Emily's Captive (A Lilly Town Shifter Novel Book 2) (9 page)

Emily woke up with someone wrapped around her.
She had no idea how she’d ended up in that position
or who it was she was wrapped around. Normally she
wouldn’t mind, but she was naked and that meant,
well, sex. She always snuck out of bed before
morning when she’d slept with someone.

Slowly, she turned around to see who it was.
She was almost afraid of who it could be. So much
had happened that well, she wasn’t sure of what she
was capable of. She looked up at the person’s face
and saw Paul. How the hell had she ended up in bed
with Paul? She didn’t even like him.

“Wake up,” she said to him and slapped him in
the shoulder. Paul sat up, hitting Emily in the
face with his elbow.

“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” he asked, moving
her hands out of the way so he could look at her
nose.

“I’m fine,” she mumbled.
“Alright,” he said defensively.

“How the hell did I end up in bed with you?”
she asked angrily.
“We kissed, then you tackled me to the bed.”
“But… why?” she asked.
“I’m guessing because you wanted to?” he
suggested.
“Yeah, well… urgh!” she growled out.
“I’m sorry?” he said.
He was sorry? He was SORRY? What the hell!
***

Paul couldn’t figure out why Emily was so mad.
He thought last night had been pretty good. Based
on the sounds coming from her, she’d definitely
enjoyed it. Was she having morning regrets?

“I’m really sorry?” he tried again. She must
not have been able to take it because she stormed
out of his room… naked. She must have realized
because she immediately stormed back in, grabbed
her clothes, put on her shirt, and walked back out.

He really didn’t know what to think. He might
have to get Lucy’s help to understand. That
actually wouldn’t be a bad thing to do. He hadn’t
talked to her in a while. Paul picked up his phone
and dialed her number. He was surprised he could
still remember it.

“Hello?” Lucy said groggily when she answered.
“Did I wake you?” he asked her.
“No, no, I was just watching TV. Who is this?”
she asked.

“It’s Paul,” he said with a smile. He was
happy to hear her voice. He’d liked her from the
first moment he’d talked to her. He knew they’d
hit it off as friends.

“Hey, how are you? I haven’t seen you in
ages,” she said excitedly.
“I’m good. I’ve been detained. How are you
doing?” he asked.
“I’m huge,” she said with a laugh.
“What?” he asked, confused.
“I’m pregnant, so I’m huge. I’m almost as big
as a whale,” she laughed.
“You aren’t huge,” he heard Mike say in the
background.
“Congratulations!” Paul exclaimed.

“Thanks, I’m really excited. So you want
something? Just tell me,” she said. He could hear
the smile in her voice.

“Do you know Emily?” he asked her.
“Yeah. Not very well, but I’ve met her. Why?”
“She’s mad at me,” he said bluntly.

“Yeah, that’s one woman you don’t want mad at
you,” she said.
“I know.”
“What did you do?” she asked.
“I slept with her.”
“Okay, did she not…?” Lucy said, leaving the
rest hanging.
“Yes she did. It was great. I really don’t
know why she’s so mad,” he said.

“Well, women are strange, and I have a feeling
Emily is in her own category of strange. I can
check with Mike,” she said, and before he could say
no, she was yelling for Mike.

“What’s up?” Paul heard him say in the
background.
“Emily’s mad at Paul.”
“Tell him to run far, far away,” he said.
“No, they did it and now she’s mad.”
“Did she…?” Mike asked.
“He says she did.”

“Tell him to leave her alone and she’ll
eventually either act like it never happened or
she’ll decide she wants more,” Mike said.

Lucy came back on the phone. “Mike said…” she
began.

“I heard him,” Paul interrupted before she
could finish. He really didn’t want everyone to
know about his sex life, but now apparently they
did. Maybe they could put it on the five o’clock
news to make sure nobody missed out.

***

Lucy was happy to hear from Paul. She’d been
wondering what had happened to him, but she’d had
so much on her mind lately that the thought had
sometimes escaped her so she never asked.

She was shocked he’d slept with Emily.

Mike had told her Emily had had him locked up
after the call. The fact he’d sleep with the woman
who was holding him captive was even more of a
shocker.

