Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
I almost want to volunteer to come with, but maybe Ely needs this. A little bit of time to talk to her friend, to move her body. She hasn't been running or even walking as much as she used to with the danger and kidnapping that took place. This is good for her.
Ely looks from me to Bel. “I mean, a walk would be nice. I’m getting a little claustrophobic with all of you here.”
“Same. Go get a coat and put some jeans on. It’s cold outside.” Bel exclaims.
I take a small sip of coffee and watch as she climbs off the stool and goes to get some warmer clothes on. Soon there won’t be anyone for her to fear. All the monsters she’s spent her entire life running from will be dead, and she’ll finally be free.
“Has it hit her yet that her father is going to die?” Drew asks.
I shrug, “I think so. She knows there isn’t any other option. It's either we kill him or deal with his scheming for the rest of our lives, and she knows I’m not going to let her go through that. I can handle it, but Ely can’t; nor should she have to. She deserves to be happy, and as unfortunate as it might be, the only way for her to truly be happy is if he’s gone.”
“Sometimes you’ve got to cut the toxic out so it doesn’t eat away at all the good. Otherwise you’ll be left with nothing but bones,” Lee interjects.
“That’s pretty deep.” I nod. “Almost like you’ve experienced this shit yourself.”
“I’ve got a little experience.” Lee smiles and shows me with two fingers how much experience he has. Ely walks into the kitchen then, and my full attention locks on her. I can’t help but smile at her presence. She’s the light I never knew I needed in my life, and fuck, am I grateful to have her by my side. She looks adorable bundled up in a jacket with a knit cap on her head.
“Ready to go?” I quip.
“I think so.” She smiles, her green eyes a little brighter.
“Let's go get some fresh air, and then when we get back to the Mill we can have some hot chocolate.” Bel says, hopping off the stool.
“Oh, that sounds good.” Elyse beams back at her.
“See you guys later.” Bel waves as she takes Ely by the arm and guides her out the back door.
“Bye!” Ely squeaks.
“Bye. I’ll see you a little bit later.” They disappear out the door and even if it’s the last thing I want to do I know I need to let her go. Let her have freedom to explore.
Drew rolls his eyes and starts after them. I stop him dead in his tracks by placing a hand on his shoulder. “Anything happens to either of them, and you know the deal.”
In typical Drew fashion, he’s unphased by my threat of violence, “I’m not scared of you, Seb. You’re a suit-wearing prick. But need I remind you—if anything were to happen to either of them, I’d do everything short of killing myself to make sure they were okay.”
“I know.” I tell him and lift my hand off his shoulder.
He continues forward, disappearing out the back door. I know he’s telling the truth. When it comes to Bel there is nothing Drew wouldn’t do. And I know he wouldn’t let anything happen to Elyse by extension of his devotion to both Bel and me.
Aries is still braced by the back door, his big arms crossed over his chest. "What’s my job in this grand plan of yours?"
“I thought you’d never ask.” I grin. “You’re the muscle. If anything happens to us, you’ll step in, and if by some fucking miracle Ely’s dad gets away, you’ll catch him.”
There's a hard set to his jaw but he nods. "I'll be taking care of that bitch, as well."
"If Ely's dad gets out of this house alive it'll mean I'm as good as dead, so I won't give a shit."
“Chin up, Buttercup, the only one dying today is Ely’s dad.” Lee exclaims, squeezing my shoulder hard. Even as confident as I am in this plan, I still have my doubts and fears, and my friends see that. I have to make sure this happens: the reign of terror Elyse endured her entire life ends.
CHAPTER 22
ELYSE
It's hours later when Sebastian finds me sitting in the media room, the TV playing some kind of infomercial. I don’t know what it is...I’m not even watching it. I couldn’t focus on a television show if my life counted on it right now.
"You okay?" he asks, as enters the room.
I jump at the sound of his voice and then give him a smile. "Yeah, fine. Still anxious but there's nothing I can do about that. I’ll be anxious until we see this through."