SHARING EMMA [18+]

34. Trail of Dust

 |CARLOS|

As Emma confided in me about her nightmares, my heart sank. The gravity of the situation was not lost on me. I knew that I had to do something to help her, to protect her from whatever was causing her so much distress. Without hesitation, I promised her I would get to the bottom of it, but not before asking for a day to investigate further before revealing anything to her.

I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that crept up on me. I had a hunch about what was causing Emma's nightmares, but I needed to confirm it first. However, I was also apprehensive about what the truth might reveal. If my suspicions were true, the situation was far more complicated than anticipated. I needed to tread carefully and not let Emma panic unnecessarily.

After escorting Emma to her room, I briskly strode over to my security manager, demanding he beef up the number of guards patrolling the villa. If my suspicions were correct, this place would need protection akin to that of a maximum-security prison.

With a sense of urgency, I immediately fired off a message to Ryker, instructing him to rendezvous with Tomas and me at the cluster of palm trees. It was a relaxing spot that we had been developing, and over time it had become a standout feature of the property and served as an ideal reference point for meetings.

Revving up my engine, I peeled out of the parking lot, eager to reach the designated meeting spot. Thankfully, Tomas didn't keep me waiting for long, his rugged jeep kicking up a trail of dust as it barreled towards my car.

As Tomas' jeep screeched to a halt in front of me, I leaped out of my car and gazed at Ryker and Tomas as they clambered out of the jeep, their expressions riddled with confusion.

"What's happening?" asked Ryker, frowning.

"I'll fill you in on the way," I said, turning to Tomas. "You haven't forgotten about those naysayers who were opposing the project, have you?"

Tomas furrowed his brow, his eyes squinting as he mulled over my words. "Yeah, I remember them," he said, his voice low and raspy. "What about them?"

"I need to meet their head. Right now," I said, my tone brooking no argument.

Tomas glanced at his watch, his fingers drumming anxiously on his hip. "Isn't it a little late for that? Folks around here hit the sack early. It's practically midnight."

"I don't give a damn about that," I snapped, watching as Tomas flinched at the sharpness of my tone. "Just get me there, and I'll handle the rest."

Tomas sighed, understanding the gravity of the situation.

The moon hung in the sky like a giant silver orb, casting an eerie glow over the rugged terrain. The jeep bounced and jolted along the bumpy dirt road, the wheels kicking up clouds of dust that obscured our vision. My nerves were on edge as we drew closer to the village, and my heart pounded with apprehension as I saw the ramshackle houses looming too close to the forbidding forest.

Ryker slumped back in his seat, his face etched with frustration. "What's going on, dad?" he said, his voice laced with irritation. "Why are you so worked up? And why are we going to meet that man in the middle of the night?"

"Because this can't wait until morning," I growled, my frustration building. "And it's all because of you."

Ryker's face twisted in confusion. "Because of me? How is this my fault?"

I shook my head, feeling my blood boil with anger. "If you had been more careful when you were fooling around with that girl five years ago, we wouldn't be in this mess right now."

Ryker fell silent for a moment, his face paling. "Why are you bringing that up now? What the hell is going on?"

I took a deep breath, my voice heavy with emotion. "Emma is having those damn nightmares, Ryker. The same nightmares that you and I both had after you got that girl pregnant and the whole village cursed us. You remember that, don't you?"