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I pull the door shut and stride past Lance toward the front door, my body practically vibrating with a dangerous energy.
“Where are you going?”
“Out.”
“Out where?”
“I’ve got to dosomething. I’m going to find who brought her here and fucking end them,” I growl, leaving my cousin stood in the living room as the door slams behind me.
30
LANCE
Ihave hardly slept. I waited for a couple hours to see if Brent would return, but he didn’t. I finally went to bed at three and woke up at five. Ninety minutes of running on the treadmill, a long hot shower and what feels like hours of pacing later, I can no longer wait to go in and check on Elle. Yes, I want her to rest, and I don’t want to wake her unnecessarily and whatever, but my nerves are shot and I need to see her.
I make two strong coffees; one white with one sugar and the other black and bitter. I make a tea, letting it brew for five minutes as she’d shown me once, and I can’t help a little amused smile as I add four sugars. I hope she hasn’t decided to live her life on some kind of health kick since I’d last made her tea. I manage all three mugs and lightly tap on the door to Hayden’s room but there’s no answer. Leaving my manners in the kitchen, I use my elbow on the door handle to open it.
The curtains are closed and it’s still dark in the room, but the light from the hallway spills in allowing me to see the bed with Hayden’s back to me. As I approach, he turns his head to show me he’s awake but he can barely open his eyes, telling me he has only just woken up. Elle’s back is pressed to his chest, her long eyelashes fan across her battered cheek as she sleeps on.
I place two mugs down on the bedside table and stand over them watching Elle with my coffee warm between my palms. Hayden’s hand reaches up and grips my wrist, snagging my attention to him. He squeezes gently and brushes his thumb over the sensitive skin above my pulse, offering me a slight smile. All may not be forgiven quite yet, but he’s silently telling me not to blame myself, that we will figure this out. I trace my fingers over his knuckles in response.I know.
“How did she sleep?” I ask quietly.
“She was drifting in an out for a while, then she finally went off a couple hours ago.” He rubs his hand over his face, the lack of sleep darkening under his eyes.
“And you?”
“I kept the demons away,” he shrugs with a sad smile.
“You’ve not slept at all?”
“I’m fine, Lance.”
I am just about to argue when stormy eyes met mine. She is pale and beaten, figuratively and literally. Given our last encounter, she must hate me, more than she already did, but her expression is blank. “Hi, sweetheart.”
She looks between Hayden and I for a few seconds before asking, “What am I doing here?”
I frown. “You don’t remember last night?”
“I know what happened, I don’t need reminding,” she says quickly. “I mean, what am I doinghere?”
Hayden and I share a look. We have to tell her, but I want her comfortable and fully awake for that conversation. “We’ll talk, but first, I made you tea.” I wait as she stiffly pulls herself into a seated position next to Hayden, and pass her the steaming mug of tea.
She takes a sip and I swear I see her lips quirk. “You remember how I like my tea?”
“I remember everything you like.” I don’t mean it to sound sexual but Hayden raises a brow with a quizzical smirk. I try to backtrack. “I mean…”
She gives the slightest laugh but it’s genuine. “Good to know.”
I hear the front door opening and closing signalling that Brent is home. “I, uh, I’ll leave you to it.”
“May I have a shower?” She asks, no one in particular.
“Of course, baby. Finish your tea and I’ll get you set up,” Hayden replies as I leave, closing the door behind me.
Brent is still wearing the clothes he was in last night, standing in the kitchen at the coffee machine as it hisses and steams. On the island is a black duffle bag.
“What’s that?”
