AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Elena ended the call, but she didn’t move. She stared through me, her chest hitching. I’d seen her like this before, when Oliver Bergen had followed her to the maintenance building.
“Look at me,” I ordered, rubbing up and down her arms. Her eyes focused on mine. “Breathe with me, Ellie. Slow and steady.”
Her fingers gripped my arms, digging into my skin. It took a minute, but finally, some of the panic bled from her, and her breathing started to align with mine. Her chin wobbled, but she clamped her jaw tight.
“My mom—I have to go to the hospital,” she rasped.
“Okay.” I pulled her upright. “I’ll drive you. Don’t worry about anything other than getting to your mom.”
Being here for her like this was so natural, I couldn’t help myself. I’d have to respect her wishes, for both our fucking sakes, but that wasn’t going to start now.
Elena leaned into me, letting me take her weight and help her into the truck. She sat still as I buckled her in. Placing my palm on her chest, I captured her eyes again.
“Breathe, sweet girl. I’ll get you there as fast as I can.”
She nodded, shifting her gaze away from mine. By the time I had climbed into my side of the truck, she was typing on her phone, her head down, hair curtaining her face. She stayed like that as I drove.
“Is your mom hurt?” I asked carefully.
“My dad found her in the bathtub, and I—” She shuddered. “Thank you for driving me, but I don’t want to talk.”
“Of course. Anything, El.”
A pit of vipers writhed in my gut, but I’d let her be. I had to. It was better that way.
I’d been in the waiting room alone for an hour, maybe two, when the cavalry arrived. Gabe Fuller stood in front of my chair, kicking the toes of my shoes.
“Oh, fuck no. You are not sitting here.”
I raised my head to peer up at him. “I drove Elena here.” And I hadn’t seen her since she’d walked into her mother’s hospital room. I still had no idea what was going on, how serious it was, how long she’d be here, but I’d wait to find out more.
“Gabe, stop.” Penelope pressed her hand to his chest, pushing him back. He allowed himself to be moved a couple steps, then he stood his ground.
“This fool is showing his face, at a time like this? I warned him,” Gabe seethed.
Unfolding myself from my chair, I stood, keeping my hands in my pockets. I didn’t want to fight him. He had every right to be pissed. I was relieved Elena had so many people in her corner. People willing to take me down to defend her honor.
“I’m here for her. She wants me to leave, I will.”
Gabe swiveled his head to his girl, then back to me. “She doesn’t want you here. You already dipped out on her once, go ahead and do it again.”
Pen put her chin on Gabe’s shoulder. “Lock, Gabe and I are here to take care of Elena and my aunt. It was kind of you to bring Elena to the hospital. I’m sure she appreciates it, but it would probably be better if you leave now.”
Pen made it sound so easy, like I could just walk away. But she was right. Elena probably wouldn’t want to see me when she left her mom’s side. I didn’t even know what I was doing here. I shouldn’t have stayed. This wasn’t my job anymore. But I couldn’t figure out how to get myself to leave, not when I knew she might need someone to lean on. A pillar.
“If she comes out, if she asks, I’ll be down in my truck for the next couple hours. She can text if she wants me to grab something from home.” I ground my molars together in frustration at how goddamn useless I was. “Just…let her know I’m there.”
Gabe clucked his tongue. “She’s not gonna ask. Anything she needs, her family will provide.”
Pen sighed. “Thanks, Lock. We’re good here, but I’ll let her know if she asks.”
It was another hour or two before the passenger door of my truck opened and Elena hopped in. She let her head flop back on the rest and sighed, her eyes fluttering closed.
“You okay?”
She held her hand up. “Let me sit here. I need a minute. I thought maybe you’d give it to me.”
I nodded, not that she could see me. It had only been a few hours since I’d found her sitting in the sun on her deck, but that seemed like a year ago.
