Taunted Souls: A Friends to Lovers Romance

by Janice Ross

  “What guy, Shayna?” Without waiting for a reply, Emma shut down the car, hopped out and promptly collected the bags from the back seat. “He isn’t what guy, Shay? You’re too innocent to know that type of guy. That shit in Florida,” her voice dipped low, “don’t believe it’s that simple. Van was a worthless ass. You don’t know trouble.”

  “And what about you, Emma?” I pitched out louder as she hurried behind while carrying two travel bags. “You might’ve been with a few assholes, but what do you know otherwise?”

  “Do you think I’m in Delaware for the scenery? That flakey chick isn’t me by one damn bit, Shayna! And it damn sure better not be who you plan on being.” Once inside, Emma dropped the luggage she’d carried, then spun around. “Since you have this blind loyalty for this guy, fine. I like him, for the most part. You guys have an insane connection. But until Erika is out of his life entirely, don't get stupid. Furthermore, whatever she’s got going on, I can assure you that she’s not done with him and she’s sure as hell not finished pursuing your ass.”

  “I want him, Emma. I love him. He loves me.” I took several deep breaths before adding, “Me, only me. Nothing’s gonna change that.”

  “And you’re sure he’s not just up for some ass—hers and yours?”

  “Seriously?”

  “Just using the word means nothing. Shayna, think. You mean too much to me. And I like Lucas enough to hold off from chopping off his balls for screwing around with you.” Her words were so ridiculous that she even had to pause.

  Emma couldn't help but feed me silliness. I made every attempt to keep a straight face, biting my lips shut and getting creepy with a wide-eyed stare.

  “I need you to be good, safe. You don't know what I've gone through. If I can save you from some of the agony life offers, I will. It's just . . .” That quickly, she went from scolding to joking around to being cautious. This was her, and she was meant to be my sister in this life. I was willing to take her any way she came packaged. “I can’t . . .”

  “You’re beyond silly, but, Emma, you don’t have to explain anything to me.”

  “I know that I don’t, but someday I will.” Emma's eyes glistened with the reply.

  I didn’t miss that part. From time to time she’d try to bare her soul to me; not often, but enough. I always picked up on what she consistently threw out. Part of me didn’t want to wait for someday to come, I wanted to know now. Something, or perhaps someone, had hurt my friend. I watched Emma move further into the house. She seemed weighted down. I remained close to the door, almost unwilling to proceed through this tiresome day any longer. I couldn’t help but wonder why life had to be so complex.

  Why did there have to be heartbreak?

  Why did good people have to get hurt?

  Why, although it went against what I stood for, couldn’t the people that were a waste of space just stick together?

  Why instead did they have to corrupt the world with their shenanigans and bullshit?

  Feeling even more worn out than before, I rubbed the back of my hand at my cheeks. It was only as I went to reach for the next bag that I realized it wasn’t on my shoulder. I stepped over the ones we’d released in the middle of the entrance hallway, while preparing to exit the door.

  “Emma, I’ll be—”

  The same asshole that had come to my place earlier jumped out in front of me. It wasn’t enough that we had fought him off before; he now had the upper hand as his hand went at my neck. He was maybe six-five, with a grip capable of lifting me from the floor. My legs dangled.

  The circulation had already started to cut. My breathing slowed. Even the darkness seemed to loom. I prepared to give in as a single teardrop rolled down my cheek. Then I thought about Emma. It was clear that this man was set to kill me. But what would he do to my bestie?

  Dear God!

  This gave me reason to fight.

  I swung my feet, though they were nowhere close to touching the ground. I opened my eyes wide, only to stare into jet-black ones that must’ve been owned by the Devil. This guy scared the crap out of me. Between the height and the powerful way in which he squeezed my throat, he was nothing short of a stone-cold killer.

  But I would not give in.

  I tried to touch him. My movements were weak, but I had to fight. I reached for his wrist, but it was useless. His body moved closer into mine. When I couldn’t grasp his black tee shirt, or even lessen his hold by clawing at his fists, I opened my arms to the sides. I shook just enough, with every bit of the strength I had remaining. This only helped him, as he thrust my body to a nearby wall to the left.

