Shattered Girl (Emmy)

Chapter 163

"What the hell were you thinking?" Mike demanded. Yeah, what I said about having disagreements before... this was quickly moving past a disagreement and onto a fight. "Stop," Drew snapped.

"Stop what?" Mike growled. "You can't tell me you're okay with her not telling us what was happening with those messages."

"You're right," Drew shot back, closing the distance between them. "She should have told us, and she's trying to do that now, so maybe stop acting like an asshole and just fucking listen to her."

I massaged the side of my head where a headache was just beginning. Jake had done precisely what he had promised, being right by my side when we got everyone together. I had managed to get to the part of the story where I called our lawyer when Mike flipped. The downstairs game room seemed like a good spot to have a conversation. We hadn't used it much, and there was plenty of seating to lounge on. Mike wasn't lounging or even sitting; no, he was pacing. "Please don't get mad at each other."

"We're not," Mike and Drew snapped in the same irritated tone.

"Yes, you are," Patrick interrupted, hands braced on the back of the sofa. He was the only one that hadn't yelled at me...yet. "Em is trying to tell us. So shut up and save your comments for the end." I wanted to jump up and kiss him. "I know I am." Fuuck, or not.

I sighed. Dropping to the edge of the couch, I said," I'm sorry I didn't tell you all right when I got the first message. I thought it was some kind of joke at first, and then I hoped Mr. Johnson could figure out who it was and take care of it so you guys wouldn't have to deal with something else that's following me from my shitty former life. Whoever is doing this knows all of your names. I don't want any of you getting hurt because of me."

"Love, then that's an even bigger reason for you to tell us."

"Maybe," I said, not wholly disagreeing." But I didn't want to tell you until I knew who it was, and I'm still entirely sure. I have been waiting for Mr. Johnson or Dominic to reply, but they are still working on it. "Who the hell is Dominic?" Josh demanded.

"The investigator," I replied.

"Oh." Josh ran a hand over his face and then flopped onto the sectional so he could sit across from me. The other three were still standing but were looking at each other, not at us. Jake exhaled and sat next to me, pressing his thigh to mine in a show of support.

"Finish your story," he encouraged me quietly.

head. Neither of them said anything, so I looked at Patrick and Drew. The encouragement in both their eyes gave me the courage to continue. So I

is all such a mess." I groaned

me, he kissed my temple. "It's going to be all right, beautiful. We will work through this

to protect

out an aggravated sigh, and Jake spoke up. "Yes, you do. But the not sharing potential problems or

and Mike both glared at Jake, who just looked at them with

come back and bite us in the ass. We don't need issues breaking down the trust we've built." He looked around at the rest of the guys. "Jake's, right," Drew rubbed his chin against

message up front, but you are all so protective. You hover, make decisions, and surround me like I'm going to break down, and I'm the first to admit there are times that I need that kind of support. But I don't need it every second of every day. The thing you all seem to have forgotten is that I lived with violence

are up

will take care of it,"

also want to go back to my father's house and see if I can find anything about who he was close to. Maybe the

earlier argument had been bad, this one

and the whole room went

me? You what

that side of town in the last couple of months than the rest of the city had

out and stared up at the

"Mike," Patrick said.

make fucking decisions for everyone," Josh added, jumping in, and I swore my headache increased tenfold. I could just agree with what they all seemed to want, and all the arguing would likely stop. But I disagreed with them. These threats were being sent to me. Someone who could have been friends with my

away from where Josh, Patrick, and Mike were still arguing. They are fighting because

I understood that.

this isn't helping

it or not, the

eyes. "I have seen you guys