32. Ellie
Chapter 32
Ellie
I don’t remember the drive home. It’s a blur. As I get out of the vehicle, all I know is that it feels like I can’t breathe. There’s a strange vehicle in the driveway with Texas plates, and I get scared that something is wrong here, and then mostly piece together that it’s probably Devil’s rental. I sprint to the front door and fumble with my key to try and open the door. In the end, it’s yanked open and I almost fall because I was leaning on it to hold me up. My knees are too damn weak.
“Ice? What the fuck is going on?” Liam growls, taking my trembling body into his arms. His body heat surrounds me, but I still feel so cold that I wonder if I will ever be warm again.
“Liam,” I cry, wrapping my arms around him.
He picks me up, cradling me against his body and carries me to the couch. He puts me down and then kneels down in front of me on his knees. It’s only then that I realize that I’m crying. Which is crazy. I truly might be overreacting.
But it doesn’t feel like I am.
“Baby, tell me what’s going on? Harvey called and said you tore out of the parking lot like wild animals were chasing you.”
“I think Dawn is in trouble, Liam. I think this Reggie or whatever is bad. I’m afraid he’s really bad.”
“Ice, we’ve talked about this. We checked him out and Dawn is going to do what she wants. She’s not going to listen to you. In fact, knowing her, if you tell her not to do something, she’ll do it anyway,” Liam says. “I don’t want you worrying and getting yourself all worked up and sick over this. Dawn is who she is. She’s never going to change, you know that. She’s always been her own worst enemy.”
I hold my head down, trying to sort through my most chaotic thoughts and calm my mind, so I can make him understand. It’s not easy, because right now breathing is hard. I almost feel as if I’ve run a marathon.
“Here ya’ go, Ellie. Take a drink of this, beautiful.”
I look up to see one of Liam’s brothers. The face of the man that I’ve truly missed. From the first day that Liam and I got together, Devil became like a big brother to me and it hurt not hearing his smartass remarks day in and day out. At first I’m shocked by his appearance. He’s changed so much, but not in a good way. His face has scars that are faded, so they’ve been there a while. He’s wearing an eyepatch and because Liam told me a little about the torture that Devil endured, I know it’s not just for looks. He’s lost weight, too, but he looks good despite all of that.
“Devil,” I murmur, taking the drink.
“Is that water?” I hear Liam ask.
“Hell, no. Ellie looked like she needed some whiskey.”
He’s not wrong. I take a small drink and swallow it down, hoping it helps.
“Thanks,” I tell him.
“It’s damn good to see you again, Eleanor,” Devil says and I smile despite the fear that I’m feeling.
“You too, Devil. Leave it to you to resort to making yourself look like Captain Jack Sparrow just to get in all the girls pants,” I joke weakly, as he grins.
“I’m a reformed man, darlin’. Finally found the one,” he says and I can see that it’s real. I’m happy for him. Liam squeezes my hand, getting my attention and I look at him, while handing Devil my drink back.
“I think she’s really in trouble, Liam. She texted me a picture of the three of them with Reggie. It’s the first time I’d really seen a picture of him and I know him.”
“You know him? You mean he’s a regular at the bar?”
“No, although I did meet him there. Do you remember when I told you about that weird guy that came in the other day? How he gave me the creeps?”
“Charlie, right? Yeah, I remember.”
“Right. Except if his name is Charlie, then why is he going by the name Reggie with my sister.”
“You’re sure it’s the same guy?”
“I’m sure. What’s more is he looks just as creepy. There’s something about him that just screams danger.”
“Ellie maybe you’re just seeing things that aren’t there because you’re worried about Dawn,” he suggests gently. “It is possible he has two first names.”
“Hold up, if this is the guy you had Scorpion run the check on, Fury, then he doesn’t. He just has that god-awful name Reginald. Remember?” Rebel asks.
“Still, that doesn’t mean Ellie should be freaking out,” Liam says. “Maybe he was cruising for a woman when he met Ellie and didn’t want to give his real name,” he adds, but I can hear the doubt in his voice now. The fact that he’s starting to sound worried makes my panic slowly eek back in.
“Something is wrong, Liam, I know it. Here, look at this picture. He’s bad, I’m sure of it. You can see it on his face.”
I sound crazy, I know. But, I’ve always been really good at judging people. I trust my gut when it comes to trusting or not trusting someone and it’s never led me wrong.
Except maybe when it comes to my mother lying to me about Liam.
I take my phone and find the photo that Dawn texted to me earlier. My hands are shaking and it takes me longer than it should. I hand the phone to Liam and he grabs it, relaxing backwards on his feet as he looks.
“Fuck,” Liam hisses.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Rebel says, crouching down to look at the phone.
I blink as the boys toss about the f word, it’s not really new, but there’s something about their voices this time that makes me even more scared. Devil must hear it, too, because he hadn’t been paying attention before. But he looks down over Liam’s shoulder and his entire body goes solid. I can literally see all movement from him stop. It’s almost as if he turns to stone.
I gasp as he reaches down and snatches the phone out of Liam’s hand.
“Motherfucker,” he roars, gripping my phone so tight that I half expect it to turn to dust.
“What? What ?” I cry, terrified. I reach out and grab Liam’s arms needing some type of contact with him.
“Ellie,” Liam says. His tone doing nothing to make my fear go away. If anything it chills me to the bone.
“Liam, what’s going on?” I ask, afraid of the answer, but needing to know.
“That’s Wolf, the guy I’ve been hunting, in that picture.”
I have to fight to keep from passing out, my nails biting into Liam’s arm.
“Oh, God.”
I’d never seen a picture of Wolf. I’m sure Liam probably had one when talking to people at the church, but I didn’t truly want involved. Now, I’m kicking my own ass. It feels as if I’m caught in a horrible time loop. My words feel as if they’re torn from my soul. They bleed out and each syllable is painful.
“Let’s load up and get to them. I want this motherfucker in my hands before the sun goes down,” Devil growls, already walking to the door.
“But,” I respond, and I don’t know if I’m talking loud at all. My heart is pounding in my ears and it’s drowning out all other sound. “I don’t know where they’re at. Dawn wouldn’t tell me. They could be anywhere, Devil. They might not even be in the city and this photo was almost an hour ago. Dawn could be…”
“Ice—”
I cut back to look at Liam, seeing the worry on his face and I whisper the one thing I’m thinking. “Dawn could already be dead.”
I collapse then, letting the tears fall as if a dam has broken. Sobs rack my body and Liam takes me in his arms.