Page 42 of Secrets in the Deep

“Yes, Emily. Who else would I care about?” She moved into his office. “Emily!”

“She’s not here, Melanie.”

Instead of doing what a normal person would do—like listening and walking out again—the woman stormed up the stairs and continued to yell. “Emily? If you’re here, you need to come back to the inn! You’ve proven your point. This needs to end.Now.”

He followed her into his bedroom. Yes, his fucking bedroom. “Is Emily missing?”

“Considering she stormed out of the inn like a five-year-old and refuses to answer my calls, I’d say yes.”

“What did you do?”

“Me?” She laughed, but the sound was almost hysterical. She checked the next bedroom, then the bathroom. “It’s interesting how I sacrificedeverythingto get that girl to where she is, and instead of thanking me, instead of admitting, ‘God, Mom, you’ve given up your dream so that I could live mine,’ she stomps out without a backward glance!”

Ryan lifted a brow, because “sacrificed” seemed a bit rich, considering the woman was benefiting quite significantly, both financially and lifestyle-wise, from Emily’s hard work and talent.

Melanie ran down the stairs, stomping through the living room and kitchen before returning to the front door. “She’s really not here?”

“I already said that.”

She huffed, but instead of walking out of the house, she glared at him. “You know, when you broke up with her, I thought maybe I hadn’t given you enough credit. Maybe you were smarter than you looked.”

“I’m guessing there’s a but coming.”

“But then she comes here, and instead of giving her space, you crowd her. You make sure you’re right there at every turn, always on set. Watching her with those predatory eyes.”

“Predatory?”

She shoved a finger into his chest. “You know exactly what you’re doing. And it needs to stop. All of it. Before she does something stupid.”

“Like kiss me?”

“Like throw her entire career down the drain.Back.Off!” She stormed out of his house.

The door had barely slammed closed when his phone rang, Zac’s name appearing on the screen.

He hit the answer key. “Hey, have you seen Emily around town? Her mom just paid me a visit. She can’t find her.”

“Actually, that’s why I’m calling. Emily’s at Trap. And I’m pretty sure she’s on a mission to drink her body weight in vodka sodas.”

Shit. He grabbed his keys on the way out of the house. “I’m coming now.”

10

Ryan stepped into Trap, the street noise instantly replaced with music and laughter and the clinking of glasses. It smelled of beer and vodka and sickly-sweet perfume.

He ignored all of it as he scanned the crowded bar.

Where are you, Emi?

When he didn’t immediately spot her, he wove through the crowd, closing in on the crack of billiard balls.

Connor, Raven, and Zac stood at a pool table, cues in hand.

Zac straightened from taking his shot. “You got here fast.”

“Where is she?”

Zac’s gaze shifted to something behind Ryan. He followed his friend’s gaze, eyes narrowing on Emily. Not just Emily. Her friend, the other female actress, and that self-absorbed prick, Preston, stood with her. There was also a small crowd of women around them. Four. All gazing longingly at Preston as the man talked.