15. Ellis
FIFTEEN
ELLIS
My entire body freezes at the sound of her terrified whimper. “I need you to stay calm for me, okay?” I murmur, trying to force myself to unclench my jaw so my worry doesn’t bleed through the line.
“I’m scared.”
Fucking hell. “Breathe, Scar. Breathe and listen.”
“I-I’m”—she sniffles—“t-trying.”
“Where are you now?”
“I just turned onto Holland.”
“Okay, good, you’re close. Are your doors locked?”
“Yes.”
“I want you to take the first right and follow that road. It loops back onto Holland. Let me know if they follow.”
“Oh-okay. I see the sign.”
“Try to avoid red lights and roll through any stop signs you see, assuming there’s no traffic.”
“I don’t know if— Ellis, he followed me!”
“Okay, keep going. Nice and easy. It’s going to spit you out into a traffic circle. It’s not usually busy this time of night, so just keep heading my way.”
“What if I have to stop?”
“Keep your doors locked and your windows up. If anyone approaches your car, I want you to floor it and get the fuck out of there.”
“Why is this happening to me?”
Why indeed. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely see the appeal. Scarlet’s fucking stunning. What I don’t get is why this jerkoff is tormenting her. If you’re into someone, fucking introduce yourself, get to know them, and ask them out. If they say no, fucking respect their choice and move on.
“They’re still behind me.” She sucks in a sharp breath. “Oh god.”
“You’re almost here, and I promise, if they follow you here, they’ll fucking answer to me. I’m gonna protect you, Princess.”
“Promise?” she asks, in a voice so soft and small it cracks my chest wide open.
“Cross my heart.” The words hang between us with an unmistakable weight. Even more shocking, is just how much I mean them.
Even if most days, she drives me up the wall, I want to protect her.
The line falls quiet, aside from the sound of her harsh breathing, as she drives.
“I’m almost there,” she finally says, her voice a hoarse whisper. “Can you... I don’t know, just... talk to me? Distract me?”
“Sure can, Princess.” I rack my brain for something to say, finally settling on a topic well within my comfort zone. “You ever watched Gossip Girl?”
“Maybe like season one.”
“Scarlet!” I gasp, scandalized. “I’m floored right now. You give mega Blaire vibes, and yes, I’m sort of calling you a bitch, but in a good way, because she’s my favorite.”
“There’s a good way to call someone a bitch?”
“Yes, and you know it. Forget Enemies & Escrow—we’re going to the Upper Eastside.”
She laughs softly and then says, “I’m turning on your street now.”
“Are they still behind you?” I spring to my feet and head for my safe.
“Yes.” Her voice shakes.
“Okay. I’ll be waiting for you at the end of the driveway. Turn in and head straight down to the house. Keep your doors locked and wait for me.”
“What if they follow?”
“Then they’ll fucking deal with me.” I punch in the code and then pop open the door. I grab my gun, check the magazine and chamber, and head for the front door.
I park my truck at the end of my driveway, with my headlights facing the direction Scarlet will come from, and drum my thumbs against the steering wheel as I wait.
Her headlights come into view, and my entire body tenses. “I see you, Princess. Remember what I said to do?”
“Straight for the house, stay in the car.”
“Good girl.” My voice is a lethal rumble as she turns past me.
Sure enough, the car behind her flashes their brights and accelerates so quickly they nearly clip my truck as they fly past me.
I whip around to get their tag number, but they don’t have one. “Motherfucker!” I shout, wishing like hell he would’ve stepped to me. At least then, I could’ve put an end to all of this.
I wait a few minutes to make sure he’s not coming back before heading back to the house and parking next to Scarlet. The second I throw open my door, Scarlet’s there, literally climbing up onto my running board and throwing herself into my arms.
“Hey, it’s okay,” I murmur, letting my arms hang limply at my side as I try to calm her. “You’re okay now. You’re safe.”
“I-I’ve never been s-s-so scared in m-my life.” She’s shaking like a leaf as she clings to me.
“How can I help?” I ask, shocked by just how much I mean it. While it’s true Scarlet and I have a checkered past, the thought of someone terrorizing her, possibly hurting her, is enough to send me into a fucking rage.
“Hold me,” she whispers, clinging to me. “Please.”
I inhale sharply, sucking in a deep lungful of her sweet, citrussy scent, before bringing my arms up and wrapping them around her.
She shudders against me, tears seeping into the fabric of my shirt, as I hold her. “Let’s go inside, okay?”
Scarlet nods, but when I try to set her down, she grips me tighter.
“Wrap your arms around my neck,” I tell her. “I’ll carry you.”
She nods again, and I slide one around her middle while bracing the other arm beneath her. “I’ve got you, Scar. You’re safe now. I promise.”
“How can you promise that?”
“I have cameras and a security system.” I step down from the truck and walk inside with Scarlet clutched to my chest. “And If this piece of shit gets past those, I’ll end him.”
