We’d already discussed this, but she must have forgotten by now. That was the thing with schizophrenia. It had similar effects to dementia. Their memories faded quicker than regular brains. I refused to call “normal” brains healthy because Emma wasn’t sick. She lived with this mental illness and made the best of it.
“You told me about it before you lost your memories, and you tried to explain again after the incident in the break room.” Shadows fell over Emma’s face as she remembered what happened with those two lawyers who would no longer be a problem. “I don’t expect you to remember that.” That came out harsher than I had intended, but a small smile crept onto her face. The girl didn’t let it faze her.
“What else have I told you?”
“Is there something you’re hiding?”
Emma shook her head, clammed up, and looked like she really was hiding something from me. “No, sir.”
“Hmm.” I closed my laptop and got up from my chair. Fixing my shirt’s sleeve at my wrist, I circled around the desk and slowly approached her. “I want to take you somewhere. Show you something.”
She blinked, her gaze staying on me. Her eyes were like bright emeralds. They held a glossy sheen, reminding me of mirrors that reflected her inner thoughts and feelings. She was too easy to read, but at other times, it was hard to understand what was going through her head.
“Show me something?” she repeated.
Dropping my arms to my sides, I slipped my hands into my pockets. “Yes. Maybe it’ll help you remember things.”
She brightened and clapped her hands. “Oh, yes! I’d love that, Mr. Volkov.”
“Dimitri.”
She stopped clapping, and her eyebrows drew together. “Sorry?”
“I want you to call me Dimitri while we are off the clock.” I watched her as she processed what I said. Confusion marred her soft features, and I wanted to smooth away the wrinkles in her forehead with my fingers just so I had an excuse to touch her.
My demon’s lips curled into a feral smile, amused by my soft thoughts about my mate.
“Our. Mate,”he growled.
“But you said—” Emma started before I cut in.
“I know what I said, Ms. Hayes, and now I’m telling you to call me by my name when it’s just us.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip, and I wanted to catch it between my fingers and pull it away from her worrying teeth. “Then I want you to call me Emma. I...I like it when you say my name.”
I gazed at her until she squirmed and shifted her weight between her legs.
“Well, Emma, I want to take you out and show you something.” I held out my hand for her to take.
Without hesitation, she placed her hand in mine, and her freckled cheeks turned bright pink. “Okay, Dimitri.”
My head swiveled as I walked beside Mr. Volkov on Washington Avenue. I was on high alert. Anxiety leaked into me, but it would build and hit me like a freight train eventually.
Why were we walking toward Lafayette Cemetery Number 1?
As we made our way through the large cemetery, I slowed to match Mr. Volkov’s silent steps next to me. I couldn’t stop glancing at all the packed-together tombs. Despite the cold weather, some trees retained the brown leaves that most others had shed.
I followed my boss as he turned down one path. Flashes of memories burst through my mind. I faintly recalled being here several months ago, afraid I had committed murder and had to hide the body. Thankfully, I had no issues with those hallucinations anymore.
Scrunching my eyebrows, I wondered why Dimitri wanted to show me something here.
Does he know what happened?
I peeked at him from the corner of my eye. He stared straight ahead, his hands in his pockets, his expression blank. Not knowing what he was thinking at this moment drove me mad.
“What are we doing here, sir?” I asked softly, afraid I’d wake the dead if I talked any louder.
His narrowed eyes snapped to me. “We’re alone, Emma.”