  “Please,” I muttered.

  “Shooo,” he responded as his coarse fingers tightened around my throat.

  My hands continued wailing at the sides until I felt the edge of the hallway table. I raised an arm just enough to reach the lamp I’d given Emma as a housewarming gift. I yanked on it and bashed the side of the guy’s head with one swipe.

  He tossed me down. I recognized the fight was far from over. I kept hitting the guy over and over again until he fell to the ground.

  He’d violated my space and Emma’s. He’d touched me. He’d forced himself into my space with that damned gasoline scent that was bound to remain with me each and every time this day came to mind.

  “Leave me alone!” I screamed about a minute later when the discomfort had worn off somewhat.

  “Shay, what the hell’s going on?” Emma called out from behind. I was lost and couldn’t stop myself. Neither could I stop the teardrops that were landing on a now weak guy who had been meant to take me out.

  “Emma . . .” I cried out low.

  “How? What?” For once Emma was at a loss for words. This was never her. She always knew how to handle situations. But this time, I turned to comfort her as we waited for the police to arrive and lock up the unconscious bastard.

  —————

  SHAYNA

  “ARE YOU SURE that boyfriend of yours doesn’t have anything to do with this?” This guy must’ve had a direct line to my problems. Just to think, I’ve never had an issue here, but now this asshole cop showed up each and every time I had a problem. “Where is he?”

  Two other cops had come earlier, before these arrived. Those had already gotten the intruder out and off to the station. This one wouldn’t budge, even when his buddy made it clear that they needed to follow through with the guy that had attacked me.

  “I’m sorry, but was this called in for you?” Emma approached him, then slid in between the extremely short distance he stood from me. “You were at my friend’s place earlier, but somehow managed to end up at mine, twenty minutes away? Furthermore, those other guys got here before you two. They got the asshole out. They took notes and asked all the damn questions in the world. Now what?”

  “Young lady—”

  “See, that’s where you’re wrong. I’m not a lady.” Emma wrapped both sets of fingers around my upper arms and moved me from out of the line of fire. “I will call 9-1-1 if there’s an issue.”

  So I stood off to the side as the bravest girl in life went toe-to-toe with the officer. All this while the other one swooned over her. And with each passing second, my bestie’s voice grew louder than the asshole cop.

  “Okay, guys . . .” His buddy finally spoke up when we noticed the guy’s fingers twitching at his sides. “This has been a stressful day for these two, Joe.”

  “Depends on who’s really causing the stress, Rich,” Officer Joe blurted out.

  “Ladies, we’ll be going.” Just as Officer Rich redirected his partner for the door, Rory stepped in.

  “Excuse me, who are you now?” Officer Joe gripped his waistline.

  “He’s good. He’s a friend.” I leapt forward.

  “That’s debatable,” Emma prompted with a wicked grin. She then winked at Rory and paved the way for the others. “Wait, how—”

  I knew what she was about to say, but her questions would’ve kept the cops there l
onger. Only after they left did we talk freely.

  “How did you know we were here?” I asked ahead of Emma.

  “Lucas texted your number. I didn’t see the phone right away, but when I tried reaching back out, it went to voicemail. Couldn’t understand why he did any of that. So I went to your place.”

  “Yeah, the same guy that did that followed us here,” I interjected.

  “How did you know to come here?” Emma rolled her eyes at him. She didn’t hide her disdain for Rory.

  “Where else would she go?” Rory threw at Emma. Her eyes formed slight lines to match the less than friendly way her lips relaxed. “I’ve been taking shit from you for years now, Emma, all over some bullshit misunderstanding.”

  “So?”

  “So? So, get over yourself. Hate me for all I care, but set that shit aside. I need to figure out what’s up with Lucas. That’s where my energy is going right now.”

