Grayson
She didn’t so much as flinch. I wrapped my arms around her. “I’m so sorry, baby.” She stood still, not saying anything. A nurse finally walked in, looking grim.
“I’m sorry, but I have the personal effects of Mr. Langer’s.” She held up a bag. No one moved. Emmalin finally stepped forward and retrieved the bag out the nurse’s hand. I glanced at Molly who was staring at her feet. She covered a yawn. She was tired. We were all tired.
"Molly, would you like to stay with us tonight?" She nodded solemnly. I reached for her hand and squeezed tight. Emmalin still had Tyler's things clutched in her grip, her head down. "Emmalin. Are you ready?" She looked up, and for a moment, she looked at me as if seeing me there for the first time. She glanced back, behind her, and stared at the clock on the back wall. She just stood there staring at it, as if she was counting down. She finally gave it a nod, before turning to me and heading for the door.
The ride home was silent, with the occasional sniff from Molly. Emmalin just stared out the window at the nightlife. At the house, Molly went straight to the guest bedroom to lay down. Emmalin stood in the middle of the living room, facing the fireplace. For the first time, I didn't know what to say. She wasn't saying anything. She hadn't cried. She hadn't screamed. She was just a shell. I stretched my neck, trying to loosen my muscles that were sore from the impact, and stepped up behind her.
"Emmalin."
"Cremated," she whispered. "He would've wanted to have been cremated. That was something he talked about before."
I gently squeezed her shoulders. "Baby, we don't have to do this now. You should get some rest."
She turned around swiftly. "It has to be now! If not now, then when? When someone else gets killed? Who? You? Because clearly you were on the radar tonight and you were missed, so maybe I should wait until then, and get the two for one special. How do you want to be buried, Grayson? How do you want to be mourned?"
She stood, hands clenched at her sides. Her eyes watered, but not a single tear fell. This was pure rage Emmalin. But this was also brokenhearted Emmalin, who’d been stabbed in the heart over and over again, and stood there screaming that there was nothing of her left, and her defenses were high. She turned back toward the fire and her shoulders slumped as she took a shaky breath.
"He didn't have any immediate family. Maybe a distant cousin in California. His family pretty much disowned him after he got sent away. I think he kept in touch with that cousin off and on, but I'm not sure." I watched as she rubbed the bridge of her nose, as she tried to think. "Do you think I should try to reach out to his parents? I mean they should know, right? A parent should know their son died right, even if they tossed him away like trash. Maybe they shouldn't."
She started to pace the living room. Actually, she was starting to freak me the fuck out because I knew she was well on her way with cracking. I shoved my hands in my pockets, and realized I still had that folded piece of paper from Tyler. I pulled it out and looked at it, before glancing up at her. I couldn't give this to her now. She was going to be on the verge of a breakdown if I didn't step in. I took the sedative out of my back pocket, and placed it in my mouth between my front teeth. It was similar to the sedative I gave her at Tesh, but stronger, and would work almost immediately.
I approached her slowly and took her by surprise as I grabbed her from behind and turned her around. She tensed at first, but relaxed as I coaxed her mouth open and shoved my tongue in her mouth, forcing the pill down. She hiccupped as she swallowed the pill. She looked at me wide eyed at first, before realizing what I just done.
She clutched her throat. "What was that?" She took a step back. "What did you do?" She started to sway and reached out her hand to steady herself. Please forgive me. I wrapped my arms around her, and lifted her up. I kissed her eyes, as they started to flutter close. "Please forgive me. I had to. I'm so sorry," I whispered against her. Her eyes shut as she fell asleep. Did I like doing what I just did? Fuck no. Did I hate myself for it? Yes. Would she hate me for it? Yes. But I had to.
"You can't go around drugging people, Grayson."
I stood to the side while Dr. Rexton checked Emmalin's vitals. "I know that, but she was flipping out," I said through gritted teeth. "You didn't see her."
He turned to face me. "And how are you feeling? You have some cuts and bruises."
I shrugged him off. "I'm fine. I'm more worried about her." I jerked my chin toward her.
He sighed, and softened his voice. "She'll be fine. She'll be pissed at you. When she awakens, give her my sympathies." I nodded, not taking my eyes off her.
Yeah. She was going to be pissed. Very fucking pissed. My thoughts were jarred, thanks to a half ass knock on the door. I turned to see Chace walking in, hair disheveled, and day old facial hair.
"I just heard. Is she okay?"
I turned and guided him out the room. "Yeah. Well, no. Not really. I gave her a sedative. She's sleeping it off for the time being."
"Shit, man. How's she doing?"
I shook my head as I headed to the bar. Yeah it was almost six in the morning, but I didn't care. I needed at least one. "She started off eerily calm, then she started planning his cremation." I eased down, my body starting to feel like I've been in a car crash.
"You look like shit yourself."
I smirked. "Thanks. She isn't going to be happy with me when she finally wakes up. Molly is in one of the guest bedrooms." I shifted, realizing I probably was going to need one of the pain pills I was prescribed. Chace eyed me wearily.
"Why don't you take another room? I'll stay with Emmalin."
I was too tired to fight with him. He was probably right after all. I didn't like this newfound comradery they had, but I was too tired to argue with him, and didn't have the strength to do any arguing right now. He walked over, helping me out of the chair. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out.