… something’s wrong…
“Nooooo.” I groan out as the car loses power and I do my best to maneuver it off of the road, onto the shoulder. I don’t want to bother him, but I know that if I don’t he’ll be pissed at me.
It’s been weird for us since we were both released from the hospital. It’s like with everything that has happened, we’re trying to take things slow, and even though it’s been months, we haven’t slept together since.
First it was because the doc suggested against it. Then it was just because we wanted to make sure it was 100% going to work, before we get Jag’s expectations up only to crush them.
But I’m growing antsy and I sense he is, as well.
He answers on the first ring. “El?” he nearly yells into the phone.
“Hey, you busy?”
“Never too busy for you. What’s up?”
“Um,” I pause, knowing that if I don’t open my mouth and tell him soon, he’s going to get frustrated with me. “It’s my car. It kind of died on me.”
I can hear his chuckle through the phone, even though he tries to hide it. “I’m on my way, send me your location.”
“Thank you Axe.” I look up to him as he stands in front of me at the door of myfath… my house. He tried to fix the car where it sat, but it was too far gone and I’m pretty sure he told me just to get a new car. But he ended up calling Khan and relying to him the issues. Khan sent the tow truck out, and we left well before it even got there. I mean, they have a spare key to my car already.
“I know you would Axe.” I smile at him as I nod, and he looks up at me and for a second, I think he’s going to say more.
“This is fucking awkward, I’m sorry.” He laughs and I nod my head at him.
“It is.”
“Okay, I’m gonna leave before I make it worse.” He laughs before he slowly steps down off of the steps, and then back to his Jeep. He stops as he approaches it and turns around, catching me still watching him, but I don’t blush. He smirks. “I’ll come get you in the morning and we can go pick up Jag.” Nodding my head, I smile at him again.
Closing the door, I sigh, it’s weird being without Jag for so long I don’t know what to do, I just want to crawl in next to him and fall asleep.
Stepping into the shower, I let the water run over me, soothing my aching muscles, as I contemplate the last year and just how much of my life has changed. Smiling as I run the shampoo through my hair and then rinse it out.
The sound of the bathroom door lightly shutting sets me on edge as I glance over. Not seeing anyone, but I know the door shut. As quietly as possible, I step out of the shower, grabbing the towel next to it, purposefully leaving the shower on so that if anyone is here, they won’t definitely know that I’m out of it.
For fuck’s sake, we just got done dealing with Marc. Can I just have a bit of time to not have to be on high-alert? Opening the door, I peer out into the bedroom, not seeing anyone I continue on. I walk through it and into the hallway, glancing around, still not seeing anyone.
Until someone steps into the hallway. My eyes widen as I quickly move backward into the bedroom, slamming the door shut and locking it. I may not have seen him in 4 fucking years, but his face will forever be seared into my memory.
“Ella!” He shouts from the other side of the door, banging on it. I know that I only have a few moments before he will break down the door. I wish I would have decided on sleeping in dad’s room. He has the outside doors as well. I rush looking for clothes, but all of them are in my bag in the living room.
The door only withstands two slams against his body weight before it buckles and he comes crashing into the room, Kool-Aid man style. Pushing the window up, it gets stuck. Pushing harder, although it’s fucking difficult as I try to keep my towel closed to keep myself concealed. I can hear his footsteps behind me as I move out of it. His hand clasps my ankle and I’m being dragged back in from behind me. Kicking my other foot out and landing it on his face as he flings me back into the room. I huff out as my body lands hard next to the bed, swearing out as I see how he has placed himself between the bed and the window.
“Fuck,” Jake stumbles backwards as he reaches up, holding his nose.
Jumping up, I flee towards the door and out of it, rushing into the living room. He grips my hair as he pulls my head backward, reaching out with the one hand that isn’t still gripping onto the towel. I knock the pictures off of the wall as he drags me back. “No,” I shout out, reaching up and clawing at his arms.
“Ya see, Ella. Someone said you were back.” He tugs me further. “But I knew you’d definitely be back for your father’s funeral. That son of a bitch fucking got what he deserved.” My feet kicking out when he pulls me off of the wood floor and onto the carpet, I whimper out, sure that he’s pulled out a chunk of hair already. His hand is then on my back. I can feel something drip down my neck and I just cringe. I don’t know what exactly it is. He picks me up and throws me onto the bed. We’re not in the room I’ve been staying in, but my father’s room. He rushes to me, and I feel my wrists yanked out from my side, so hard that I fucking swear he almost dislocates it. I can’t move now as I’m tied to the bed as he moves over top of me, so close that it makes me cringe and I can’t look up at him. I can smell the bourbon on him, and it causes me to shudder as he leans over top of me. “What’s wrong,Marcella?” He laughs as he leans over and secures my other wrist. I try to pull away before he can, but his fist strikes my cheek just as quickly, causing me to gasp. “Everything is your fucking fault. What they did to me.” He shouts, his entire face turns red. “I can’t find a wife. If I can’t find a wife, then I can’t get my inheritance.” He moves from over top of me and then shouts again. “Do you know what they did to me? I’ll fucking show you what they did.” He rips his shirt off over his head and my mouth falls open as I take in the scar tissue and the wordrapistacross his chest. I can’t help the laugh when it falls out of my mouth. “You think it’s fucking funny?” He shouts again and I just laugh out, again.
“I mean,” I shrug as I continue to look at him. “Why didn’t you, you know, report it?” Trying my best to choke back the laugh.
“How am I supposed to report it? Then I have to explain it.” I laugh again.
“Don’t you see?” I look at him, no longer laughing but beyond serious. “It’s the perfect idea. You can’t report it cause then you’d have to explain it. And what would your mommy and daddy say if they knew? Or did Daddy teach you how to do it?”
“You fucking bitch.” He steps into me when he suddenly halts. An arm comes around him and moves so quickly before he grabs at his throat, blood squirting out onto the bed in front of me, and then collapses to the floor.
“Axe…” I whisper out, looking up at him.