She sniffles as I set her down. “You mean that?”
“Cross my fucking heart, Princess.” I cup her cheek, looking down into her tear-streaked brown eyes. “Now, make yourself comfy while I lock up.”
I watch as she shuffles into the couch before I slip out the front door to do a quick perimeter sweep. Once I’m certain we’re clear, I head back inside, lock the door, and arm my system.
I find Scarlet in the living room cuddled up on the couch, her knees drawn under her chin, with my favorite blanket tucked around her. She looks… small. Scared. Terrified actually. She's pale and quiet with tear-stained cheeks and red eyes—visibly distressed.
I don’t fucking like it. It’s… so far beyond unsettling, I’m not even sure how to process it. My girl’s typically mouthy, combative… the kind of person you’d expect to talk shit till the bitter end—and definitely not my girl. What the fuck?
So, yeah, seeing her like this does something to me. Something I’m not sure I understand much less like, but something all the same.
“You good, Princess?” I ask.
She sniffles and pulls the blanket tighter around herself. “I just...” She shrugs helplessly. “I don't understand. It truly makes no sense. Like, why?” A tear escapes trails down her cheek. “Why would someone stalk me?”
Unfortunately, my lips lift into a smirk, my mouth running faster than my brain. “You know, I was wondering the same thing.”
I’m half expecting her to blow up, but she just smiles at me and swipes away the tears gathering along her lashes. “Shut up, Officer Jackass.”
There’s no real heat behind her words. If anything, she sounds… relieved. Guess me and my bullshit aren’t always unwelcome.
“Not a cop, Scar.” Falling back into our usual banter brings some much-needed levity.
She rolls her eyes. “Listen, I'm just saying. It feels… surreal. My townhouse is my happy place and now, it feels tainted.” She tugs the blanket tighter around her. “The thought of being there terrifies me.”
“Well, first of all, I’m installing a doorbell camera and alarm system before you step foot back inside your house.”
“Really?” She sits up straighter and crosses her arms over her chest letting the blanket fall down from around her shoulders as she peers up at me. “You’d do that?”
“Hell yes, I’ll do that.” I sit down next to her, so close our knees are touching.
“It was on my to-do list to get one, and then it just never happened.” She scooches closer to me. “It's a safe area, you know? It’s well-lit with good neighbors. I didn't think it would be an issue.”
“You damn sure didn't think,” I agree easily, and then add, “But I understand. We’re gonna fix it though.”
She rolls her eyes as she turns away from me. “I'll order one now.” She leans down and pulls her phone out of her bag.
I watch as she taps on the screen. “Is this a good one?” I nod my head. “Okay, bought. It should be here tomorrow. I'll pay you to install it.”
“No payment needed.”
“Are you sure?”
“Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Princess,” I murmur right as her stomach growls. “You hungry?”
“Yeah.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her hears. “Do you... do you mind if I make a sandwich or something for myself? Obviously, I didn't eat the food on my porch.”
“How about you wait here and I make you one?” I stand back up. “Ham or turkey?”
“I’m fine with either.”
“Oh, you want a Wilder special?” I wag my brows, causing her to smile—just a little. “Coming right up.”
I make quick work of assembling our sandwiches—French bread, garlic mayo, and smoked turkey with pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and fried jalapenos, plating them up with a handful of chips and some grapes.
“It’s simple but delicious,” I say, sliding a plate her way as I join her back on the couch.
I don't waste a single second, digging in and devouring every bite. Scarlet, on the other hand, picks at it like a bird.
“You sure you're good?” I ask, popping a grape into my mouth, relishing the crunch.
“Honestly?” She tilts her head to side. “No. Not even a little.”
“Didn’t think so.” I glance down at her half-eaten sandwich. “Out of curiosity, what did you do with the letter?”
“It’s in my pocket.”
“Okay. What about the food?”
“Ugh. I left it on the table.”
“That’s good, Scar. Put the note somewhere safe, too, okay? The cops are gonna want to look over all of this. If we’re lucky, they can lift a print.”
“You think?”
“Can’t hurt to try.” I cross my ankles and lean back. “We can also show them all the other notes you kept from me.”
“I wasn’t trying to keep—” She shakes her head. “Yeah, okay.”
“Good girl.”
“I’m not a dog, Ellis.”
“Smartass.”
“Even on the worst of days.” She tries to smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
“Don’t I know it?” I nudge her with my knee. “You’re the type to talk shit to the bitter end.”
She snorts then sighs. “Let’s maybe not make jokes about my death.”
“My bad.” I sit up straight. “You know I didn’t mean anything by, it right?”
“Yeah, Ellis.” Something about the way she says my name sends shivers down my spine. “I know.”
“So, what now?”
“Um.” She captures her bottom lip between her teeth. “Do you mind if I use the shower? I kind of want to get all this makeup off and put on my pajamas.”
”Of course. Down the hall, last door on the left. There’re fresh towels in the hall closet.”