14. Theias
14
THEIAS
W atching Ella sleep, her hair damp with sweat after she collapsed and screamed for nearly thirty minutes, I’ve never felt so helpless in my life. I had to give her a sedative to calm her down, and now I think twice about it because she’s still restless. I’m not sure if it’s safe for the baby, and I can’t know what’s going through her head.
“Boss.” She doesn’t even make a move at Lucas’ voice as he enters the room. “I’ve got the parents on the line.”
Whipping my head around to stare at him, I regret my request now. I’m too raw, too fueled by rage to speak to them with any kind of respect, but I get to my feet and take the phone from him as he offers it.
“Stay with her,” I request, not trusting anyone else but Lucas at this point. They built a bond before I even arrived home. She trusts him in a way she doesn’t Caleb and Owen.
Assured he’ll remain with Ella, I step outside our room and walk down to my office. Making them wait is a tactic I’ve used in the past with men who piss me off and need a reminder of who I am. Presumably, they know nothing about me, but I don’t fucking care. They will learn.
Closing my office door, I sit behind the oversized oak desk, hating how ostentatious it is now. Nothing can be done about it at the moment.
I place the call on speaker. “This is Theias Lorde. Who am I speaking to?” I didn’t get their names from Lucas.
“William and Charlotte Gallagher,” a man responds. “You called us.” His brashness further angers me.
“You’d be wise to keep the attitude to a minimum right now, Mr. Gallagher.” I’m too volatile to accept any type of disrespect. “Ella is your daughter?”
“Yes! Where is she? Is she all right?” Charlotte asks, steamrolling over her husband’s voice.
“She was beaten and raped by a man you allowed her to see; what the fuck do you think?” Their sharp inhales indicate that they might not know the extent of what’s happened to her. I don’t fucking care. Ella was their responsibility. “You failed her.”
“Now, hang on. Who do you think you are?” William’s defiance makes me snicker.
“Who am I? I am the man taking care of Ella. I’m the man who will ensure Blake Ramsey never breathes the same air as her ever again. I’m the man who will spend my life devoted to her happiness and well-being.”
A week ago, I would have scoffed at this level of devotion to a female. Though, after meeting my precious woman, that is no longer the case.
“Where is she? I want to speak with her,” Charlotte demands.
“At the moment, she is resting. I will not disturb her for your benefit. However, I am sending a man to collect Oliver. After his encounter with Ramsey, he’s coming to Vegas for the foreseeable future.”
“What encounter?” William asks. Their lack of knowledge in their children’s lives is alarming.
“The black eye he’s sporting.”
“He said that was from basketball practice.” The mother sounds concerned. I’m unmoved.
“He lied, and you’re either too stupid or ignorant to realize what has been happening to your children. I don’t care which. Oliver will come here to be with his sister, and once I’ve dealt with the threat to them, they will arrange to see you again at their convenience.”
“Wait a damn minute, Mr. Lorde. You can’t just take our children. There are laws.” William’s outrage is laughable. “You can’t take Oliver across state lines; that’s a federal offense.”
I glance at my watch, knowing Owen will arrive in a couple of hours to pick up Oliver. “Try me,” I dare them before hanging up.
There is nothing I won’t do to ensure Ella’s safety and set her mind at ease, including bringing her brother here. I gave Owen a list of things to collect along with the boy so that he could leave the estate and attend school during the days. In the evenings, he will work with Owen and Caleb on self-defense until I feel he knows enough to protect himself adequately.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I am, for the first time in my adult life, at a loss about what to do with Ella. My words broke her. They triggered her suppressed denials, and now, I don’t know if I’ll get back the feisty woman who challenged me even after learning who I was.
I want her back.
I want her happy, healed, and whole.
My phone vibrates in my hand, Charlie’s name flashing on the screen. “Who did you find?” I ask in way of greeting.
“Hello to you, too.” He chuckles when I growl in frustration. “There’s a new woman’s clinic in Dearborn, privately owned, with no governmental agenda. The founding doctor, a Mia Edwards, was previously a field surgeon in the Army and has been opening these clinics across the country for almost a decade. She’s renowned and supportive of her patient’s wants and needs and gives zero fucks about what men have to say. I think she might actually hate our gender.”
He sounds impressed. I could be, too, once I meet her.
“Do we have an appointment?” It’s all I care about.
“She’d like you to call her personally. She’s in her office doing paperwork all afternoon and is waiting for you.”
Hanging up after writing down her number, I call right away.
“This is Dr. Mia Edwards. How can I help you?” Her voice projects warmth and caring.
“My name is Theias Lorde. My friend Charlie called you about my situation.” Having glowing recommendations doesn’t mean she has my trust yet.
“Ah, yes, Charlie. A little wired, isn’t he?” Accurate as hell. “He didn’t go into many details, just that you have a woman who needs prenatal care?”
“She might need more than that, as well.” I lean back in my chair, and it groans under my weight.
“Please explain.”
I’ve never hesitated over anything, but I do now, not wanting to give away all of Ella’s darkest secrets. “She’s coming out of an abusive relationship and likely needs a counselor. Is that something your clinic can provide?”
She gasps, indicating she can read between the lines of what I’m not saying.
“Yes, I can arrange that. However, I would like to see and speak with her first. Charlie explained how I operate?”
“Briefly. He made it clear that Ella’s desires are the only thing important to you, and I tend to agree.” I wouldn’t want it any other way, if I’m honest.
“Great. Now, when can you bring her in? I’d like to see her as soon as possible.” The tone of her voice intimates the unspoken “before it’s too late”.
“I’ll bring her this evening. She had a rough morning and is resting now.” My need to get back to her eats at my gut.
“Perfect,” she replies. “I’ll text you the address and passcode for the gate.” She hangs up before I can ask why she needs a coded gate…. Questions for later.
Returning to Ella’s side, I ignore any business for the remainder of the day. At the moment, there is nothing more important than my woman.