Page 23 of Forsaken

“I’m sorry,” Eli whispered as he shook his head.

Anger flooded my entire system, but more so because of the pity I saw in his eyes. He knew what his words had done to me.

“Fuck you, Eli,” I spat and I quickly released him and tried to step back.

But Eli held on to me and dragged me as close as his limited strength would allow. “Mav, please, I’m sorry,” he murmured and it wasn’t until I felt his hand close around the back of my neck that I realized at some point he’d let go of my arm and I hadn’t even noticed. The pads of Eli’s fingers began massaging the base of my neck, and it wasn’t until my lips were hovering near his that I realized I hadn’t fought his effort to pull my head down.

“I didn’t mean that,” Eli said softly and then his lips skimmed mine. “I swear I didn’t mean it.”

He kissed me again, but as much as I wanted to take what he was offering, his dismissive words still rang in my ears.

I don’t want you.

When Eli went to kiss me again, I turned my head to the side so his mouth couldn’t make contact with mine. I could tell my actions were distressing him because as I pulled back, his eyes filled with tears.

“Mav,” he whispered pleadingly.

I shook my head. It was too late.

It was too fucking late.

“Eli?”

Eli and I both turned at the sound of the man’s voice as the front door swung open. While I’d never seen the man who filled the doorway in person, I knew immediately who he was and as his gaze shifted from me to Eli’s tear-stained and still bruised face, I knew exactly what he was thinking.

“What the fuck is going on here?” the man snarled as he stormed into the apartment. I didn’t bother resisting as he grabbed me by the shirt and shoved me backwards against the wall. “What the fuck did you do to him?”

“Dom!” Eli shouted and then he was trying to put his body between mine and the other man’s. Part of me wanted to tell Eli to back off because I was actually itching for a fight and Dom Barretti was clearly the kind of man who could give me what I wanted, but I remained quiet as Eli got the other man’s attention.

“He’s a friend, Dom!” Eli said quickly.

Dom released his hold on me just a little bit as his eyes drifted to Eli’s face. “He hurt you,” Dom muttered.

Eli shook his head emphatically. “I’m upset because I said something to him I shouldn’t have.”

“And that bruise?” Dom said as he finally released me and stepped back. Eli kept his body between us.

“Some guy tried to mug me last week. Mav” – Eli motioned over his shoulder at me – “stopped him.”

Dom was clearly still suspicious, but he gave me the slightest nod and took several more steps back, presumably to give me and Eli a bit of privacy to finish our conversation. But since we were already finished, I pushed past Eli, ignoring the way he whispered my name, and left the apartment. My insides burned as I hurried to my rental car.

I don’t want you.

My throat felt tight as I climbed behind the wheel. I tried to draw in several deep breaths so I could get myself under control, but my anger won out and I slammed my hands down on the steering wheel. The fact that I was this out of it was proof enough that I was in too deep and as I pulled the car away from the curb, I fished out my cell and hit the speed dial. I only drove around the corner so my car would be more hidden, but had enough of a view that I could still see Eli’s apartment.

“What’s up, Mav?” I heard Ronan say when he answered my call.

“I need you to have someone look into something for me,” I said.

Ronan was quiet for a moment before saying, “Okay.”

“Subject’s name is Eli Galvez,” I said even though my mind rebelled at using that word to describe Eli.

“Is this the kid who visits Matty?”

“Yeah,” I said. I gave Ronan a rundown of the attack on Eli and that he’d admitted the man was his own stepfather. To Ronan’s credit, he remained silent, but I didn’t take that for lack of interest on his part. “He said the guy doesn’t have a history of abuse – that it was a one-time thing.”

“You don’t believe him?” Ronan asked.

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