Page 12 of The Storms Between Us
ten
The excitementI felt moments ago with Elijah's lips on mine is extinguished in an instant. Hearing the fear and panic in Kelsea's voice wracks me with guilt and despair. This is my fault and anything that happens after this will be my fault, too. Elijah's powerful arms are wrapped around my shoulders, and I wish I could stay here forever. I was shocked when he kissed me, but we've been dancing around each other since we first locked eyes. I feel his hands rubbing my back as I bury my face deeper into his chest. I can't stand crying in front of other people. It's a show of weakness people can use to exploit you. But here, in this moment with Eli, I somehow know he would never do that to me. I feel safe falling apart just a little, believing he would catch me.
"Tell me what's going on, Ember," He says, his voice laced with genuine concern. I could lie. I could make up some silly explanation for my breakdown. But something tells me he would see right through it. And surprisingly, I don't want to lie to him. I don't want to feel alone in this anymore.
"That was my best friend back in Durham. I asked her to go by my old place to grab the few things I left behind and leave the keys for the landlord. She said when she got there the police were everywhere. The landlord told her someone broke into my old apartment and trashed the place. She said it looked like somebody went through it with a sledgehammer, destroying everything in their path." He listens intently, a tick in his jaw telling me this is upsetting him.
"Go on. Obviously, this wasn't random if they destroyed your shit instead of stealing it." He says discerningly.
"No, I know it wasn't random. I know exactly who did this." My eyes fall to the floor, shame and guilt flooding my system. If I hadn't been stupid enough to fall for Justin, none of this would have happened. Elijah puts a finger under my chin and brings my eyes back up to his. "Tell me, Ember. Now." His tone steeped in authority.
"I had a boyfriend back at school. We dated for a while when I was in my second year there. I thought he was an okay guy. He didn't really blow me away, but he was decent company. But he had another side to him I didn't know about. The first time he put his hands on me was the last time." I say the last part quietly and I can see the rage building in his eyes.
"He put his hands on you?" He asks, his voice dripping with venom. His fists clench and unclench at his sides, and I can tell he's pissed. "Why didn't you call Everett? I know he would have told me if something like this happened and we both would have been there in a heartbeat to beat this guy's ass."
"I didn't think it would escalate the way it has. I told him we were done the day after our fight and he didn't argue. He tried reaching out a few times, but I just assumed he wanted me back. I didn't think he was dangerous, Elijah." I say, straightening my spine. I know I should have said something to my brother, but I'm not incapable of taking care of myself. Elijah's alpha male bullshit is hot, but I won't be made to feel like some helpless damsel. "It didn't worry me until right before I left. I got a note from him that really freaked me out and I got out of there as fast as I could."
"The night you called Everett and asked if you could come down early, is that why?" He asks and I nod.
"I packed all my shit that I could fit into the trailer, and I left the next day. I guess you could say I ran, but he had no idea when or where I was going, so I just wanted to get out of there" I want to escape the scrutiny I feel under his gaze. I'm sure he thinks I'm such a fucking idiot for not going to the cops or telling Everett, and honestly, I can't disagree with him. I should have spoken up. But hindsight's twenty-twenty.
His features soften. I can tell he's still enraged, but doing his best to control his emotions. "You have to tell Everett, Sunshine," he says, reaching for my hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "He needs to know what's really going on."
I huff out a breath, pulling my hand away from his. "No, Elijah, I don't need to tell Everett. I'm not some meek little girl who needs her brother to take care of her. Justin has no idea where I am. I don't have any reason to believe he would come after me. I'm sure he was just pissed he couldn't get to me anymore," I say, placing my hand on my hip, hoping I look intimidating. Unfortunately, I don't think that's gonna happen.
"Ember, you have to tell him. This asshole is obviously a fucking whack job. He broke into your place! Who fucking knows what he would have done if you had still been there!" A cool shiver runs through my body, my eyes going wide. I know he's right. What if I had been alone in my apartment when Justin broke in? What would he have done? I don't even want to think about that or I'll just crawl back into bed and never leave. Eli puts his hand on my hip, pulling me closer to him. He places a hand on the side of my neck, leaning my head back so he can look me in the eyes. "He has to know what could come knocking at our door. It's not fair to keep him in the dark. Especially when it comes to your safety." He says, and I drop my forehead onto his chest.
"I know," I grumble. "He's gonna freak the fuck out."
"He might, yeah, but not at you. He's a rational guy, and he loves you. You can't blame a guy for wanting to protect you." He says, his gaze piercing through mine, causing my core to clench. I can't help it when he looks at me that way, like I'm something precious.
"I guess that's not the only thing we need to tell him." I say, giving him a small grin.
"I don't think that's a good idea. Not right now. Your safety is what's most important, and I don't think adding anything else into the mix is a good thing." He says, taking a step back from me. I instantly feel the weight of his loss and a wave of disappointment flood over me. Then rage and annoyance overpower my emotions.
"So, what, I'm supposed to be your dirty little secret? Or was what just happened here just insignificant to you?" I say, trying and failing to control my anger. He reaches out to try and calm me, but I step back. "Just go, Elijah. You don't need to let me down easy. I'm a big girl." I cross my arms over my chest, completely shutting him out.
He looks at me, his eyes pleading for my understanding. But I can't think rationally right now, and his rejection stings. "I'll go for now, but you need to tell him, Ember. Tell him or I will," He says, walking out of my room and into his own, slamming the door.
