Chapter 70
By the time I make it downstairs, breakfast is already laid out. Margaret glances up when I enter and smiles at me like she always does.
Zane is there too, seated at the table, his posture is rigid looking at something on his phone beside his plate.
I take the chair across from him and start eating without acknowledging him.
“You look dressed where are you going this morning?” he asks.
I don’t answer him, I don’t have to him keeping a body guard on my trailing is already enough he doesn’t get to question my whereabouts too.
I keep chewing, keeping my eyes on my plate.
Aaron stands near the doorway, pretending not to exist, which I appreciate.
Zane’s jaw tightens. “Elaine p>
Still nothing from me.
Margaret clears her throat and steps in smoothly. “Would you like more eggs, dear p>
“Yes, please,” I say, immediately, grateful.
Zane exhales through his nose but doesn’t push. He finishes his meal quickly, stands, and leaves without another word, shutting the door harder than necessary.
I finish eating, wipe my mouth, and stand. I lean over and kiss Margaret’s cheek.
“I’ll see you later,” I tell her.
She pats my arm. “Be safe sweetie p>
“I always am,” I lie.
Outside, Aaron opens the car door for me.
“My brothers’ place,” I say once I’m seated. “You know where it is p>
“No and which one p>
“Lucas’s house, I’ll give you the coordinates p>
He nods and starts the engine.
The drive is quiet as I watch the city pass by, hands folded in my lap, heart thudding harder the closer we get.
When we pull into the driveway, I unbuckle and reach for the door.
“You want me to wait?” Aaron asks.
“No,” I say. “I’ll call you when I’m done p>
I step out, then pause when I hear his voice again.
“Ma’am.” I hate that he calls me that, it makes me feel old and wrinkly.
I turn.
“You don’t have my number p>
Yea righ of course.
We exchange phones digits, quickly and for some reason it feels awkward.
“There,” he says. “Just in case p>
“Thanks,” I reply.
I head inside.
The house is tense the moment I step through the door.
I find lucas already pacing the sitting room trying to tear it down with how frequently he Is walking back and forth, Noah is sitting stiffly on the couch, elbows on his knees. Caleb stands by the window, just staring out at it. Ivy sits by Noah treading her arm through his, fidgeting with her dress.
I’m so happy when I see her that I cross the room and pull her into my arms.
“You’re so awful,” I mutter into her hair. “You just disappear and don’t even bother to call p>
She hugs me back just as tightly. “I know I know, I’m sorry and I missed you p>
I pull back and look at her face, she looks worried. They all do.
“Sit,” Lucas says. “You are scaring us p>
I do and I take a breath. Then another.
“This isn’t easy for me ” I say. “So I’m just going to say it p>
“I saw him,” I continue. “Anthony. I saw Anthony.
Immediately the name leaves my mouth Caleb’s glass shatters in his hand.
Whiskey spills onto the floor and his blood follows immediately.
“Caleb,” Ivy gasps.
“I’m fine, I’m fine” he snaps, but his hand is already dripping red.
I’m on my feet in a second, heading for the f first aid kit in the bathroom.
“I’ll get the first aid kit,” I say, mostly because my head needs something to do.
When I come back, Caleb is sitting now,his jaw clenched and eyes dark.
I kneel in front of him and start cleaning the cut. He doesn’t flinch when I apply the spirit to his wound.
“How?” Noah asks quietly.
“At a club,” I say. “Claire dragged me out awhile ago, I didn’t know what kind of place it was until I got there p>
Lucas’s fists clench. “And Zane p>
“He showed up when things went bad,” I say. “He stopped it, stopped him p>
Silence.
Caleb finally looks at me. “You’re sure it was him p>
I don’t hesitate. “Yes I am very sure, I would never forget his face or his smell… I would never p>
My voice shakes a bit the flood gates to memories I’ve kept hidden and away for nearly six years coming back to assault me me again.
“I would never forget any of them,” I add. “He was one of the men who raped me five years ago p>
Lucas looks like he might be sick while Noah’s face goes pale. Ivy’s eyes fill with tears she doesn’t let fall probably remembering that night too.
Caleb’s injured hand curls slowly into a fist.
“Did he touch you? Again?.” Lucas asks, carefully.
“Yes,” I say. “He did this time to or wanted to Zane got there in time and pulled him off of me p>
“Fuck!.” Ivy snaps, standing. “He fucking exists and he’s walking around probably doing the same to other women too p>
“I know,” I say.
I sit back on my heels, exhaustion crashing into me.
“That’s why I needed you all here,” I continue. “Because I don’t know what to do with that p>
No one speaks for a long moment.
Then Noah does. “You don’t deal with it alone p>
Lucas nods. “Never p>
Caleb swallows hard. “If I see him p>
“You won’t,” I interrupt. “Not unless I say so p>
They look at me, surprised.
“He is mine to deal with, that revenge is mine to take and I will take it.” I say. “I just needed to know you guys are with me when i choose to do something I want him dead p>
“Sunshine are you sure you want blood on your hands Lucas asks
“Yes I am sure i want them to feel exactly what I felt that night p>
Ivy sits beside me and takes my hand.
“Whatever you need, El” she says softly.
I squeeze her fingers.
My phone buzzes and I loook at it.
Aaron.
I glance at the screen, then back at my family.
“I should go,” I say. “But uhm thank you p>
Lucas pulls me into a hug, then Noah, then Caleb, careful with his bandaged hand.
I hold Ivy a second longer.
“Don’t disappear again on me again,” I tell her.
“I won’t,” she promises.
I leave the house feeling lighter than I did before.
And knowing this isn’t over.
Not even close