“It doesn’t seem like this is about Amber at all, though. If she’s just a pawn, then what is this really about?”
It was hard for me to think of Amber as anything less than a queen, but I put thoughts of her aside and concentrated on the feud between the men. “Michelis hinted that Reeve had betrayed him. Said it a couple of times. He wouldn’t say much more when I prodded. Oh, and he said that he’d done Reeve a favor of some sort. Said I should use that to convince Reeve to talk to him.”
“A favor?” The couple ahead of us drove off, and we moved up to the front of the valet line. “Remember once we thought that Vilanakis had taken Amber off his hands as a favor?”
“Yeah, but then Amber said she’d left voluntarily so that doesn’t work.”
Although she’d also said that Vilanakis had been right there in town, waiting for her. Which was somewhat odd. Maybe Amber thought she’d gone of her own free will, but could Reeve have arranged their meeting from behind the scenes?
And Vilanakis was in town now. He’d found me in the hotel the first time I’d gone there. As if he’d been waiting. Either the man was extremely well prepared, ready to pounce on every opportunity the minute it popped up. Or Reeve had made both meetings happen.
No. I refused to believe that. It didn’t even make sense. But the thought added mass to the knot of doubt growing in my belly.
“Anyway,” I said, ignoring the weight pressing against my ribs. “I’m not sure if it was a recent favor or something a long time ago or if Reeve even asked for it or if Michelis just took it on himself to give it. But I have a bad feeling about it, Joe. If I can’t convince Reeve to talk to him, I think something very, very terrible is going to happen.”
Joe’s forehead creased. “Jesus, Emily. If Sallis is that adamant about not speaking to him, he’s going to flip when he finds out you were with him.”
“I didn’t try to meet with him. I had no choice.”
“I didn’t mean to suggest you did. But he’s going to be pissed that you left the ranch, and he’s not going to be very supportive when you want to leave tomorrow.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.” I would have been tempted to keep my Vilanakis incident quiet except that I planned to deliver his message. Besides, even after what had happened that day with the dog, Reeve did make me feel better. “I’ll figure it out.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
Joe meant to be supportive. Instead, it made me anxious. Because he and I were not a we, especially where Reeve was concerned, and that hadn’t changed just because I’d said I’d leave the ranch with him.
Just as I started to correct him, an Escalade pulled up in front of us. The attendant opened the door and gestured for me to get inside.
“This isn’t our ride.” The last word trailed off as my eyes met the driver’s. My face went hot, my chest went cold. “Reeve.”
His lips were a tight thin line and his eyes so sharp that his gaze was uncomfortable to stand under. The rigid set of his jaw and deep furrow of his brows were unfamiliar to me and completed his austere appearance.
Well, so much for worrying about how to tell him I’d met with Vilanakis. Ten to one odds, he already knew. It’s the only reason I could imagine for him to show up out of nowhere with that look on his face.
“I guess this is your ride,” Joe mumbled. His car pulled up then behind Reeve’s. “Will you be okay?”
I paused, trying to decide who to ride with, but it didn’t take long for my decision to be made. I wanted to be with Reeve – I always wanted to be with Reeve.
But I’d hesitated too long for Reeve.
“Get in, Emily,” he ordered. His tone was just as tight as his lips. It confirmed what I already suspected about his emotional state. That he was beyond angry. That he was restrained, but just barely.
It was a mood that made me quiver, and I couldn’t tell if I was scared or excited.
Both. I was definitely both.
“You’re mad, aren’t you?” I hated how shallow my breath had gotten, how rapidly my heart knocked against my ribs, how painfully my nipples peaked and pointed.
His lips curled upward ever so slightly. “Mad does not begin to describe what I am right now.”
Most of all, I hated that I couldn’t look at him anymore without seeing her. Without feeling her between us. Without having to acknowledge everything about her that wasn’t me.
The smile I flashed him mirrored the strain in his. “Awesome. Because mad doesn’t describe what I am right now either.” I slammed the door and turned to Joe. “Let’s go.”
But Reeve had lightning reflexes. He was out of his car and blocking Joe’s passenger door before I could reach for the handle.
Reeve’s hand shot out and wrapped firmly around my arm. “You’re riding with me.”
The timbre of his voice, the tightness of his grip, the steel look in his eyes – I knew it wasn’t in my best interest to protest.
“Guess I’ll see you at the ranch,” I said to Joe.
“Yep.” He was the one with the tight tone now. His entire body was stiff as he opened his door.
“Oh, and Joe?” Reeve waited for his attention before going on. “It’s time for you to move on from Kaya. We’ve appreciated all you’ve done to bring Amber back safely, and now your job is done.”
Joe and I exchanged a glance. He’d been dismissed.
“I do agree,” Joe said, with only the slightest hint of irritation. “Actually, I was already planning to leave tomorrow.”