I was with him. Were you followed?”
“Not for very long. I met up with Carlos and Grey on my way back with our food. As soon as we entered the lobby, I smelled your blood.” He rang out the towel and folded it neatly beside the sink. “We tracked you. A few of Frank’s friends were waiting. Grey and Carlos stayed back to deal with them.”
“So, now what? Are they meeting up with us somewhere? Do you think the guy downstairs is going to call the cops?”
“Now, we go to another hotel. You’ll be harder to follow by scent without the fresh blood. I’ll call my father to make arrangements when we find a payphone. He’ll coordinate with Grey.”
Just then, the phone in my pocket started to buzz. Pulling it out, I looked at the screen. I didn’t recognize the number but didn’t expect to, considering the phone belonged to Frank.
I met Emmitt’s gaze as I answered it.
“Michelle,” Blake’s voice boomed through the receiver. “Good to hear you sounding so well. I was afraid Frank might have been a bit rough.” His voice conveyed no concern.
“He was as gentle as a lamb,” I said it without inflection, but Emmitt’s face grew red again. “Why are you calling, Blake?”
“Isn’t this why you took Frank’s phone? To talk to me?”
So, Frank had managed to get out and call Blake. I’d hoped he sat in a jail cell somewhere by now.
“I guess it is. I have a lot of questions and, according to Frank, you’re the only one who will answer them. What’s an Urbat? What decision was I supposed to make, and who are my sisters?”
There was a long pause before he answered. “Ah. I see. I’ll explain everything if you meet with me.” He sounded confident and reassuring.
“I’m already meeting with you. Tomorrow morning. Didn’t the lawyer call you?”
“Yes, of course.” A hard edge crept into his voice. “I was hoping for something a bit more private.”
“I don’t think that’d be in my best interest. At least, not until I Claim my Mate.”
Emmitt’s anger vanished as I spoke. Instead, he appeared slightly sad. I wished I knew what he was thinking.
Blake’s frustrated growl distracted me, and I smiled. “Come on, Blake. You don’t think I’m going to sit around and wait for you to try this again, do you?”
“Then, we part ways for now. You’ll hear from me again, though.”
Before he could hang up, I added, “Oh, and I spoke with the court appointed executor. Looks like you’ll have to spend your own money and leave mine alone.”
He wasn’t quick enough to disconnect the call. I heard him swear before the line went dead.
I tossed the phone in the garbage and smiled at Emmitt. He shook his head at me in disbelief and plucked me from the counter.
Chapter 19
In less than our allotted hour, we left the seedy hotel. Emmitt once more cradled me in his arms as he ran carefully, sticking to the shadows and putting distance between the hotel and us.
Even with his smooth pace, my head throbbed with each step. Nausea continued to roll in my tender stomach. I didn’t acknowledge any of it because I knew he was worried; I felt him look down at me several times.
“I’m okay,” I said running my fingers through the hair at the base of his skull.
He lightly kissed the top of my head.
A few minutes later, we found a payphone. I held the receiver to Emmitt’s ear and dialed since he wouldn’t put me down. I didn’t mind. The position allowed me to lean close and listen to the conversation.
Emmitt’s father let out a relieved breath when he heard Emmitt’s hello.
“Grey called,” Thomas said. “He and Carlos dealt with your would-be followers. Are you two safe?”
“Are my brothers safe?” I asked before Emmitt could answer.
“They are. We had two incidents earlier, but everything is quiet now. Mary and Gregory are with the boys, and several of our pack are patrolling.”