Marcus
“Put him on speaker.” The words rush out as Hunter pushes the green call button.
I’m fidgeting next to him as I wait to hear Kam's voice, to know he’s not hurt, “Are you okay? What’s going on?” Hunter says before me.
“Is she okay? How is she?” Kameron asks instead of answering Hunter.
“She’s okay.” Hunter’s eyes shoot up to Elliott who is still in her seat at the island. “Healing.”
“I need to hear it from her.” Kam says sternly. Hunter walks to the island for Elliott’s answer. “You’re on speaker, she’s here with us.”
“Gorgeous, youthere?”
I can see the spark in her eyes light up but it dims immediately and the glossiness returns as she starts to talk, “I’m okay.” She says in a hushed tone.
“They taking good care of you?” He asks, as if we wouldn't be.
“Yes.” Is all she replies with.
“Better be. I’ll be coming to the house soon.”
Hunter snaps the phone to his mouth, “You’re coming here? I thought you weren’t allowed to until your whole ‘bride stuff’ was squared away?”
“Looks like withSamuel’smissing bride, he is putting everything else on the back burner. He has everyone looking for her.”
I keep my eyes on Elliott whose body seems to grow tenser with every one of Kam’s words, “How bad is it?”
“Pretty bad. He won’t stop. I know that much, but I also know that he won’t find her. I won’t allow him near her ever again. If I could make it so he wasn’t even allowed to imagine her in his mind, I would make that happen.” He inhales deeply, “I don’t want you worrying about anything but healing, Elliott.”
“I think we all know that is easier said than done.” Hunter mutters.
I couldn’t stop thinking about everything she confessed just moments before the phone call. My emotions are all over the fucking place right now.
I don't know what I expected Elliott to tell us, but I didn't think she would lay it all out for us the way she did. Even through tears, she said it all. Every fucking horror she went through.
How could they treat her the way they did? Raising her as a child to a woman, only to let her believe she was a part of their family, and then smacking her in the face with the fact that she was to be a bride to her fucking brother, no less. They let her believe she found a home where she could be safe. A place where she could trust the people she was with.
All of it was a lie.
Every. Single. Piece.
I kept going back to all the ways I treated her. As if she was an overdramatic, rich, privileged girl who had always had everything she ever wanted. I was mean and insensitive.
What an ass.
But I didn’t know…
“I know that but—fuck—listen gorgeous, I am coming the second the heat is off me. I got the okay but I know they’ll be watching people like hawks still, so I need to make sure I don't just up and leave right now. I want to, believe me, but...”
"I get it." Elliot says in a low tone, "I don't want you risking yourself or whatever it is you are there for."
"They haven't talked to you about why I’m here?"
"There hasn't been much talking at all, actually." Hunter elbows me in the ribs, and I look at him with furrowed brows wondering why. All I said was the truth. He gives me a pointed look and flickers his eyes to Elliott and back at me. I follow his gaze and see Elliott looking at her hands on her lap, her shoulders are slumped down and she looks mournful.
"Flores. Cut the shit. If you knew what she went through, you would change that fucking tone. Don't talk to my girl like that."
"Your girl?" I chuckle at the threatening tone lacing his voice. "Got it."