  Emma's mouth quivered. Her lips stuck out. Knowing my hotheaded bestie Emma Boone the way I did, she had to be getting ready to rip into him. So we stood almost perfectly still. My attention shifted from Emma to Rory to an empty space with an invisible question mark representing Lucas.

  “Wait, why would something be going on with Lucas?” It only now set in, making me regret my earlier attitude.

  “His truck’s at his house. He’s not.” Rory took time with the words. They were meant for me, but the room stood in attention to Emma. Not once did he shift those incredible blues away from her. “Him sending your number and not answering now, that shit’s out in left field.”

  “Why the hell are we standing around?” I panicked. “That jackass tracked us down. What if . . .” Tears formed in my eyes. I slipped out of touch with everything all at once, just when my vision blurred. “No . . . No . . . No!” I rushed in circles. I was heated, instantly soaked with a mixture of sweat and tears.

  “I can handle this. What exactly happened with these break-ins?” Rory peeled focus from Emma. She extended her arms to hug me as I recalled the drama of the past day. Once everything came full circle, I sobbed harder.

  “Aw, sweetie, we should stay at a hotel for the night,” she comforted. It reminded me of the day we’d met and the way she’d tried to protect me. Though that was different, this wasn’t debatable. There would be no walking away or hiding.

  Rory started pacing, while he swung a fist into the air off and on.

  “You both need to calm down. Stressing isn’t gonna magically lead you to him.”

  Rory spun on his heel, and then stomped over into Emma's space. We were in the living room, standing in front of a brown leather love seat to the left and matching chaise to the right. Only then did I realize we had yet to sit or calm down. Honestly though, how could we?

  “I’ll find Lucas,” Rory stated as a fact, in a deeper tone than he’d used previously.

  “I can’t let you go after him alone,” I said clearly and precisely. Emma would fight my decision, and so would Rory. “I won’t be able to rest if I’m not a part of this.” This was my choice. From one to the other, I studied them. How could anyone truly understand the love I felt for Lucas? We’d only just made things click, but we were “here” all along. “There’s nothing you can say to—”

  “Sweetie, you don’t know this sort of life.” Emma reached for me. Her pupils grew as she exaggerated a pitiful-as-hell frown. She pitied me, like I was a weak link . . . like I was a damn liability . . . like I would make things worse.

  “I’ve had it with you dropping warnings that mean shit. If you’re so tough, prove it; otherwise, get the hell out of my way.” The sting of more tears loomed right there. At any moment I was bound to explode—not with anger, but sadness and frustration. I didn’t mean to take things out on her. She just happened to be there.

  “Shayna, I know you’re pissed.” Emma reached for my arms.

  I swatted her hand away. “I’m gonna do this,” I stated under my breath, though my insides were sliced up with worry. “With or without anyone else, I have to find him.” I shook hard, determined not to cry. Perhaps in my private time, but I couldn't let her see me cave. Then she'd think I really was weak. But Emma pushed past my fake anger to hug me. And when she did, I caved. My entire body fell into her embrace.

  “Aw, sweetie, don’t cry.”

  “I’m scared, Emma. What if he’s not okay? What if—”

  “Shit!” Rory yelled right before his boot landed at the edge of the wall. Between the red hair and the sparkly eyes, he developed a devilish glow. His skin burned like some kind of creature from hell.

  “What?” Emma loosened her hold on me. She looked up at him. I followed the trail of her words. “What are you guys into? I hope it’s nothing illegal.”

  “Lucas is a good guy,” Rory replied in a distant manner.

  “Screw the good-guy talk. Are you guys on some illegal shit?” She redirected me into a nearby single-seater then stormed over to where he’d started pacing the floor.

  “I don’t need to answer to you or anyone else. I just need to deal with this issue. Got it?”

  But Emma wouldn’t let it go. That wasn’t her style. The wilder, the more wicked, the tastier, the riskier the opposition, the more determined she became to jump into the fight. It wasn’t that she was a troublemaker; quite the opposite. She just believed in making things better when they didn’t seem quite right.

