~E~

The hot breeze rustles my hair. The ocean hasn't cooled the air one bit and as I watch the waves roll in, a part of me wants to strip and dive in.

A few kids frolic on the sand; their parents close by. I tilt my head towards the sun and close my eyes as I breath in the salty sea air.

Knox never answered my call last night. I called three times before giving up and leaving a voicemail. I'm sure I come off as needy and desperate, but at this point, I don't care. I want to know why he's meeting up with Melissa. I deserve answers from both of them.

After waiting for an hour, I texted him to meet me by the beach in the city at four o'clock. He never responded but here I sit and wait.

I glance at my phone to see it's now four and he should be arriving any minute.

No one knows I'm here. Sarah and Abbie told me to let it go for now, but I couldn't. They advised me not to call Knox if Melissa wouldn't tell me anything.

I tried to heed their advice. After our long lunch turned into drinks and pedicures, they dropped me off half-lit and ready to tell someone off.

They should've known I wouldn't listen.

I wring my hands together and shake my knee. The time now reads 4:07 and Knox is nowhere in sight.

I should've known he wouldn't show. Hell, he couldn't even answer me back.

My stomach sinks at the realization that I've been played. I fell for his good looks and his charm, and now look where I end up. Broken rules and broken spirit.

Another fifteen minutes pass and I gather my things. I'm not wasting anymore time waiting around.

"Emma?" A deep voice rumbles beside me.

I look up and there he is, his handsome face inches from mine. The electricity buzzes between us and I'm caught off guard as I stare at him. He's grown his beard in more and, Goddamn, does it look sexier than ever. His deep brown eyes with the gold flecks hold me in place.

"Mind if I sit next to you?"

His words bring me out of my fog, and I nod as I slide across the bench to make room. You can do this, Em. Get what you came for.

"I'm sorry I never answered your text. My phone was acting up. Which is why I'm late. I've been trapped in the damned phone store all day."

"What was wrong?"

Knox shrugs as he tucks his phone into his cargo shorts pocket. "They couldn't figure it out. I ended up with a new one for free."

Silence falls over us as I work up the nerve to ask him my burning question.

Our chemistry is strong today; it's like I could reach out and touch it, the connection palpable.

"Want to go for a walk?" Knox breaks the connection as he stands. 

"Sure." I stand and follow Knox's lead as he heads for the walkway down by the water.

"Knox..." I trail off as I debate the best way to ask him. Hey, why were you with my sister? You know she's a crazy bitch who loves to make my life a living hell.

"Knox? Is that you?" A loud nasal voice shouts and my eyes follow to where a woman and a man stand a few yards away.

Why does that man look familiar?

I squint my eyes as they come closer, the glare from the sun in my way, when it suddenly dawns on me who it is.

Max. Shit, shit, shit!

I glance at Knox and he looks as if he's seen a ghost. Who in the hell is the woman?

"Knox! I'm so glad I found you here. I've been calling you all week." The woman rushes up to Knox and wraps her arms around him as she buries her face in his neck.

"Emma. I didn't expect to see you here." Max sneers as he stands in front of me. "Still haven't dumped your boyfriend yet, I see?" He eyes Knox up and down.

"Boyfriend?" The woman snaps. "Since when do you have a girlfriend, Knox?"

"Sharon, lay off. Since when is it any of your business?"

Sharon? Who the hell is Sharon?

"Everything about you is my business. Who is this bitch, anyway?"

My head snaps to her. "Bitch? Who're you calling a bitch?"

Knox holds his hands up. "Whoa whoa. Let's slow it down. Sharon, this is my colleague, Emma. Emma, this is Sharon, my ex-girlfriend."

"Ex? Oh Knox, you know were not finished yet." Sharon's voice drips with fake sweetness. I hold back my eye roll.

"Let's get out of here Emma. We never did have our dinner date." Max grabs my arm and pulls me away from Knox and Sharon.

I yank my hand out of his grip. "No, Max. I don't want to go anywhere with you."

Out of nowhere, his hands grab my waist and he lifts me as he throws me on his shoulder. "Fine, I'll carry you."

I scream. "No! Put me down!"

Sharon laughs in the background. "Get her, little brother!"

Brother? They're brother and sister? How much worse can this get?

"Max. Put her down." Knox yells.

Max jogs away from them, towards a part of the beach I don't know well. Tears leak from the sides of my eyes as the situation dawns on me. He's kidnapping me. Max is seriously kidnapping me right now.

My breathing comes in fast spurts as the ground slips by me in a daze. Max doesn't slow down. If anything, he moves faster. I hear Knox yelling behind me, Sharon not too far off.

I pound my fists and kick my legs. Max mutters something under his breath as he grips my legs tighter. I continue to pound on his back while I scream as loudly as I can.

"Shut up!" Max slaps my ass hard and I yelp.

Seconds feel like hours as Max darts down the beach.

Come on Knox. Save me.

Next thing I know; I'm knocked off from Max's back as I tumble to the ground. I land on my back with a hard thud and I cry out. The sky above me spins. I try to sit up but it's no use. I fall back and my eyes slip closed as the darkness takes hold.

~K~

Crack. Slam. Crack, crack, slam.

"Stop it! Do you hear me? Stop it right now! It's the police!"