That was something she would never do. There
was a name for what Paul was feeling, but she
couldn’t remember what it was. It didn’t matter,
but the whole thing was crazy. If Mike had held
her against her will, she’d have been pissed and
there would have been a lot of hatred. Okay, when
he handcuffed her to the bed didn’t count. She
liked being tied up for extra-curricular
activities.

“Hey,” Mike said, waking her from her thoughts.
“Hey,” she said with a smile. She would never
be able to get enough of him.
“What are you doing?” he asked as she walked
around the living room.
“I’m not sure, but I’m hungry now.”
“What are you craving?” he asked.
“Hmm, cheese,” she said.
“Junk food cheese or healthy cheese?”
“Junk,” she said with a smile.

“Okay, you rest your feet. I know how they
look when you’ve been on them for too long,” he
said with a knowing look.

She nodded and sat down. He walked into the
other room and that was when she remembered what
she was after. Her computer. She pushed herself
up and over to her desk.

Waddling over, she grabbed it and went back to
her seat. “I wanted my computer,” she said, before
Mike could say a word when he walked back in.
“Paul gave me an idea and I wanted to get it down.”

“Sit!” he said, and put her cheese sauce and
Doritos on the table next to the couch.
She did as he said, flopping down with her
laptop in hand.

“Thank you,” she said to him with a smile.
“So, Paul and Emily?” he asked.

“Apparently,” she said, and opened the cheese
dip.
“I don’t think that’s going to work out too
well,” he said, settling on the couch next to her.

“I don’t know. I think there’s more to Emily
than you think. She’s more than just a killer.
She has to be. It’s just a side no one has ever
seen.”

“How do you know that?” Mike asked.

“Because I can read people. She’s who I would
want as a character in one of my books. She’s
someone who grows as a person as the story unfolds.
Those are the best stories.”

“Well, you would know,” he said with a smile.
“I know. I’m the expert on all things book.”
“You are the best expert I know,” he said,
kissing her.
***

Stacy was sitting on her cot and Zeke in his
chair. He’d been so kind to her. She still hadn’t
figured out why he wouldn’t just let her go. He
was in charge of the whole place, and she hadn’t
seen the other man in a while. So why couldn’t he
just let her go?

“Stacy, so, umm, well I’m not sure what to talk
about,” Zeke said.
She cleared her throat. “My parents died, a
few years ago in a car accident.”
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
“Emily took me in and has taken care of me
since. She taught me everything I know.”
“Is she your aunt?” he asked.

“No, she’s my sister. She’s a lot older than
me and didn’t have to do it, but she did. We’re
really close,” Stacy said sadly. They might not
always get along, but she missed her.

“ I’ll find a way to get you back to her,” he
said.
“Why aren’t you letting me go?” she asked.

“Richard is stronger than I am physically. I
have more discipline than he does, but if it came
down to a fight, he’d win. I’m working to get rid
of him, but I have to go about it gently. I don’t
want him coming after you or your family. I want
you to be safe,” he answered.

“Why?” she asked.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” he said with a sigh.

She nodded her head and let her mind wander.
At least she knew he wanted to let her go, unless
it was just some ploy to get her to trust him. She
hoped he was being honest. It smelled like he was.

***

Emily didn’t know what had happened. She
didn’t know if she even liked Paul. Okay, so maybe
she did, but she didn’t want him to know that.

Ugh, she was so fucking confused. She didn’t
know what to do. Yeah she did. Maggie. Maggie
would tell her what to do. She pulled out her cell
and dialed home.

“Hello?” Maggie said when she answered the
phone.
“Help,” she said.
“You slept with him.”
“How did you know?” she asked.
“Because I knew it was going to happen. That,
and Bill told me.”

“How the hell did Bill know?”
“Mike told him,” Maggie said simply.
“How did Mike find out?” she asked.

“Apparently Paul called Lucy to talk to her,
asking what to do about you being so pissed off.”
“Huh, I never expected that,” she said.
“So, you want to know what to do next,” Maggie
said.
“Yes.”
“Well, you go see him and sleep with him
again.”
“But…”
“No, you want him. I know you do, so deal with
it.”
“Fine,” she said.
“Good. Now, you go find our girl and bring her
home safely,” Maggie said and hung up.
“Well, she was a big help,” Emily said to
herself, confused.

