Chapter 21
Sitting in the rental, I stare out the window. The sun’s high in the sky in the distance makes it feel as if time’s just passing me by. The ringing of my phone causes me to jump, a hopeful thought that it’s him calling me, apologizing for how I’ve been alone all day.
Seeing my brother’s name come up on the screen breaks me a little.
“Hey,” I try to make it sound as chipper as possible.
“We’re heading out to Purgatory.”
“Why?”
“I’m actually surprised you’re not here.” He lets a quiet chuckle out. “I mean, you’re usually the one who knows about things before anyone else.”
“The fuck are you talking about, Zeke?” I can’t help but snap at him.
“They arrested Z this morning.”
“What?” My feet falling off the table in front of me as I sit up straight.
It makes sense now. Eli told me he’d let me know before something happened, and this happened with no warning.
He left knowing he’d be arresting him and just left me here.
A brief image of him kissing me before he left plagues my mind as I realize he must have known
“Yeah, Tate’s husband arrested him this morning. Eli got in the car with Z and let him call us.”
Hearing his name is like a shot to the heart.
I’m not surprised to hear about Tate’s husband, though. Eli’s told me enough about it for me to know what’s going on. But I also know my brother, and I’m sure he didn’t let her go that easily. Or maybe he did. Maybe he thought she’d be better off.
Fucking martyrs.
“We’re taking her and the girls up to purgatory to be safe.”
“Cause it’s only a matter of time before her husband comes back.”
“Exactly.” He pauses for a moment before letting out a brief chuckle. “You may want to head up as well.”
“Zeke, I’m so far removed from what’s going on.”
“Are you, though? Your apartment’s paid from Z’s accounts.”
“Shit.” I mumble to myself as I shake my head.
“Yeah, I can come and pick you up before we head up there.”
“I’m not home.” I tell him.
“Where are you?”
“Don’t fucking worry about it.” I snap back.
“Jeez, Drew.” He scoffs out.
“I’ll be okay for a few days.” I sigh as I stand up, walking over to the bed, having to force the cry that wants to sound back into my throat. “They’ll come back to the compound and look around there before divulging into his accounts and finding my place, then they’ll need a warrant.”
“Law schools working out for you, huh?” he laughs before sighing. “Okay. Whenever you get home from… where ever you are, just pack some stuff and come up there. Call us if you need us to pick you up.”
“Will do, but I’ll be fine. My car will fit.”
And I hang up. Images of last night speed through my mind as I stare at the bed, only this time anger fills me.
Picking up my phone, I press send on his name. It only rings twice before I can tell it’s forwarded to voicemail.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me, Elias!
Why are you ignoring my phone calls? Are you ashamed of what you did?
Of using me?” Do I really think he was using me?
I’m almost positive, no, but maybe if I bait him enough, he will respond and maybe then I’ll get an actual answer. At this point, I’ll try anything.
I exhale, my emotions causing my ears to become hot as the rage courses through me and my stomach turns.
“Ugh,” I groan out before walking into the bathroom to splash some cool water on my face. It doesn’t seem to help my stomach, though, as I lean over onto the sink, taking deep breaths, knowing I need to calm myself.
I’ll stay here one more night; might as well since his credit card is on file. Then I’ll go home tomorrow, sleep in my own bed, and head up there sometime in the next few days.
Lying in bed, not sleeping, all I can think about is how the sheets feel as if they’re suffocating me. My mind’s constantly replaying everything that happened in the months we’ve been together. There’s not an inkling, and still everything he said, everything he did, it all still feels so sincere.
Maybe everyone is right. Maybe I am just naive.
Getting up, knowing I can’t stomach being in this rental, where I’m still supposed to be for the next few days with him, I just gather my things and decide to head home.
* * *
Gasping as I wake up, the darkness surrounding me in my own room, I can already feel the sweat soaking through my clothes.
I can only guess I was having a nightmare, even if I can’t remember it now.
Looking over at the side of the bed where Eli has slept more nights than he should have, I feel my stomach turning again.
Bolting out of bed, but the room spins. Crouching down to the ground, I lay in the fetal position, taking multiple breaths.
I close my eyes, whimpering as the tears push through their dams.
“I can’t sleep here with all of this.” Sighing as my head stills, I push myself up, sitting and making sure I won’t fall over first.