  “Enough!” I shot up from my seat. Felt like a thousand fists were pounding at my head. We all had to somehow form an alliance and get on the same side. “Can you guys take it easy? We don’t have time for a fight. Lucas is somewhere, and I need to find that somewhere.”

  “Wait, has Erika called?” Emma suddenly asked, snapping her fingers.

  “Called me?” I shook my head, unable to stop the smirk.

  “Do you think I’m an idiot, Shay?” she flashed my way before flinging her neck and sending a wave of hair fluttering around as she turned back to Rory. “Did she call you?”

  “Why the hell would she call me?”

  “Looking for Lucas. Duh?”

  In the midst of their fussing, I saw a sparkle in Emma's glare. Her lips puckered and she slipped into a more relaxed stance with her leg off to the side. I hadn’t seen that behavior toward him since the night they’d first met.

  “I don’t think she has my number—”

  “And where’s the third wheel? He seems to get in the way of your bromance with Lucas,” she added.

  Rory snarled. A light bulb appeared to have gone off in his mind.

  “You think it has something to do with Bash?” I quizzed.

  Rory shrugged. I didn’t trust it because of his mood, including the energy he’d been giving off, shifted. “He was supposed to head up to the city.”

  “Which city?” Emma asked. “For a house?”

  “Honestly, I couldn’t answer that.” Rory reached into his pocket to retrieve his phone. His thumb ran up and down the screen. I made note of how Emma hung on his actions, much similar to me.

  As soon as I heard the ringing, I whispered, “Lucas.” Saying his name just about did me in. I clutched for my chest, to rest the palm of my hand over my heart. Suddenly images of a bloodied Lucas flashed before me. I saw him in episodes of my past. A gush of air escaped my lips. I clutched my arms tighter to my chest, squeezing my clothes.

  No, I refused to believe Lucas’s fate would match anyone I'd know in my past. Not my Lucas. Not now. Not ever. I had to hold out hope for our future. Regardless of how things now seemed, I needed to believe in us, in his safety and in our love conquering all. Especially where uncertainty loomed.

  —————

  A day later in NY

  SHAYNA

  WHO COULD’T HELP but notice the way Rory took in Emma? His fixation wasn’t subtle either. And for her part, I believe she felt the same. I’m not sure what kept either from pursuing the other. Ironic, since Lucas and I had fallen into the same trap. This wasn’t the type of thing I should
’ve been focused on, though it was the type of thing I needed to keep my mind occupied.

  “Emma, I know you see the way he looks at you.”

  The left side corner of her lips twitched. She was either holding back a smile or trying to avoid showing how uncomfortable my observation made her feel.

  “Smile,” I encouraged.

  She did, only to shake her head and grunt out, “Ughhh, he’s no good for me, girl.”

  “And you’re good for him? You’re better than him?” I thought they were safe questions. “He has a bit of dark allure, don’t you think?”

  “Sooooo, you feel that’s what I need?” Emma made fish lips, leaned her head against mine and blew out heavily.

  “You prefer boring?”

  “How do you know I haven’t had my share of all types of men, Shay?”

  “I guess.” Then, shoving her from off me, I spun to the side. I’d always wondered about her. Sure, I understood the need for privacy, but it had been about five years since she’d rescued me from Van. Today, I didn’t know how or why she’d just dropped into my life that way, yet I’d followed like a mindless idiot. No regrets now, but . . . “You’ve gotta be the oddest person alive.”

  She giggled. “Me?” A squeaky type of sound escaped. Standing to her feet, she headed for her purse.

  “Emma Boone, you saved my life on the day we met. You helped me get away from a situation that might’ve killed me. Granted, I came blindly, but you never once asked much more; I thought it was your way of keeping me in the dark about your drama at the time.” I waited for some sort of rebuttal, yet all she did was clutch the purse to stand over by the window. Her gaze extended out into the open sky. It was massive, clear and perhaps freeing; freeing since it probably didn’t make her feel constricted in the way I was now doing.

  “Shay, there are certain things you don’t get to know, shouldn’t want to know either,” my elusive friend spat.

  “Like what?”