The Return

EMMA

“Finally, Diablo. I was starting to think you’d keep me waiting forever. It’s good to see you again,” I say, a playful smirk on my face. I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.

If the circumstances were different, his reaction would be laughable. Diablo stands there, mouth agape, frozen in place.

“Diablo. Diablo!” I call out, snapping my fingers in front of his eyes. “What the hell, Diablo! Robert, I need a shot of whiskey, now.”

Robert just stares at me, unsure of how to react. I turn to Levi, snapping my fingers again. He leans over the bar, grabs the whiskey, and pours a generous amount into a glass before handing it to me.

Everyone’s eyes are on me. Even Luis, who’s now standing next to Diablo, is rooted to the spot. I signal to Levi, mouthing for him to find Travis and Carly.

I take Diablo’s hand and the glass of whiskey, leading him towards the stairs to his office. I’m a little concerned. He hasn’t said a word or even blinked since I turned to face him. He just keeps staring at me.

When we reach his office door, I find it locked, which is odd. He never locks his office. I pull a pin from my hair and fiddle with the lock until I hear it click open. I guide Diablo to a chair and push him into it.

I take his hand and place the glass of whiskey in it. He finally takes a big gulp, then another, until the glass is empty.

I walk over to the bar cart and refill his glass, pouring a generous amount of whiskey for myself as well. I sit in the chair across from him, studying his face. At least some color has returned to his cheeks.

This is even better than I had hoped.

The next moment, Carly, Luis, Travis, and Levi burst through the office door.

Levi walks over to my chair and takes a position to my right while the other three stand frozen, looking me up and down. To say they’re shocked would be an understatement.

Growing tired of their reactions, I hand Levi my now-empty glass, nodding for a refill.

“Come on, guys. Snap out of it. It’s me, Emma. I know I’ve changed, but you’re acting like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Carly is the first to react. She lets out one of her signature squeals, which I’ve always found annoying, before running over to me. I stand up and give her a hug.

“Finally, someone who can talk.”

She starts jumping up and down, running over to Travis and pulling him towards me. He gives me a shy hug before letting go.

“Wow, Emma, you’ve really changed. And by changed, I mean completely transformed,” he whispers.

“Well, I’m not sure yet if it’s a good or bad thing. Judging by your reactions, I’d say it’s a toss-up,” I reply.

“No way!” Carly shrieks. “You look amazing! Who knew my best friend was hiding all this under those hoodies and stuff?” She gestures up and down my body.

“Carly, you lived with me for years. I just got in shape, that’s all.”

“Whatever, B. You’ve changed a ton.” I had almost forgotten her nickname for me.

Luis walks over to Diablo and whispers something in his ear. I can’t read his lips because he’s facing away from me, but whatever he says snaps Diablo out of his trance.

He stands up and slowly walks over to me. Levi, being Levi, steps in between Diablo and me. This infuriates Diablo.

“Who the hell is this, Emma? Is he your boy toy? Get out of my way!” he yells at Levi.

I touch Levi’s shoulder, signaling for him to move and stand to my right, his usual spot.

“Diablo, it’s been a while. Did you miss me?” I ask in my sweetest voice.

“Who the hell is this, Emma? I’m not asking again,” he says, glaring at Levi.

“Well, if you remember, I did tell you I was hiring a bodyguard. Levi, meet Diablo—my, um…” I’m not sure how to introduce him since we never defined what we would be when I got back.

“Her boyfriend,” Diablo spits out. “It would be in your best interest not to come between Emma and me again. Got it?”

Levi just gives Diablo a blank, uninterested stare.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Can you even talk?” Diablo asks Levi. Diablo is getting more and more agitated by the second and if I don’t defuse the situation soon, things are going to get ugly.

“Diablo!” I shout. “Look at me!” I lift my hand and turn his face towards me. I look into his eyes as if seeing them for the first time. His green eyes are staring back at me, filled with confusion.

“Everyone out, now,” I command. “Levi, you can wait outside the door for me.”

I feel Diablo tense up at my words. Everyone is still frozen in place.

Without breaking eye contact with Diablo, I snap my fingers twice and Levi starts ushering Carly, Luis, and Travis out of the office, closing the door behind him.

Diablo is furious. I can see it in his eyes.

He pulls his face away from my hand and walks over to the bar cart, pouring himself another stiff whiskey, downing it before turning to me.

“What the hell, Emma? I know you said you needed to go and do some training, but damn, I did not expect this.” He runs his hand through his hair, a clear sign that he’s unsure how to react or what to say.

“Diablo, it’s still me. I haven’t changed that much. I’m still the same Emma. I’m just not a pushover anymore.”

“Damn, Emma, you look completely different. Your hair has grown so long, your body is incredible, your eyes are bluer than I’ve ever seen them, and you’re radiating a confidence that some women only dream of.

“What happened to my baby love, the one I fell in love with, the shy, innocent woman?”

“So you’re finally admitting you love me, Diablo? After all this time? After you spent weeks screwing Lauren while I was gone? Or is it because I look different now? You’re such a damn hypocrite.”

His proximity is making my stomach do somersaults. He still has that effect on me. My heart, the stupid thing, still loves this man who cheated on me.

My heart and body are both traitors.

Diablo closes the gap between us in three strides, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me against him. I’m so close I can hardly breathe.

He glances down at my chest, heaving with emotion. Lowering his head, he kisses the exposed skin above each breast. My entire body shivers at his touch. The fact that he still has this power over me is alarming.

I thought that time, my night with Dean, and Diablo’s countless nights with Lauren would have changed how my body reacts to him. But, to my disappointment, it hasn’t.

Damn it. I’m in trouble. I still want—no, crave—this mysterious man, despite everything that happened with Lauren. Even though I slept with Dean, it doesn’t compare to Diablo’s betrayal with Lauren.

I spin around, breaking free from Diablo’s hold, surprising him. He’s not used to me resisting him like this.

“What the hell, baby? I want you. I want you now. Come here.” He extends his hand to me. I refuse to take it and step further away from him, determined not to surrender to my body’s desires.

He lets his hand fall, anger radiating from every inch of him.

“I won’t say it again, baby. Come here. I want you.”

“No, Diablo. Not until we talk and clear a few things up.”

“I don’t want to talk right now, baby. I want to be buried deep inside you. I’ve missed you and your tight pussy.”

“You’ll just have to wait until we’ve talked, Diablo. Do you want to talk now or tomorrow?”

“What don’t you get, Emma? I don’t want to talk. I want to fuck you until you’re screaming my name for everyone to hear.”

“No, Diablo, not until we talk,” I yell back, my anger flaring. “Come find me when you’re ready to talk. Until then, either go screw yourself or go screw Lauren.

“And just so you know, Levi and I are staying in the penthouse. For now, I’m heading down to the club to have some fun with my friends.”

With that, I turn and stride out of his office, Levi trailing behind me. A huge grin spreads across my face.

I actually stood up to the man who shattered my heart into a million pieces, the man who claims to be my boyfriend.

I glance back over my shoulder to see a stunned Diablo staring after me.

This is way more fun than I thought it would be.