Paul watched as Emily purposely stayed away
from him. She was sticking close to another woman
who was there. He could tell she was hating every
minute of it too.

When she wasn’t paying attention, he got close
enough to listen in on one of their conversations.
Something about a guy who was a potential mate for
the woman. Paul watched Emily’s face while she
listened. She was bored out of her mind.

He didn’t understand why she was keeping her
distance. They had sex, so what? Even on missions
she was keeping her distance, sending him with
Jason. He didn’t have anything against the guy.
He actually liked him, but he wanted to be close to
Emily. He wanted to fuck her all over again.

“Hey man, what’s up?” Jason asked him.

“Nothing much. Just waiting for the next
mission.” Maybe once they found Stacy, if Emily
was still giving him the cold shoulder, he’d just
leave. He didn’t want to be around her when she
was acting like some preteen.

“So, what’s up with you and Emily?” he asked.
“How did you…?”

“It’s obvious. She’s keeping her distance from
you and you’re staring longingly at her,” Jason
said with a smile.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” he said with a sigh.
“Do you know why Emily and I don’t get along?”
Jason asked.
“No. I thought you just never got along
because she’s Emily.”

“We used to be really close. One drunken night
we ended up sleeping together and this is how it’s
been ever since. All I’m saying is be prepared for
the cold shoulder,” he said, and slapped Paul on
his back before leaving.

Great, just what he wanted to hear: that he
might be stuck in Emily’s cell for the next fifty
years.

***

Jason knew he probably shouldn’t have told Paul
that, but he felt bad for the guy. He knew Emily
didn’t like sharing her feelings or admitting them.
He just wanted to prepare the guy for the
heartbreak he knew was coming. He didn’t want to
see Paul pining for her when she would never
reciprocate.

“What did you tell him?” Emily asked, walking
up to him.
“The truth,” he answered.
“Why?” she asked.

“Because I don’t want him hurt. I don’t want
him thinking he’s going to get any more out of it.
He’s supposed to be helping us. I don’t want to
see him lovesick over you for the entire mission.”

“That’s my business. You don’t know me
anymore. Stay out of it,” she snapped at him.

“And why don’t I know you anymore?” he asked
her. He’d never wanted a relationship with her.
He liked her, but as a friend, nothing more.

“I know it’s my fault, but I just can’t do it,”
she said sadly.
“I know.”
“Then please stay out of my life.”
“If you change your mind, you know where I am,”
he said.
She nodded and walked away.

Jason liked the friendship they had. They were
more alike than anyone knew. They might have ended
up in different places because of what they had
been through, but they were the same in so many
ways. She understood him and that meant a lot.
Very few people did.

“Jason, how do you want to handle the next
raid?” Grant asked him. He sighed and went back
to work.

He always had work waiting for him. Sometimes
he really wished he didn’t. Sometimes he wished he
could let himself get lost in his own mind just for
a little while and enjoy the silence.

***

Emily had watched as Paul and Jason talked.
She knew what they were talking about even before
Jason had told her, and she didn’t like it. She
didn’t want Paul thinking she slept with every man
she could get naked. She’d been really close to
Jason before it had all happened, and they’d both
been lonely and drunk. Very drunk.

She regretted it because she knew it would ruin
their friendship, and it had. It was her fault she
had let it, but she just couldn’t be friends with
him after that. It was too awkward.

“Emily, what’s wrong?” the woman she had been
staying close to asked. She wouldn’t really call
her a friend, she was slightly annoying.

“Nothing,” she said.
“Well, Kevin is great. He took me out to this
really good restaurant last night.”
“Uh huh.”

“He was such a gentleman. He opened doors,
pulled my chair out, held my hand, and walked me to
my room. Well, that was until I pulled him in and
had my wicked way with him,” she said with a wink.

“Good,” Emily muttered.
“Are you listening to me?” Michelle asked.
“Oh yeah. Kevin, gentleman, sex,” Emily said.

“Okay, tell me what’s on your mind. I know
you’re not too much into the girl talk thing, but I
thought we were friends.”

“Him,” she said, nodding her head at Paul. Why
was he looking at her?
“Paul?” she asked.
“Yeah.”

“What? Are you afraid he’s going to get away?
I’ll help you with that. He’s evil,” Michelle
sneered.

