Moving to the edge of the bed, I put the sleeve on my leg before attaching the prosthetic on and I slip my jeans over top of it. I’m just running downstairs, so I don’t bother with a shirt before moving to the door.
Glancing back once, I see Ella looking up at me with a grin on her face.
“What?” I ask her as she shakes her head, but I can read her eyes, read her grin, and read her heart. Taking in her swollen lips and freshly fucked hair then I take a couple of steps back over to her before I lean over and kiss her once again.
“Hurry back.” She whispers as I nod my head.
“Want anything while I’m downstairs?”
“You,” she smirks, looking away.
“I’ll be right back.” I whisper back to her with a chuckle. Slipping my shoes on and moving out the door.
As I hit the step, I can hear Khan talking, “Brother, calm down, what’s going on?”
I regret coming downstairs as I round the threshold into the entryway at the front door, seeing Khan, Ash, and Oz. “Khan, you don—” Oz is shouting. His eyes come up and land on me. Instantly, I know why he’s here and I know, he knows. Ash and Khan both follow his gaze until all three men are looking at me and then Oz is shouting, “You! You motherfucker!” He’s charging at me. Khan reaches out, stopping him with a look of confusion on his face, as I step back. “Where the fuck is my daughter?” Standing in the entryway, I see the men about to laugh it off, but I can’t say anything. I can’t tell him that his daughter is naked in my bed right now.
“Oz, man.” Ash comes up, placing his hand on Oz’s shoulder before he continues, “Calm down. We’ll find her. Axe doesn’t know—”
“Dad,” I hear Ella’s voice come from behind me and I can’t help but close my eyes. Hoping that this somehow is all a fucked-up dream and when I wake up, everything will be normal. Fuck, maybe I’m just lying unconscious in the fucking sand, really in a coma because no one has found me yet, and I’m actually dying. When I reopen them, I see the anger of all three men as they stare at me.
I should be prepared. This is the exact way that I’ve been telling her they would react.
“Marcella, get in the car.” Oz shouts at her as I continue to figure out what exactly to say to deescalate the situation.
“No,” she challenges, as she comes up and stands next to me. “I’m not going anywhere.” As I hear her say the words, I can’t help but take a step forward so that I’m standing slightly in front of her. Shielding her from the anger of the men in front of us.
“Ella, get in the goddamn car.” I catch Khan glancing over at Ash, and I know this will not end well.
“Really motherfucker?” Ash shouts at me, eyes wide as the switch in his head instantly flips. He charges me and Ella shrieks, so I step to the side. Far enough away so that whatever happens, she won’t accidentally get hurt.
His fist connects with my face, and I have to force myself not to fall over, to see straight, to not pass out, as I move backwards, shaking my head.
“Ash, brother, let’s talk about this.” I’m pleading with him.
“You wanna talk about this?” He laughs. “Fine, let’s fucking talk.” He charges me again, but I sidestep him this time and move out the front door. “Let’s talk about what makes fucking family.” He shouts as he rushes me again.
“Ash!” I shout as loud as possible when he charges at Axe again. I can feel the tears burning my eyes as I hear punches landing on one another, but I force them back. I barely make out the blurry image of the men tumbling on the ground.
“What the fuck?” I hear Fury call out from behind us.
“Fury,” I turn around and look at him, “stop them. Please, stop them.” He looks at me and groans as I’m pleading with him. I know he’s the only one who knows about Axe. I just can’t let him hurt himself more.
“Fuck, they’re going to kill each other.” Fury mumbles as I feel somewhat relieved when Caroline walks out through the door and I plead with her as well.
“Shit,” she mumbles, looking at me and her eyes widen. “Ash,” she rushes over to him and pulls him off as Fury pulls Axe back.
“What the hell is going on?” Fury shouts at him. “You two are going to fucking hurt each other even more if you don’t fucking cut it out.”
“I’m fine.” Ash shouts to him.
“I’m not just talking about you.” He looks over at him. Axe spits blood out of his mouth as I move over to him, but before I can get close enough to him, Dad grabs hold of my shoulders, holding me in place.
“Let go of me.” I mutter to my dad, who glares down at me.
“He’s fucking Ella.” Fury’s mouth drops open before he looks over at me and I look around, but the image of Axe grimacing as he reaches down, touching his leg. Shaking out of Dad’s grip on my shoulder, I move over to him, kneeling in front of him.
“Are you hurt?” I ask him, but he pulls away from me.
