I attempt to hold it all in, but as soon as the door closes on the limousine and I know I’m safe, the tears fall rapidly.
Louis pulls me into his lap and holds me tight. “I’m so sorry, Emily. I should never have left you. I am so sorry.”
I bury my face into his chest and sob.
24
Louis
Seeing the ripped sleeve of Emily’s dress and the smug look on Yves’ face, never in my life have I wanted to kill someone like I do him at that moment.
What the hell was he thinking?
Why would he attack Emily like that?
I’m going to have to talk to Daniel about this situation.
Thankfully, Emily pulled me away from Yves with her safe word because it would have been the best excuse to lay my fists into his smug face. And, to be honest, I’m not sure I could have stopped.
When Emily used her safe word to get away from him, I knew my priority was her well-being.
The moment we stepped into the limousine, Emily broke down, her lithe body shaking, the shock setting in. Her normally creamy skin turned alabaster with all the color draining from her body.
I’ve pulled her into my lap, hoping it lets her know she’s safe, that I promise I won’t let anyone hurt her ever again.
Dammit, Louis! I can’t believe I’ve let him hurt her in the first place.
I feel sick that I brought this disgusting human being into her life. Emily buries her face into my chest. My arms automatically wrap around her, protecting her, holding her, while I tell her over and over again that she’s safe, and that I promise he’ll never ever touch her again.
“I…” she starts to explain, pulling away from me, her mascara-run tears falling over her cheeks.
My palms cup her face. “You don’t have to apologize to me.” Those bright green eyes widen a fraction. “That man is a predator. Scum. He isn’t a real man.”
“I was trying to find you, but he found me. You said you needed the bathroom and then… somehow I lost you.”
Some socialite pulled me into a conversation about football, and I hadn’t realized the time until he was called away. Fuck.
“I would never… not with him.”
My thumb wipes away the tears that fall, and I kiss her cheeks ever so softly. “I know.” I may not have known her for long, but I believe in her sincerity. She’s loyal to a fault, proving it time and time again with my ludicrous behavior toward her.
“He said you were with… Elisabeth.”
“What? No. Never.”
What is Yves playing at?
“He said they have an arrangement.”
I’m taken aback by this statement. Elisabeth was extremely jealous of women who flirted with me—little did I know she was screwing around on me with everyone else. I could have taken up the many offers thrown my way, but I never did. I guess that’s more fool me than her, though.
“He told me that if they want someone, they are allowed to…” Her body starts to shiver uncontrollably, the shock of the evening truly setting in.
This isn’t the Elisabeth I know.
Am I shocked? No. Because in all honesty, it sounds like I never knew my ex-wife.
“Yves said he wanted me.” She looks up at me, those emerald eyes shimmer with more unshed tears. “I told him, no. I made sure he knew I was saying no.” Her body is still shaking, her hands are resting on my chest. “I told him I wasn’t interested.”
I want to kill him. Where the hell does he get off thinking he can touch a woman when she says no? Both of my hands cup her face because I need her to listen to me. Really listen to me.
“This isn’t your fault, Emily.” Those eyes stay wide as I speak, “He is a sick individual, who thinks that because he’s famous, he can do whatever the fuck he wants. But he can’t.” My thumb wipes away more tears that are falling over her lashes and down her cheeks. “No man should ever force himself onto a woman. Ever. There’s never any reason where that’s okay. And if I had my chance, I’d have fucking killed him. I’ll not allow him to touch someone that’s not his. Do you hear me?” She gives me the slightest of nods in understanding. “I promise it will never happen again. You’re safe with me.” Emily nods again.
My hands fall away from her face and wrap around her, pulling her close to me. We stay like that all the way home.
It’s a long silent journey home from Monte Carlo, I make my way around the limousine and hold my hand out for Emily, and she takes it giving me a small smile. Thankfully, she’s stopped shaking now. It could have been the couple shots of vodka we found in the mini fridge in the limousine that settled her nerves. I don’t let go of her hand as we move through the dark corridors of my home.
We stop outside her door, and I finally let go of her hand.
“I can run you a bath if you like.”
Emily smiles at me but shakes her head. “Thank you, but I think I might grab a quick shower and head straight to bed.”
Neither of us moves for a couple of moments.
“Okay. I’m just down the hall if you need me,” I tell her.
She nods sucking her lip between her teeth. Emily pushes open her bedroom door and disappears.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I make my way to my room where I close my door. My back hits the door, and I take a moment, the tuxedo starting to suffocate me. So, I desperately pull it off, throwing on a white T-shirt and gray track pants. I find my cell and call Daniel, starting to aggressively pace my room until he picks up.
“Hey, I hear the night was a success,” Daniel answers happily.
“That fucker touched Emily.” My nostrils flare with hate, I want revenge.
There’s a couple of silent
