Chapter 90: Holding Her Against His Chest

Michael’s POV

I stepped out of my car and headed toward Emerald.

The moment I got close enough, I saw the gun in Paul’s hand.

Emerald was standing a few feet from him, her body rigid as she watched him. Her back was partially turned toward me, so she did not notice my approach.

I stayed quiet.

"I think you should stop looking at me like you are better than me," Paul said.

Emerald gave a short, humourless laugh. "I never said I was better than you."

"You don’t have to say it. You sound like them."

"That seems to be your problem."

His expression darkened. "You are in no position to speak to me like that."

"Then stop giving me reasons to," she retorted.

Paul took a step closer, and I watched Emerald’s body stiffen.

"You should listen to me carefully," he said. "When I tell you what I need you to do, you will do it."

"No."

His jaw tightened. "No?"

"I said no."

"You have become very brave."

Emerald held his gaze. "I don’t have to do anything for you."

Paul laughed, but there was no amusement in it. "You think you can stand here and talk to me however you want because those people gave you a comfortable life?"

"No. I am talking to you this way because you are holding me at gunpoint."

His expression changed instantly.

I took another step forward. He still had not noticed me.

"You are going to call your mother," he said. "You are going to explain that you are with me, and then you are going to do exactly as I tell you."

Emerald’s expression hardened. "No."

Paul moved closer. I heard the change in Emerald’s breathing. She was afraid.

The gun was still pointed downward, but Paul was close enough to raise it before she could move.

"Don’t test me, Emmy."

"I told you not to call me that," she said angrily.

"You will answer when I call."

"I don’t care what you want."

Paul’s hand shot out and grabbed her arm. She tried to pull away. "Let me go."

"Stop fighting me."

"I said let me go."

His grip tightened. I moved. Paul had just begun to turn when my fist connected with his face. He stumbled backwards.

Emerald gasped and turned toward me. "Michael?"

I placed myself between her and Paul. "Get behind me." She did not argue and did as I had instructed.

Paul wiped the blood from his mouth and stared at me. "Who the hell are you?"

"Someone who is telling you to leave."

Paul’s eyes moved briefly toward Emerald before returning to me. "This has nothing to do with you."

"It does now."

He bent to pick up the gun he had dropped. I caught his wrist before his fingers closed around it. He tried to pull away, but he could not.

His eyes widened.

I twisted his arm behind his back and forced him down as Draxen pressed hard against my control.

"Break him."

I could do it. The thought came too easily. One careless moment was all it would take. Draxen was ready, and Paul would not survive him.

Then Emerald’s uneven breathing reached me from behind.

I loosened my grip, and Paul seized the chance. His elbow slammed back into the side of my face, and he tore himself free.

The gun was still on the ground. He lunged for it. I moved after him, but he reached it first.

As soon as his fingers closed around the weapon, he raised it and aimed at me. "Don’t move."

I stopped. The gun did not frighten me, but Emerald was behind me.

Paul kept his eyes on mine. "You’re fast. Strong too."

"Put it down," I ordered.

He gave a nervous laugh and began backing away. "I think I will keep it."

I stepped forward, and the gun shifted at once. "I said don’t move," he warned.

Draxen growled.

I heard Paul’s heart hammering. He was scared. Good. Then his gaze flicked past me. "Come here, Emmy."

Emerald stayed still. His expression hardened. "Now."

"No."

He looked back at me. "You won’t always be there to protect her."

I stared at him. "That is not a promise you want to make."

His mouth tightened. For a moment, none of us moved, then he took another step back.

I watched his hand. He was afraid to turn away. He knew he could not fight me, but he still had the gun—and Emerald was still behind me.

When he had enough distance, he turned and ran. I moved after him instinctively.

"Go after him." Draxen was already pushing against me.

I could catch Paul. I could take the gun from him before he reached the trees. Then I looked back.

Emerald was trembling.

I stopped. Paul vanished into the trees. Draxen growled in frustration, but I turned away from Paul and told him, "Let him go."

He warned me, "He will come back."

"He will not come near her again."

I walked back to Emerald. She was still staring toward the trees where Paul had disappeared.

"Emerald," I called gently.

She turned to me. Neither of us spoke for a few seconds, then she whispered, as if recognizing my presence fully. "You came."

I looked at her and nodded slowly. "Yes."

Her lips pressed together as she fought for control. I moved closer. "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head.

"Look at me," I said. Her eyes lifted to mine, and I asked again, "Are you hurt?"

"No."

I checked her quickly. Her arm was red where Paul had grabbed her, but I saw no other injuries. My anger surged back.

"I’m fine," she said.

"You’re shaking."

"I know."

I reached for her hand. As soon as my fingers closed around hers, she stepped into me. I wrapped my other arm around her and held her against my chest.

For a moment, she was still, then slowly, her fingers clutched the back of my shirt. I held her tighter. "You’re safe."

Her breath trembled against my chest. "I was scared."

"I know."

She stayed there a while, and I did not rush her. Eventually, her body eased slightly. Only then did I look down at her. "Can you walk?"

She pulled away and nodded. I guided her toward my car.

Once she was seated in the passenger seat, I fastened her seatbelt. Her hands were still shaking, so I did not trust her to do it herself.

"I will be back," I assured her.

She nodded. "Okay."