“Nice to see you, too, Brent,” Amber called after him. “He’s such a lackey. Anything you say to him goes straight to Reeve. Unless you’re telling him you want him to stick his dick in you. Then he’ll be super mum.”
“Did you…?” In the short time I’d spent with him, I’d gotten the impression he was a bit of a manwhore. I hadn’t been interested in finding out if he’d mess with his boss’s girl, and Reeve had made sure I knew in no uncertain terms that I was to remain faithful while I was with him. Had that rule been different for Amber? Or had Reeve put the rule in place because of her?
“With Brent? No way. Doesn’t mean he didn’t try.”
“Hmm.” I forced a smile at her attempt to waggle her brows. Inside, though, I felt a familiar stab of resentment. I’d forgotten that about her – forgotten how her ability to charm and seduce any and every man she met was as much a burden to our friendship as it had been a blessing.
It had been easy to forget those kinds of things when I’d thought I’d never see her again.
The seconds that followed felt taut, the strings between us pulling in opposite directions. Amber was the one who finally gave them slack. “But anyway” – she patted my hand – “tell me about you. I want to hear everything.”
Everything. Such a big question and yet I could probably fill her in on my life in three sentences – I’m a voice actress for a hit TV show. I came looking for you when you left our code word on my mother’s answering machine. And I met Reeve.
Everything. In a nutshell.
Joe saved me from having to stretch my three sentences into more substantial material. “Hey, I hate to intrude on your reunion, but do you mind if I ask you some questions now that you’re back in the land of the living?”
In other words, Joe wanted to get intel before Reeve showed up. As much as it irked me that Joe was always on his case, there were things I wanted to hear as well.
She pulled her blood-matted hair to one side, and I silently made a note to help her bathe later. “I guess I owe you at least that much. After you rescued me and all. He’s a hero, you know,” she said, winking at me. “You should be proud of him.”
“He knows I appreciate him.” I narrowed my eyes in Joe’s direction, wondering exactly what he’d told Amber about our relationship on their drive together from Chicago. Maybe she’d made her own assumptions. Whichever, I didn’t correct her. That could easily lead to having to admit my relationship with Reeve, and I wasn’t ready to do that. Yet.
If ever.
Joe ignored my glare. “Amber, what were you doing with Michelis Vilanakis?”
“You don’t waste any time, do you?” she teased. “Why is anyone with Micha? He’s got money and power, and he knows how to get the best drugs.” She had a nickname for him. I wanted to ask if everyone called him that or just her.
But I didn’t. Because I knew I was just searching for evidence that she had feelings for someone that wasn’t Reeve and that wasn’t helpful in the moment.
“You were with him of your own free will?” Joe asked.
“Embarrassing as it is to admit, yes. I was.” She glanced at me, and I wondered if she was thinking about the men I’d been with who’d treated me similarly. The men I’d been with freely. The men I’d be with freely now. Though the man I was with now hadn’t yet bruised me in any place I hadn’t wanted to be bruised. And maybe that was the difference.
I interrupted Joe’s interrogation. “How did you meet Michelis?”
“Through Reeve.”
“They’re friends?” He flicked his eyes in my direction. I could feel it even though I kept mine pinned on Amber.
“They’re… it’s complicated.” She sighed, leaning back against her pillow. I’d figured out that Michelis was related to Reeve. His uncle, I’d suspected. It seemed like it should be easy to say that they were family. Who was Amber protecting by not admitting that? Reeve or Michelis?
“Is their relationship the reason you left the phone message for Emily last August?”
I lowered my head to study my hands. Reeve had already told me his version of what had happened with Amber. She’d wanted to leave him, and he’d locked her up on the ranch, kept her there against her will.
At least, that’s what he’d said. I held my breath waiting for her to confirm that story.
“Uh, no. That was…” She trailed off and I peered up to see her gazing out the window. When she looked back at Joe, she said, “That was an overreaction on my part.”
“Why are you defending Reeve? What did he do to you?”
“Joe,” I warned, suddenly remembering the cameras that were in all of these rooms. Or maybe I would have warned him even if I hadn’t been concerned about that. Because I couldn’t bear accusations against my lover like I used to.
“I’m not protecting anyone that doesn’t deserve it. It was an overreaction. I felt more desperate than I needed to. That’s all.” Amber’s terse tone matched my own. She reached out and touched my knee. “I’m sorry I got you involved, Emily. I didn’t mean to send you on a wild goose chase.”
I covered her hand with mine. “But if you hadn’t left that message, then Joe wouldn’t have been where he was when you needed him.” And I wouldn’t have found you again. I wouldn’t have found Reeve.
“Instead I would have been left to die,” she said, and since her injuries were not severe enough to lead to death, I knew she meant she would have still been with Vilanakis then. “Right. Good thing I called.”