Chapter 314: My Emmy Needs Me

Emma's POV

"Wow," I replied, pulling back slightly to look at him. "Your knowledge has grown considerably."

Blake's eyes glinted with amusement. "You'd be the first. Don't know if you want to be my guinea pig?"

I laughed, "First and only," I corrected him, my finger tracing the edge of his hospital gown.

We playfully dodged around each other's teasing, but in my attempt to avoid his wandering hand, I accidentally bumped against his injured side. Blake let out a soft, muffled groan, his body tensing instantly.

"I'm sorry," I said immediately, my hand hovering above his bandages. The guilt washed over me, seeing pain replace the playfulness in his eyes.

"It's fine," he assured me, but the flash of pain across his face told me otherwise. He took a controlled breath, attempting to mask his discomfort.

In that moment, I silently added another mark to Aiden's tab. The mental ledger of his transgressions was growing longer by the day. He would pay for what he did to Blake, one way or another.

Once Blake had settled back comfortably against the slightly raised hospital bed, his breathing returning to normal, I asked, "How long are you planning to keep up this coma act?"

"I'm not," Blake replied, surprising me. His fingers intertwined with mine on the white hospital sheets. "The doctors will announce my miraculous recovery tomorrow morning."

"That's... quick." I studied his face, noting how the bruises had darkened since yesterday, mapping the contours of his cheekbones in purples and blues.

His expression darkened, shadows gathering in his eyes. "If I didn't have more important things to do, I'd definitely play with them thoroughly."

The venomous tone in his voice was new, reminding me that despite his charm, Blake was dangerous when crossed. This wasn't the gentle man who cooked me dinner or folded napkins into rabbits—this was someone who could navigate Boston's darkest corners without flinching.

"I saw Jessica," I told him, changing the subject. The memory of her broken body made my stomach clench. "Rachel said she'll help contact other girls in similar situations."

Blake nodded, his jaw tightening slightly. "This is an entire black industry chain, Emma. It goes far beyond prostitution. Many of their operations connect with overseas partners."

The reality of what we were dealing with settled over me like a cold shadow. The hospital room suddenly felt exposed, as if invisible eyes were watching our every move. "Promise me you'll be careful," I said, squeezing his hand. "I can't lose you again."

"You should be the one watching out," he countered, his thumb rubbing small circles on my palm. "Be careful around Aiden."

"Speaking of careful plans," I said, leaning closer so my voice wouldn't carry beyond our little bubble, "I think Sophia might be getting recruited by Obsidian Palace. I'm planning to use that."

Blake raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue. The tactical mind behind his eyes was already working, evaluating angles and possibilities.

"I've already transferred the bar to Sophia's name. It's been notarized and registered." I couldn't help the small smile of satisfaction that tugged at my lips.

A slow smile spread across Blake's face, crinkling the corners of his eyes. "Miss Garcia not only has wealth now, but it seems you've developed quite a devious mind too."

I smiled back, but another worry had been nagging at me since I realized the extent of this undercover operation. "What if Aiden tries to test you? If he sets you up with some rich woman for drinks or overnight, will you continue the act?" The thought alone made my chest tighten with a feeling I refused to name.

Blake's smile widened, the most genuine expression I'd seen since entering his room. "Are you jealous?"

"I'm not jealous," I replied without hesitation, tossing my hair back with practiced nonchalance. "If I want something, I just take it."

He chuckled, the sound warming the sterile air between us. "Yes, boss. Whatever my patron says."

I rolled my eyes at his teasing. "I'll find nurses for you and Jessica," I said, moving to more practical matters, my hand reaching for my phone.

But Blake shook his head, reaching out to stop me. "I don't need anyone else here."

"You can't just lie here alone all day," I argued, looking around at the impersonal hospital room with its bland walls and uncomfortable chair.

"I'll be fine," he insisted, then softened his tone. "But I appreciate you thinking of me. You should go take care of your own business."

Something in his voice made me pause. The careful neutrality, the slight emphasis on "your business." "Will someone be coming to see you?"

Blake didn't answer directly, which was answer enough. His eyes flickered briefly to the door, then back to me.

"Is it dangerous?" I pressed, leaning forward in my chair.

"No more dangerous than what we've already faced," he said dismissively, but I caught the slight tension in his shoulders.

"I don't understand something," I said after a moment, my fingers tracing the edge of his blanket. "If Aiden suspected you were Blake, why didn't he just kill you directly?"

Blake's eyes met mine, steady and revealing nothing. "Because 'Parker' isn't just anybody. Do you want to know who he is?"

I considered the question, weighing the implications. Did I want to know more about this identity he'd created? Would it put me in more danger? Would it change how I felt about him? The afternoon sun caught the edges of his profile, highlighting the man I knew while casting shadows over the parts I didn't.

"No," I decided, my voice soft but certain. "I just need to know you're safe."

Blake reached for my hand, squeezing it gently. "I won't let anything happen to me," he promised, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Because... my Emmy needs me."