Standing up, I glance at my phone, seeing that I still haven’t gotten a return call from him, but not surprised until my phone lights up on its own and an unknown number flashes on my screen.
“Hello?”
“You need to go.” I recognize the voice, but I’m not sure from where.
“What?”
“Go to the desert.” He tells me. “Now, don’t wait. He’ll figure out that you’ll be able to lead him to her.” I know who the he is; he’s speaking of.
“Who… who?” I stumble over my words.
“A friend of someone who cares, someone who can’t call you himself.”
“Eli?” I comes out in a whisper.
I don’t expect him to answer.
“I have questions.” I implore him.
“I can’t help with that.” He pauses again.
I can tell he’s about to end the call. “Wait.” I call out sitting up, but the line disconnects before I’m able to ask anything else.
My head still spinning, I force myself up, having to exhale as I shake it and walk over to the closet. Grabbing clothes out of it and shoving them into a duffel bag.
Moving into the bathroom and filling up my toiletry bag, the gagging takes me by surprise as I lean over where the toilet is, exhaling, before I gag again, only nothing comes out.
“What the fuck?”
Standing up, somehow finally feeling better before looking at myself in the mirror, nodding my head, grabbing my bag off the counter, and turning off the lights.
Shoving the cosmetic bag into the duffel bag, I sigh, looking back at my phone. Picking it up, I press the call button as I walk out of the apartment.
“What?” a groggy Zeke answers the sat line in purgatory.
“I just got a weird phone call.”
“What?” seeming more awake now.
“Someone just called and told me to leave and go out to the desert.”
“Was it Eli?” I hate that he’s been as involved with the club.
“I don’t think so.” I groan out, pretending I’m having to think about it. “I didn’t recognize the voice. But they definitely made it sound like they were planning on tailing me, so I’m heading that way now.”
“Make sure you’re not followed out here.”
“I won’t be.” I pause, looking around the parking lot as I make my way to my car, remembering what the voice on the other end had said. “On second thought, is your bike still at Pistons?” Forcing myself to shake off the feeling of someone watching me.
“Yeah, you think someone’s tracking you?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t think we should take that chance.”
“I agree, and honestly, I could use it here.” He laughs again. “Remember —”
“I know. Pull the sim card at Joshua Tree and put it in the cage. I’ll be there soon.” Pulling the phone away from my ear.
“Drew!” he calls out to me again.
“Yeah?” putting the phone back up to my ear.
“Be smart. Love you.”
It brings a smile to my face for the first time since I woke up all alone in the hotel as I nod my head.
“I will. Love you, too.”
* * *
Purgatory is just as I remember it from when I was a child.
Everything except that I no longer have to share with all the other kids around the club is the same.
Walking out into the kitchen, I’m still feeling awful and I’m sure the sheen of sweat is still on me as I hold my head, leaning over the kitchen island.
“You okay?” I hear Liv call from behind me.
“Huh?” I rub my hands down my face. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“You sure?” she lowers her voice as she asks me, making sure that no one can hear her.
“Yeah.” I give her my most realistic smile before attempting to stand up, but wince as I do so.
“Drew?” Liv calls after me as I look up at her.
“What? Never better. Just tired, and totally not actively having a miscarriage.” I smile at her, pushing past the sharp pains I’m feeling before I walk back to my room.
“What?!” she yells after me before I hear Liza calling her from the living room. I can see the shocked expression still on her face as she watches after me, wondering if she should follow me or go back to Liza.
Leaning against the door, exhaling before forcing myself across the room. Collapsing on the floor in front of my bed and pulling my knees up to my chest.
Breathing through the pain, I feel the relief as it dissipates, and I’m able to move back up onto the mattress and lie on my back, just staring at the ceiling.
I don’t even flinch when the door swings open, hitting the wall at its side. Just looking over, I see Liv as she storms in to where I’m lying. Her face softens as she comes closer, and she sighs. “Please tell me you were just joking.” I can hear her pleading with me.
“That would be a terrible thing to joke about, wouldn’t it? Especially considering…”
“Yeah.” She nods her head, exhaling. “Fuck. Shouldn’t you like go to the hospital?” she asks.
It makes me laugh as I shake my head. “So they can tell me just to ride it out, and it’s probably for the best since my boyfriend just broke up with me.”
“Drew.” She gasps again before moving to my side and pulling me into her.