“No he isn’t. He was misled. He thought we
were evil. He didn’t know we were people.”

“Now he does?” Michelle asked disbelievingly.
“Yeah.”

“Are you sure? He could just be getting
information from us to take back.”

“I thought that too, but I really don’t think
he will. He’s always smelled like the truth. And
after spending so much time with him, I really do
believe him,” she said.

“I’d still be careful around him. You never
know if he’ll change his mind. What he was taught
is still in him,” she said, then let out a squeal.
Emily looked over to see Kevin walking toward them.

She smiled and decided to leave the couple
alone.
***

“Tell me about your sister,” Zeke said to
Stacy. They were sitting in their usual spots and
Zeke had brought her some real food, pizza.

“She’s strong, a fighter. She doesn’t show
much emotion and she’s the most lethal killer I
know.”

“Really?”
“I’m afraid to tell you too much about her.
She hunts your kind,” she said sadly.

She was really starting to like Zeke and she
liked talking to him, but she didn’t want to give
him any information he could use against them.

“I’m not going to be using any of the
information you give me. I just want to get to
know you better,” he said with a kind smile.

Stacy thought about it for a minute and figured
it wouldn’t really hurt to tell him a little about
her family. She wasn’t going to tell him anything
he could use against Emily. She wasn’t going to
put her sister in danger like that.

“I told you she raised me. She doesn’t want
anyone to know about her soft side, but it’s there.
She might not show emotion, but she feels it and
gets very confused when she feels too much. She’s
a killer.

To her, everything is black and white, right
and wrong. I’m sure me being in here has driven
her crazy. She’s going to be the lethal killer she
is, but worse, this is personal to her.”

“Because it’s you,” he said quietly.
She nodded.
“What was it like growing up with her?”

“I’m still kind of getting used to her being
around, even though I’ve lived with her for a few
years now. I’m a lot younger than she is, so I
didn’t really see her until Mom and Dad died. When
it happened, she didn’t really talk to me. We
didn’t know each other that well and we were both
grieving. Bill came over a lot and talked Emily
into training me to fight.

“Emily has a lot of enemies because of what she
does, and she’s really good. Her training me
brought us together. I wanted my sister and she
needed an outlet. We both got what we wanted.”

“Bill? Who’s he?” he asked.

It sounded almost like he was interrogating
her, but after listening to him talk, she learned
he really didn’t have any communication skills. He
was trying to get to know her but didn’t know how.

“He’s a close friend of the family. He’s
always been the peacekeeper when Emily and I fight.
Even as I’ve gotten older it happens, but isn’t
that what sisters do?”

“I wouldn’t know,” Zeke whispered.
“Oh, I’m sorry. It must have been lonely.”
“I coped. I read a lot.”
“Do you still read?” she asked.
“No.”
“Why don’t you read to me?” she asked. “It’s
not like I can do anything else.”
“Do you want me to?” he asked her skeptically.

She felt bad. The man had been nice to her, so
maybe she could help him find a little happiness.
“Yes I do. I think you should start with mystery.
I hear they tend to grab the reader’s attention.”

“All right, I’ll get one later today,” he said
with a smile.

He looked good like that, less cold. She
couldn’t help but give him a big smile in return.
He wasn’t as bad as she thought he was. He was
really growing on her.

***
“Sir, New York just reported in. There was
another raid there,” Jay said.

“Fuck!” He was certain they were going to hit
the Wilmington one. It was close and they had hit
only smaller ones. Maybe they were working their
way up to the larger compounds? “Are there any
survivors?”

“No. They also blew the compound, so
everything’s gone.”

“Okay. Let’s think about where they might hit
next,” he said, and pulled out a map of their
locations.

“Sir, I wonder if they’re just randomly
attacking compounds. There doesn’t seem to be a
pattern,” Jay said nervously.

Richard thought it over. They were savage
animals; they couldn’t be that smart. They had to
have some type of pattern; he just needed to figure
it out. “No, I think they might go for the DC one
next,” he said.

“Yes sir. I’ll prepare transport,” he said and
left.

There was no way the shifters were that smart.
They were animals. Their brains were the size of a
pea. He knew he just needed to figure it out.

He hoped he did it soon and caught them before
they took out the entire organization.