Strong hands pull me off him as my bloody fists fall to my side. Two police officers hold me back while one handcuffs me and spits out my Miranda rights.

What in the fuck is going on?

 My mind takes in small bits of information as I look around, my chest heaving.

Max on the ground, not moving.

Max's face unrecognizable, blood dripping from his mouth and nose.

Sharon in hysterics as she talks to an officer.

Sharon's face bloody and bruised.

My heart slams in my chest. How in the hell did Sharon get hurt?

"He did it! He punched me and my brother pulled him off me! Then he attacked my brother!" Sharon wails as tears pour down her face.

"What?" I choke out. "I didn't hit her!"

"Quiet. We're trying to get the details on what happened." The officer pulls me towards the cop cruiser. My stomach sinks as my eyes scan the area.

"Where's Emma? I need to see her."

"She's over there with an officer. She's coming to now. We'll have her checked out."

Coming to? She must've passed out from the fall. God, what in the fuck is going on?

It'll be Sharon's word against mine. Fuck.

My eyes dart around. Someone must've seen what happened. There must be a witness I can talk to.

"Can't I find a witness to defend myself? I didn't hit her, officer. Please listen to me."

He opens the cop cruiser and shoves me inside before slamming the door.

"Please officer, please listen to me."

It's too late. He walks back to where Sharon and Max are, an ambulance now pulling in.

Fuck! What the hell is the matter with me?

Flashes of the past run through my head... his bloody, swollen face... my bloody, swollen knuckles.

I slam my head against the back seat.

Shit, what am I going to do?

~E~

"Where's Knox? I want to see him." I demand for the fifth time ,to the female officer standing in front of me.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I can't allow that right now. He's been arrested and will be taken in for questioning."

"What? Arrested? For what?"

"I can't disclose that information, ma'am. Let's get you cleaned up and over to the station."

A paramedic comes over with a stretcher. "Need help, miss?"

I nod. The female officer and paramedic help me onto the stretcher. After he looks me over, I'm led to a cop cruiser.

The ambulance with Sharon and Max inside drives off and I spot Knox in the other cruiser. His head rests on the back seat which shields most of his face from me.

My chin quivers as I run my hands through my hair. Tears spill down the side of my face.

I turn away, unable to look at Knox as the officer helps me into the back of the cruiser.

The tears come down faster now as sobs take over my chest. I swallow the bile that rises in my throat.

It all happened so quickly. An innocent meet-up turns into something I never expected.

I hadn't heard from Max in a while. I should've known he'd be back. He always is. He went away too easy last time. A surefire sign he wasn't done with me.

Or, what about this Sharon woman? Knox said she's his ex-girlfriend and she claims they're not finished yet.

Is she the reason he's holding back? Does he still love her? Or is he afraid because of her?

My brain is like a hamster wheel in constant motion as all of these thoughts run through.

I frown and bite my lip as I think.

What a nightmare...

* * *

"What? You're at the police station?" Sarah shouts into the phone. 

"Yes. I'll explain everything. Can you please come get me?" 

"I'll be there as soon as I can."

I hand the phone back to the officer and I'm lead to a waiting area.

After two hours of questioning, they're finally releasing me but they wouldn't release any information about Knox.

All I know is that he's in a holding cell. Has his family been notified?

I curl up in one of the hard plastic chairs as I bring my knees to my chest and wrap my arms around them.

The TV blares in the background, some cooking show about how to roast chicken. The last thing I care about right now is food. I'm craving a hot shower and my soft bed.

My mind drifts back to Knox. If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't be here. What if I'd been attacked alone? How long were those two planning something like this? Were they following us, waiting for just the right time to strike?

It doesn't make sense how they happened to be there.

What if Knox hadn't stopped Max? Would he have taken me somewhere where no one would've found me?

What if he tried to hurt me or rape me?

Stop, Emma. Stop. You can't ‘what if’ yourself to death. You'll drive yourself bonkers, you know this.

I close my eyes and shut off my thoughts to the best of my ability.

"Em?" Sarah's voice calls as she shakes my shoulder. I look up to see her smiling down at me, her eyes etched with worry.

I look around, a bit dazed. Shit, what time is it? I must've dozed off.

"Sorry it took me so long. The traffic was horrible getting into the city. Some summer concert shit. Are you ready to get the fuck out of here?"

I nod and rise as I arch my back. It's sore from the fall. Sarah threads her arm through mine and grabs my purse. "Come on, love."

After checking with the front desk, Sarah walks me to her car and helps me in. She hurries around the side, sliding into her seat with ease.

"Okay, girl. I've been worried sick. Spill it. First, are you okay?"

I shake my head as the tears well up again. They spill down my cheeks as Sarah reaches over, placing her hand over mine.

"Are you hurt?"

"No. My back is sore. I'm just... oh fuck, I don't know... I'm at a loss I guess... I don't even know how to explain what happened."

Sarah doesn't say anything as she waits for me to speak. She gives my hand a soft squeeze. "I'm sorry, Em. I'm here for you."

I look up at her as I squeeze her hand back. "Can I stay with you tonight?"

"Of course. You know you don't have to ask."

I offer her a half smile. "Thanks."

"Why don't we go home and get you into a hot bubble bath? And, maybe some hot fudge sundaes? We'll watch stupid TV and forget about life, okay?"

I nod. "Okay."