56. Matteo #2
I wish he would stop talking. Wish he would use that superpower Layla says he has and realize I’m on the verge of losing it.
Because I should have seen the signs.
I should have noticed.
I should have saved her.
No, I’m not okay, I think, but I have to be strong for them.
I owe them this much.
I owe her that much.
“Caleb and Evie saved me when I was little,” I say instead. “It’s my time to return the favor.”
Kieran cocks his head, his smile full of sadness. “You can allow yourself to feel what you need to.”
I nod. “In private.”
Kieran’s sigh is long and full of a heaviness I feel deep within my soul.
“I can tell I’m not going to convince you so I’ll drop it for now, but you need to allow yourself to feel everything, Matteo, otherwise it will come back to bite you in the ass.
” He gives me a look. “Trust me on that. You can’t bury these feelings.
” He gestures with his chin at the couch and whispers, “Look at Evie. She’s been drowning in it. ”
“I get it, I do…but I just need to focus on being there for her right now.”
“Want me to book you a cabin?”
“I’ll do it, thank you though. I need to be…”
“Feeling useful?” Kieran supplies.
“Exactly.”
Picking up his phone off the island, he waves it in the air.
“I’ll go update Coach.” He nods at Caleb and Evie still cuddled on the couch.
They’re silent now, their tears dried up, but they’re just staring off into space.
“Maybe pack for them. I don’t think they’ll be in the right headspace to make any decisions. ”
“Good call.”
Kieran steps out onto the balcony and I head over to the couch, taking a seat on the coffee table in front of them. “I’m going to rent a cabin up the mountains. Get us away from everything for a while.”
Caleb frowns. “Why?”
Fucking hell.
My eyes flick to Evie to find hers already locked on mine, her ocean colliding with my forest. “I think some time away and fresh air will be good.”
Caleb looks down at Evie before blowing out a breath and facing me again. “Okay, I’ll come.”
Dipping my chin, I give him a smile, hating that this is the reason we’re talking after weeks of near silence but still rejoicing that my best friend is talking to me again.
I’m about to ask if they care which mountain we head to when I’m interrupted by a sound that makes dread coil in my gut.
Knock, knock.
Evie stiffens, her hand tightening around the blanket. Caleb frowns at me as he asks, “Did you invite anyone else over?”
Shaking my head, I get to my feet, making my way to the door.
An uneasy feeling slithers down my spine, settling low in my stomach.
No matter how much I pull on it, no matter how much I try to shake off the horrid sensation, as I place my hand on the door handle and turn, I have the overwhelming urge not to open it.
I should have listened to my gut.
Standing on the other side of the door are two police officers.
“Are you Caleb Ellington?”
My spine straightens. “No. May I ask what this is about?”
The one officer, who can’t be more than forty, peers past my shoulder. “Is he home?”
Caleb suddenly appears beside me, eyes red-rimmed as he looks from one police officer to the other. “I’m Caleb Ellington. What’s this about?” he asks.
One of the police officers takes out the handcuffs at his side. My eyes widen at the movement and Caleb stiffens beside me.
“Caleb Ellington, you’re under arrest for the battery and assault of Marcus Ellington. You have the right to remain silent, and anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law.”
Shock strikes my nervous system.
As my best friend is turned around on his heel, his arms pulled back roughly, I snap out of my stupor and bark, “Don’t say a fucking word, Caleb.”
The anger in his gaze rocks me to my core, yet it’s nothing compared to the utter fury running rampant through my veins. It all but boils my blood.
Especially as Evie comes running, a cry escaping her lips as she watches her brother be escorted down the hall in handcuffs. Quickly wrapping an arm around her waist, I catch her in one fell swoop but she struggles against me, hands outstretched for her brother.
“No! No, no, no!” Evie screams. “He didn’t do anything!”
The younger officer runs a hand through his hair. “He’s under arrest for assault, ma’am. Security footage corroborates Mr. Ellington’s story.” At the last word, the officer’s eyes flick to me, his lips thinning.
I can read him like a book. Why am I not being arrested right alongside Caleb? Why isn’t Marcus pressing charges against me too?
Because Marcus plays games. He always has, moving us around like pieces on a chessboard. It isn’t until now that I realize how much he’s been calling the shots, how much he’s been in everyone’s ear…how controlling he has been of Evie.
And now he’s retaliating because he lost her.
What better way to punish her than to make her suffer by watching Caleb get arrested?
Fucking sick bastard.
“He was only defending me. He was protecting me!”
Evie’s screams have turned to shrieking pleas, her body quivering as she begins to hyperventilate in my arms.
Kieran comes running to the door. He takes one look at Caleb being escorted into the elevator in handcuffs before he lifts his phone to his ear again and spins on his heel.
“Caleb’s been arrested,” he declares to whoever is on the other line.
The officer arches a brow at Evie. “Are you willing to give your statement down at the station that it was in defense?”
Evie stands taller, trying to pull herself together as she nods furiously. “Yes.”
The officer exchanges a look with his partner down the hall, who has one hand on Caleb’s arm and the other holding the elevator open. Turning back to Evie, he declares, “You can follow us down to the station, but Caleb will remain under arrest.”
Evie’s hand flies to her mouth, a muffled sob escaping as the officer joins his partner, stepping into the elevator.
We follow them, my arms wrapped around Evie as we stop at the elevator.
I look at Caleb, a million thoughts and words floating through between us before I clutch my chest. “We’ll get you out. I’ll see you soon, brother.”
Caleb dips his chin. “Take care of her.”
“Like my life depends on it,” I vow as the elevator doors close.