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.

would go in my head." It was silly, but Josh chuckled, and Mike shook his head. Neither of them said anything, so I looked at Patrick and Drew. The encouragement in both their eyes gave me the

such a mess." I groaned when I was done

in my spot and pulled me onto his lap. Arms wrapped around me, he kissed my temple. "It's going to be all right,

just want to protect you

"Yes, you do. But the not sharing potential problems or threats should stop

Jake, who just looked at them with a

easily come back and bite us in the ass. We don't need issues breaking down the trust we've built." He looked around at

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

if your dads are up to helping us stop these

care

house and see if I can

thought our earlier argument had been bad, this

Five words. Five words, and the whole room went

me? You

only worsened over the summer. There have been more shootings and murders on that side of town in the last couple of months than the rest of the city had last year. You do not need to be exposed to that. Besides, who knows what condition your father's house is in? It's probably been broken in

stared up at

"Mike," Patrick said.

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

and Mike were still arguing. They are fighting because they don't want to

I understood that.

isn't

sooner or later. We always do. Believe it or not, the five

rolled my eyes. "I have seen you