“I just hate that this is affecting you too.”
Kelsey squeezed her tighter. “It’s okay. I was in this the moment you met the asshole. He messes with you, he messes with me.”
Elise sniffled, and something in my chest cracked.
She didn’t deserve this.
No one did.
“You sure you don’t want to come stay with us?” I asked Kelsey. “You’re more than welcome to.”
“Thank you, but Taylor already set me up in a hotel for the next couple of weeks until Jax is caught,” Kelsey explained. “She’s actually waiting for me outside, so I’m going to go.” She turned to Elise. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Elise nodded weakly. “Yeah.”
“I’ll take care of her,” I assured Kelsey.
Kelsey gave me a look. One that said she’d hold me to that promise.
“Call me if you need anything,” she told Elise. “I’ll FaceTime you later.”
Elise forced a small smile. “Sounds good.”
One last hug, and Kelsey was gone.
The house was eerily silent after the police and investigators left, except for Ryan who stood near the door. Now, it was just me and Elise.
I watched her closely. She was rattled but trying not to show it.
“You have everything?” I asked.
“Um, I think so?” Her voice was uncertain. I didn’t like that.
“If there’s anything you’re missing, I’ll have someone go buy it for you.”
“Thank you.”
I gestured toward the door. “Come on.”
She followed me out to the car, her steps hesitant.
I knew she was trying to process everything. Knew she wasn’t ready for the weight of it all.
Neither was I.
The car ride was silent. My grip on the steering wheel tightened with every passing second. I was pissed. More than that, I was seething. When I got my hands on that bastard...
No.
I forced a slow breath. If I let my rage take over, I wouldn’t be thinking straight. And right now, Elise needed me to be clear-headed.
But when I glanced over at her, I found her looking at me instead of out the window. Her expression was unreadable, but there was something lingering in the way her lips parted, in the way her fingers trembled slightly as she clutched the strap of her bag.
She was scared.
Not just of Jax, but of what was building between us.
I’d called her my girlfriend earlier tonight.
