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“Why did she want to go in there? Out of all of the places she could have gone. She asked for you and then that room.” Madd pipes in sounding equally irritated by the turn of events.
Stones’ brows furrow as he takes us in, all in varying stages of emotional decomposition before a smirk takes over his face. Crossing his arms, the smirk morphs into a giddy ass grin as he nods his head like he’s won some sort of prize. Fuck. Maybe he has.
“Why?” Maddox barks out.
“Jealousy doesn’t suit you three very well.” Stone chuckles, all too fucking happy with himself. “She didn’t want any of you and now you’re all pouting, is that it?”
“And gloating doesn’t suit you, assface,” Maddox snaps making Stone laugh harder. “For fucks sake Alec, just answering the fucking question.”
Stone sobers somewhat and shakes his head. “I am not breaking her confidence like that. What happens in that room is private and you guys know it. All I am going to say is that after what happened in the elevator that day, we learned that her panic and anxiety respond well to compression, specifically Shibari. I’ve been teaching her at home to tie herself but it’s not easy when you’re actively having an attack. She probably thought the room would help relax her.” He shrugs again but I see the small smile creeping up his face as he looks at the door like he can see right through it.
“Since I already know you’re going to ask, I’ll just go ahead and repeat myself one more fucking time.” Maddox groans like he’s exhausted by the task, before retelling the story he’s already told us.
We basically know nothing. I think we’ve all established the fact that she had some sort of panic attack but as Stone points out, none of us can identify the trigger so all we can do is just be here for her to help her get through it. The inability to solve this makes me want to scream.
“It could have beenThe Grind,” Gage suggests, lifting a shoulder. “The last night she worked was the night she was attacked at home. We picked her up from the coffee shop and took her to dinner and then dropped her off at home. That sick fuck was there waiting for her. She hasn’t been back since.”
Stone nods, scrubbing a hand down his face. He looks exhausted.
Franco is in some other fucking country taking a vacation or some shit and Gus wanted us to take advantage of his absence. He’s still hellbent on the idea that Hernandez is the reason for the missing drugs and burned-down crops. Gus made Stone and a few other guys who know some tech shit sneak onto his property to plant cameras instead of just audio, all over the grounds. All Gus has achieved is makeourplans that much more difficult to enact. We can't really destroy drug crops if the place is covered in surveillance.
Stones been there since the middle of the night yesterday getting it all done. I have no fucking clue how he did it without getting caught, especially since we know Franco has his own security team and surveillance system. Stone is just that fucking good though. Not only is he smart as fuck, but he’s also light on his feet. Sneaky, brilliant bastard.
“I’m going to check on her,” he mumbles before disappearing down the hall.
“So,” Maddox drawls, his eyes following Stone. When the door clicks closed he continues. “Are they together?”
Falling-Harry Styles
My brows hitch up at his blasé attitude with that question. I would think something like that would bother him a bit more than he’s currently showing but Madd is a master at hiding his emotions. “Why would you ask that?”
He gestures toward the closed door like that movement alone holds all the answers. It doesn’t so I give him an expectant look and wait him out. “He took her to his playroom. He only takes women he fucks in there and Ella isn’t the type to just fuck anyone,” he reasons.
“Not to mention the way he busted in here. And she asked forhim,” Gage tacks on with a shrug, equally unbothered.
What the fuck is going on right now?
“I’m confused,” I mumble, my face pinched as I try to decipher the situation. This must be some sort of preamble to the explosion. “Isn’t that your girlfriend?” They both look at me like I’m stupid and nod. “Right, thought so. Why are you both acting like it’s not a big deal if heiswith her?”
Maddox chuckles and Gage smiles as he stands and walks over to the mini-fridge. He pulls out three beers and hands them to Madd and me before regaining his spot on the sofa. I’m even more confused now and frankly a little fucking irritated.
“Let me ask you something, Nyxon. Do you care about her? As a person I mean, since you’re more than likely still denying your feelings for her.” Gage asks me this with an air about him as though he’s all-knowing and is about to rain down a heap of wisdom on me. If anyone else spoke to me in such a way, I’d probably lay a fucker out.
However, I’m interested to see where he’s going with this and what it has to do with his relationship with Isabella.
“Obviously I fucking care about the girl,” I grit out, hating to have to admit the words out loud no matter how obvious they may be. Admitting them out loud is just one step closer to acting on them which I can’t fucking do.
“And do you want what’s best for her?” My teeth grind together, and I’m suddenly no longer interested in finding out his bullshit if it involvesmyfucking feelings.
“What does this have to do with me?”
“Fine, don’t answer. What about you, brother? Do you want what’s best for her?” Gage turns to Maddox who is all too happy to play.
“Of course I do.” Madd drops down on the office chair behind the desk, turning and giving Gage his full attention. He kicks his legs up, crossing them at the ankles, and takes a swallow of his beer, settling in.
“Ella has had a life full of nothing but trashed expectations and disappointments. Her trauma rivals our own, yet she is somehow still fucking incredible. She’s resilient, brave, kind, and compassionate despite everything that’s happened to her. And she’s still going through shit, obviously.” Gage gestures toward the door again. “There are people out there more than likely hunting for her and yet she’s trying to live her life. The girl has demons that match ours and she’s not afraid to stand by our sides. She wants us and we want her. After everything she’s been through, if having both of us, all of us, makes her happy, would you do that for her?”
“Yes,” Maddox says with no hesitation.
