Chapter 56
1592words
I found Kate pacing in the room, and when she turned and saw me, she froze,
“Is something wrong?” I asked her and she shook her head,
“I…”
"I suppose this is what it looks like to be guilty?"
"What?" she asked, and shook her head, "I don't think I know what you're talking about."
"you don't?" I asked, raising a brow and she shook her head, but her eyes were popped wide open. I wonder if she knew she looked like she'd been caught red-handed.
"How is Christina? What are you going to do with her? "
"Whatever I do with her, and whatever befalls her, I'm afraid will happen and befall you too. Why the hell did you get those men to attack Ember?"
"no." she said, taking a step back, "I didn't have a hand in that."
"what do you mean you didn’t have a hand in that? Those men said it was Christina and a friend."
"And you've concluded that it's me? Paris, it could be anyone. Absolutely anyone, why have you chosen to believe that it's me?"
"Christina doesn't have that many friends."
"I assure you that it isn't me. I don't particularly enjoy some of the things Ember does. But to send men to attack her? Why, that's reaching." she said, placing a hand over her heart and looking like hurting Ember was the most crazy idea to ever conceive.
I was not convinced, but I couldn't pursue this topic without evidence. Even Christina had refused to say who helped her with the men.
"so if you don't have a hand in all this, why are you in here, pacing back and forth like you're worried?"
"Because I am worried. I am worried about your sister and the trouble she is in at the moment. I may not particularly like Ember, but I do love Christina, and I fear.." she got closer and took my hand in hers, " I fear you might be very angry with her right now."
"Angry is an understatement." is aid and carefully withdrew my hand." she nodded and averted her eyes from me,
"I know what she did is wrong, but I'm not sure how it makes me feel that you would punish your own sister for that woman."
" A wrong is a wrong, regardless if the wrong is done by my flesh and blood."
"especially when it's against the woman who would gladly come between us, am I right?"
I narrowed my eyes at her and shook my head, "I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt since you want me to believe that you don't have a hand in this. But please, don’t try to, manipulate this whole thing and turn it into something that it is not. Excuse me" and with that, I left her to her worry for her beloved Christina.
I went to my office with the plan to call Ember. At the very least, it was necessary to know that she was okay.
"Hello?" came her sweet soft voice through the phone, and it occurred to me that this was the first time in a long while that she was picking up my call. And I didn't even have to call over and over again,
"Ember. I was calling to make sure you made it home safely." there was silence before she finally spoke up,
"I did. Thank you. And uh, thank you for showing up when you did."
"none of that is a problem."
"have .. Have you spoken to your sister?" I heard her hesitance, but she didn't have to be. So much had changed, and I was no longer going to allow my sister to hurt her and get away with it. Never again.
"I did. She's going to get the punishment she deserves. Don't worry."
"mmm, and Kate?"
I sighed, and ran a hand through my hair at this one, "Em, Kate says she's not in this one. Even Christina says the same."
"And you believe them?"
"I don't have much of a choice. Even if Kate Is guilty, I have no single evidence that points to that."
"you're doing it again Paris."
"doing what?"
"believing one of her manipulative lies. “
“Ember, what makes you think this is some kind of manipulative lie?”
“Why? Because that’s all Kate does. She lies."
"she might actually be telling the truth this time."
"the way she's been telling the truth in previous times? Open your eyes, Paris. See her for what she truly is."
"em, I didn't call to argue with you. I just wanted to make sure you are okay."
"And I am. If anything, I'd like to go back to being okay. Since you've chosen to believe the lies of your mate. What? The mate bond blinds you as well?"
"Ember." she fell quiet after and I took the time to gather my wits.
"Look, I have to go. If you won't see Kate for what she is, then I'm going to just have to use my resources to prove it to you. Thank you once again for today, and goodnight. I have a big day tomorrow." with that she hung up on the phone, leaving me more confused than ever.
In my confusion, the door to my office was knocked on, and I was ready to scold whoever it was when Jackson opened the door,
"sire, come quick." Jackson, and how troubled he seemed had me standing quickly,
"what's the matter?"
"It's Christina… she's gone."
Jackson and I made quick haste to the underground prison that was suited for one with Christina's powers, and found three guards on the ground,
"you didn't supervise these men?" I asked, turning to Jackson.
He shook his head in wonder, "I had not seen a need to. But that was wrong of me, considering the fact that it took ten men to hold her down. I take full responsibility for this, sire." Jackson said bowing his head.
He was my beta, but he was also my friend, so I couldn't even bring myself to yell at him. Instead, I ran a hand over my face and looked out through the doors of the prison,
"truth is, she could be anywhere now." I said shaking my head, "She could be hiding out within these lands, or trying to make her way far away. She's an intelligent woman with the right amount of funds. "
"we'll find her, sire. I'll make sure of it. I won't stop until I do."
"Until you do… Ember will be vulnerable. I have to warn her about this."
"Will it be enough to warn her?" Jackson asked, and I looked at him with questions in my eyes,
"I'm just wondering, if it will be enough, to simply warn her. Christina displayed a side of her I had never really seen. That side if she is willing to hurt Ember, especially with the fact that the men she sent failed. She feels like she would have to get it done herself."
" I can't let my sister get her hands on Ember, Jackson. Not ever again."
"I'll make sure of it. I'll send men to keep watch on every corner."
"especially around Ember. They should not make it obvious they are watching over her. She'll have their heads… and mine too."
"will do, sire. I'll get right to it." Jackson said and started to get going,
"and Jackson?"
"yes, sire?"
"make sure you continue to keep close tabs on Kate."
"Of course, sire."
I watched him leave, and let out a shuddering breath. Here I was, being the man I should have been five years ago to Ember. And I feared that I was becoming a bit too late.
EMBER's POV
I was steaming when I put down the phone. On one hand, I was grateful that had saved me, and was a bit surprised that he would even go so far as to punish his sister for what she had done to me, but I was still angry. Angry that even after all this time, he simply could not see Kate for what she was. Manipulative, calculated, and terribly pretentious. Of course, she connived with Christina to hurt me.
But I didn't understand why Christina was taking all of the blame. Perhaps it's because she didn't care what her brother did to her, but wanted to make sure Kate and Paris ended up together. Yes, of course. It was now coming into place.
I was still in my feelings when my phone rang again. I picked it up to see Paris's name and blew out a breath.
Having him save me, had softened my heart a bit. I didn't like it, but it was just the way it was, so there was no way I was ignoring his call. Even if I was angry with him.
"Paris, what do you want?" I could, however, bring myself to talk to him blandly.
"ember, Christina got away."
I blinked in confusion at the information he had just given me and shook my head,
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you are trying to say, Paris. Do you mind elaborating?"
"Oh come on, Em. What's so hard to understand? My sister, Christina, is the one who hired men to hurt you. She's gotten away. I got men to lock her up, but she took them down. She took them all down."
"And now, she's... On the run?"
"Now, she’s on the run " he said with a pensive nod.
