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"I didn't have any part in this," he says, shaking his head.
I laugh, sounding hysterical, but I can't hide my feelings about this situation anymore.
"It's true," he insists, his face wrinkled with sadness.
Maybe I should try to give him the benefit of the doubt, since he just untied me, but I can't. I'm emotionally, mentally, and physically fried. "You can explain that to Antonio when he comes to kill you."
Elias looks at me, shaking his head. I can see the pain radiating in his eyes and in his slouched posture. "At this point, that would be a relief," he nearly groans, sounding infinitely tired.
I freeze. I know that feeling. It speaks to the hurt deep within me. "What do you mean?" I question, needing to understand.
"It's not important. You don't have to believe me, but I'm trying to keep you safe until Marco arrives with help."
"You're working with Marco?"
"Not really, I mean, I’m trying. He’ll come after you and Helena. He's lived his whole life to protect you. Helena belongs to him. I know he will be here."
"If you know that, why are you helping our father?"
"I’m not. I'm trying to survive—just as we all have. Well, besides Aden and Atlas."
I'm staring at him, unable to hide my frown. I don't know what to believe anymore. "Is Atlas here, too? Where's Sebastian and Gio?"
His jaw ticks, the muscle jumps as he takes a deep breath. "Atlas was leading the attack at the club. Aden is the only one here now. Father’s men stayed behind at the airfield. It seemed safer to let you get on the plane than be surrounded by them.”
I nod. I can’t really argue with that train of thought, but if I was on the ground Antonio would have found me sooner.I know he would have.
“Sebastian and Gio fought against our father when he sent the twins down to kill Marco. He let them think they were fine and sent the twins instead. But he was only having them monitored. He caught Gio talking to Marco on the phone. Before I left, he had his guards grab them and sent me to join the twins to collect you. They're currently chained like dogs in the dungeon for what Father described as a mutiny."
I gasp.Father's dungeon. He loves that thing. It looks and smells medieval. He uses it just as some kings would have back in the day—a place to torture, intimidate, and extract information and pain.
I cover my mouth with my hand, trying to keep from throwing up. "He's really gone mad."
"He's always been that way, Melina. You were shielded from the worst of it. Well, we did the best we could to protect you from it anyway.”
"What are you going to do?" I ask.
"I'm going to take care of Aden and land the plane," he says. He grimaces. He tries reassuring me of his plan with a smile, but it's not working. I don't think he knows how to smile.
"You can do that?" I ask in surprise. I realize just how little I know about him.
"I've been waiting my whole life for a taste of freedom. At this point, the desperation will help me do anything," he proclaims.
I find I believe him. The fact that I'm no longer cowering from him has taken some of the slump from his shoulders. Our father is like a cancer, slowly destroying all of us. To see that echoed so plainly on my brother hurts me.
“Thank you, Eli.”
"I'll send Helena back in when I can, but you'll need to get to the seats. I can fly this thing, but I’m a little rough when it comes to landing."
I watch him turn to leave. "Eli?"
"Yeah?" he asks, glancing over his shoulder.
"Be careful."
I see a ghost of a smile. "I haven't been much of a brother Melina. But I've always loved you. I tried to do what I could to help protect you." He pauses as he clears his throat. "Did you know you look just like our mother? I think that's why he hates you so much."
With that, he turns to leave. I struggle to keep the tears at bay. The painful lump in my throat threatens to choke me. I shake it off. I don’t have time for the pain. Eli set me free, but if he's about to tangle with Aden, he'll need my help. I just need something to defend myself and others if needed. I search the room frantically, not knowing how much time I have. In the adjoining bathroom, there's a heavy metal rod bolted to the wall for support for when you’re in the shower and might hit turbulence. It's held in place by screws.
