Chapter 5 Chapter 5
Emery
I’m crazy.
That’s the only way to explain why I have agreed to go to a party with a random man. At least Addy knows what’s going on, and she has my location on her phone. So even though this guy is holding my phone hostage, the police would still be able to find us.
I end the call with Addy and try to pass the phone back to him.
“Who is Chase?” He says abruptly and ignores the phone I’m holding out to him.
Also, why does he sound almost pissed?
“My brother. Why?” I ask, and watch him relax a little.
“Oh.”
Weirdo.
“Here’s your phone.” I hold it out to him again, but he doesn’t take it.
“Hold on to it. Just in case you feel the urge to call the police.” He smirks at me, but I just roll my eyes.
“Or you could just give me back my phone.” I say, but he gives me a ‘no way that’s happening’ look. “Why are you keeping it if you’re willing to let me have yours? Either way, I could call the police and they would be on your ass in minutes.”
“Leverage.” He says simply.
Right…
We don’t say anything for a while, but then I realize I don’t even know this guy's name, and I’m supposed to be socializing with his friends. How am I supposed to act chummy with him when I don’t know his name?
“So…what’s your name?” I ask in the most awkward way possible.
He glances over at me and lets out a huff that sounds similar to a laugh. “You don’t know who I am?”
I look him over, but he doesn’t look familiar at all. Also, that doesn’t actually answer my questions.
“Should I?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Don’t you read magazines or celebrity articles online. My face is always on one or the other.”
“You’re famous? Like an actor? Singer?” I feel a little stupid that I don’t know him, and that annoys me.
I don’t like being out of the loop.
“No. My name is Adrian Volkov.”
Volkov? That’s Russian, right? It takes a second for the name to sink in, and then it hits me.
“Volkov…as in…”
“The very same.” He says, giving me a proud look.
Holy shit. I might not recognize the guy, but his family is well-known. There were a lot of rumors about the family, and most of them weren’t good. Some people say they are part of the Russian mafia and have been transporting illegal weapons. Some of which supposedly ended up in the hands of dealers in our neighborhood.
Great. Just great.
“What’s your name?” He asks.
I hesitate to tell him. If he wanted to, he could find anything he wanted about my family in a second, and I don’t think I'd want that. What would he do to my family if I tried to throw myself out of his car and make a run for it? And still I consider risking it. Still, lying could just make things worse. It’s best to stay on the guy's good side.
“Emery.” That’s all I give him.
He makes a humming sound. “Emery. Brave.”
“What?”
“Emery in German means Brave. It’s fitting given the fact you’re here with me.”
“How do you know what it means?” I ask him.
“I have an interest in knowing the meaning of names.” He shrugs like it’s not the most random thing to do.
I’m not sure what to say, so I stay quiet. We both do as he pulls off the highway.
“What's the address for the shop?” He asks.
I pull the information up on his phone, which doesn’t seem to have a password or any sort of security to prevent anyone from using it. Ignoring the oddness of it, I pull up the address, and it appears on the screen of the car.
“I know this place. Bethany used to shop-“ He cuts himself off and gives me a weird look. “They have good stuff.”
Okay…I nod but don’t say anything else.
He’s a strange guy.
We stay silent for the rest of the drive until he pulls over along the long street of shops, parks in front of the store, and turns the car off. He climbs out, and I move to do the same when my door opens and he’s standing there. Man, he’s fast. Then he holds a hand out to me. I’m not sure why I just watch him, blinking dumbly like I’ve never seen another person before. I reach out and take his hand. He holds it firmly while I step out of the car. He releases my hand and closes the door for me, while I step back and look around us. The whole street is lit up so bright that you can barely tell it’s night. There are people walking around with shopping bags and their phones out filming themselves as they walk.
The place reminds me of videos I’ve seen of Rodeo Drive in California.
“Emery?”
My head snaps to Adrian, who’s standing on the sidewalk waiting for me. I walk over and look down. The side walk looks like it’s…sparkling. How is that possible? When I look more carefully it looks like there are small crystals in the cement that must be reflecting the lights.
Crazy.
“The shop is over here,” Adrian says.
I look up and he’s already walked ahead, so I shake my head and try to catch up. He walks toward a shop with full glass windows that show a full view of the baby pink…everything on the inside. I hesitate, but follow him in when I see him stop near the counter and start talking to one of the women behind it.
“…we need something that would fit a party we’re going to…” He is saying, but my attention drifts when I start to glance around the store.
Everything is various colors of pink. It looks like Pinky Pie from My Little Ponies threw up in here. I like pink as much as the next girl, but this is next level.
“Ma’am, if you’d follow me, we can pick out a few things to try on.” A woman says.
“Oh yeah, okay.” She smiles tightly at me, but when her attention moves to Adrian, it completely changes.
She’s looking at him like he’s a god and she’d be glad to worship at his feet.
Gross.
Have a little dignity, lady!
“Thanks! I won’t be long.” I say to Adrian with a brush of my hand on his arm and a flirty smile.
I’m not sure what has come over me, but this girl giving heart eyes to him is annoying me. Adrian gives me a look that says he’s wondering what my game is, but it’s quickly followed up by a knowing smirk.
“Take your time, baby.” He says and leans in, and brushes his lips over mine.
The kiss is simple and short, but it feels like he’s shocked me. I’m so stunned that I stay frozen in place, looking up at him with wide eyes. Adrian, on the other hand, just smiles.
