46. Fury
Chapter 46
Fury
One Week Later
I look over at the girls laughing and talking and my heart squeezes seeing Ellie happy and laughing. She’s been back a week now and having her back is better than I imagined. Despite how great it’s been though, I know there’s something going on with her. People change, I get that, but Ellie is reserved in a way she never was before. She’s cautious and there are dark circles under her eyes. Something is going on with her, but I can’t put my finger on it. There’s a chance I’m just looking for something to be wrong because I finally have everything I want, but I don’t think that’s it.
“You look like a man with a lot on your mind,” Connie says, coming up behind me and moving her hand along my back. I take a step away from her.
“Get out of here, Connie. You know you’re barking up the wrong tree. Ellie’s back.”
“Just because she’s back, that doesn’t mean you and I can’t still party.”
“It means that and more.”
“I’m so sick of you guys. You think we’re good to use until you get you a good woman. They aren’t any different than the rest of us you know. They put their pants on one leg at a time and their shit still stinks.”
“The difference is I love her. Are we going to have issues here?” I ask her, narrowing my eyes at her. I don’t need this bullshit.
“No trouble here. She’ll fly the coop again and you’ll be looking for me. Don’t worry, lover, I’ll be here. You, me, Nancy and Scorpion can all play like we used to.”
“You need to go. I’m only going to say this once, Connie. You stay away from Ellie. I trust you understand me.”
I watch as her face twists unhappily, her lips purse. I think she’s about to mouth off. She doesn’t. She walks away, but she’s clearly not happy.
“What was that about?” Ellie asks, coming over.
“No idea,” I grumble, lying through my teeth. “Probably sees you’re back and wants to cause trouble.”
That part at least isn’t a lie.
“Maybe I need to have a word with her,” Ellie says, curling into my side. I wrap my arm around her and kiss the top of her head.
“Just let it go, Ellie. She’ll soon see you’re here to stay and that you’re all I need. Then, she’ll go back to the other brothers.”
“If you say so.” She lets out a sad sigh and I turn her so I can see her face, because I don’t want her worried about Connie, or anyone for that matter. “Torrent is worried,” she finally says. I breathe a little easier with the change of subject.
“I know. Devil’s back down there tonight, isn’t he?”
“Yeah. Will he listen to you, if you try and get him to end all of this?”
“I don’t know, Ice. Diesel is thinking about sending Torrent down and confronting him so that Devil is forced to face everything.”
“Shit,” Ellie hisses.
“Yeah.”
“That won’t be easy for Torrent.”
“I know, but there might not be a way around it.”
“They’ve had so much pain. I mean I wasn’t around to see it, but just hearing about it now breaks my heart. It just seems like such a waste that Devil still has to suffer now that it could all be over.”
“He’ll be okay, Ellie. He just was put through hell. It’s going to take him a while to get it straightened out in his head, you know?”
“I hope you’re right,” Ellie murmurs.
I hope I am, too…