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That’s why I followed him that day with Jake. I didn’t trust Royce and wanted to make sure he wasn’t looking for Ellie so he could apologize and get back into her good graces. I knew she’d stay away from him but didn’t put it past him to try to talk to her.
Clearly he summoned all the fucking nerve that he had in him to do more than talk to her because tonight he came for her and what I witnessed earlier…what I watched him try to do to Ellie…the way he choked her…he was planning to take what he wanted, any way that he could.
There wasn’t a doubt in my mind he was a rapist and a murderer. In fact, his father was probably covering it up. I’m sure if anyone looked in the files of the Elmhurst Medical Examiner’s office, they would find autopsies for more Jane Does that when run through the database Jake’s dad used, would confirm the identities of every missing girl.
But Ellie’s father? By they I assume she means Royce and his father, and shit…I can’t even begin to process why his best friend would want him dead.
She bites her lip and fresh tears spill down her cheeks. “What he wanted…what he was going to do…”
I shake my head and give her the warmest smile I can manage given all we’ve been through tonight. “We don’t have to talk about it tonight.”
She lets out a tiny breath, and nods, then closes her eyes.
As I dry her off, I examine her carefully. With the light of the room I can see better now the extent of her injuries, and I’m horrified.
Those fuckers were twice her size—Cal nearly three—and it looks like both got a few hits in. Her body is covered in bruises, including the outline of fingerprints on her neck and wrists, and I have to keep my focus on drying her off, fearing I’ll lose my shit if I don’t.
Once she’s as dry as I can get, I throw the towel down on the floor. “Thank you,” she whispers.
I swallow down my anger and give her a soft smile. “For?”
“Saving me.”
I reach for her hand and hold it tight. Ellie has no idea she once saved me. When my world was broken and there was no light. Or maybe she does. Maybe Ellie has known all along we were two broken kids, who when brought together created a whole, and she’s been waiting for me to figure out what she has known all along.
“You don’t have to thank me, baby. I will always find you.”
She curls up against me, goosebumps pricking her skin, as questions race through my mind. What happened before I got to her house, and how did she wind up at the old pier by mine? I want to know everything but my questions will have to wait. She’s been through Hell tonight.
I start to get up to grab her some dry clothes to put on, and as if she is reading my mind, she starts to babble. Her voice is thin, and what she’s saying is bits and pieces. But I manage to makeout enough to string together what happened.
Courtney came to her house and threatened her, then Royce and Dex showed up. Scared, she crawled out her window to get away, and that’s when Royce caught up with her on the beach. I rub a hand over my chin, trying to process the rest, but my ears start to ring when she gets to the part where Cal showed up and some kind of deal he made with Royce to drive a wedge between Ellie and me.
“I fought them,” she says, lip quivering. “I couldn’t let him do that to you.”
“Me?” I tuck her wet hair behind one ear.
“They wanted to hurt me, to hurt you. Did someone hurt you?” She looks up, eyes desperate. “He said someone had.”
“No one touched me,” I shake my head. “I’m fine.”
She places a weak hand on my face and her touch is like the sun warming the ground after an early frost. “Are you sure?”
I place my hand on hers and think back to earlier when I left her in bed, smiling and full of love. Fuck, it feels like a lifetime ago. “Yes, baby. I’m fine.”
She leans into me and we sit that way for a few minutes. Quiet, but together.
“I’m still yours,” she says tiredly. “He tried. They both tried. But I still belong to only you.”
When I hear the confirmation I’ve been desperately needing, I throw my arms around her, and kiss the top of her head, thanking God I got there when I did. There’s still so much I need to know, but I have to get downstairs and question Cal and she needs to rest.
“Come on.” I kiss the side of her head again. “Let’s get you changed and into bed so you can get some sleep. We can talk about all of this in the morning.”
For the first time since the beach, she lets me go as I get up and make my way over to the dresser. Grabbing a pair of boxersand a T-shirt I know she loves, I make my way back over to the bed, and help her get dressed. Once she’s changed, I too, get out of my wet clothes, and put on some fresh ones.
“Where are you going?” she asks when I gather the wet pile from the floor.
“Just going to toss these in the hamper,” I give her a soft smile. “I’ll be right back.”
