Page 22 of Blade

“I’m going to stay in Strickland. With my n-new friends.”

Leland winked at me and I smiled back. It felt good to have people on my side.

“I’m so damn thankful you stayed, Little girl. I just found you, I don’t know what I would do if I lost you already.”

His words made my tummy flip-flop. I didn’t know what I would do if I lost him either. He’d brought me so much comfort already.

“Blade?” I asked. “I promise to never leave again. Are you mad at me?”

He chuckled softly into the phone. “If you were my Little girl, you’d have a long sit in the naughty chair, but no, I’m not mad. I’ll never be mad at you, even when you make naughty choices.”

***

Blade

Pulling into the parking lot, I slammed the truck in park and rushed through the double doors. I trusted Bash to handle everything else. We’d had to go back to the factory, shower, anddispose of our clothes before I could even get to Eloise. It had taken no more than an hour, but it felt like forever. Leland had offered to take her back to Elliot’s for me and while I appreciated that, I didn’t want her to move from the train station until I could see her with my own eyes.

“Blade!” she cried as soon as she saw me.

Using my long legs to eat the space up between us, I lifted her into my arms and held her tight.

“I’m so sorry. I should have listened to you all.”

“I’m so glad you stayed, Little one. That’s all that matters. Let’s get you back to Elliot’s, okay?”

“C-can you stay with me there for a while?”

“I will stay with you all day, darlin’.”

***

“Alright, love. We’re hooked all back up and your antibiotics are running though now. Are you sure you don’t need anything for pain?” Elliot asked Eloise.

“No, sir. I’m really sorry.” She apologized for the tenth time since we’d been back. Poor thing. Guilt was really going to eat her alive.

“We all understand why you did it, honey. And we’re not mad. But if you ever try and run away again, we’re going to make you go live in the pond,” he said, teasing her.

“The pond?” she asked, looking horrified.

“Tell her about the pond, Tinsley,” Elliot said.

“Is for all the silly gooses. If you’re going to be a silly goose and run away again, you gotta go live in the pond.”

Elliot laughed and ruffled Eloise’s hair when she giggled.

“Tinsley has been sent to the pond a few times, huh, baby?” Tyler asked her.

“Yas-huh,” she agreed with an adorable little nod.

Tyler scooped her off the bed. “We’ll be back in a little while. You guys call us if you need anything.”

“Where are we going?” Tinsley asked Elliot over Tyler's shoulder.

“We’re going to give Blade and Eloise some time alone,” Tyler explained as they took the stairs up to the main floor.

“Why?”

“Because they need it,” Elliot explained.

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