Page 22 of Chains
“Not well,” I admitted.“She’s torn up.Part of her still sees him as her father, you know?And he’s using that, working that guilt like a pro.Also, she said the exact same thing, about him crossing a line.”
Knuckles stopped pacing, his tattooed knuckles white as he gripped the back of his chair.“She wants him to stay?”
“She doesn’t know what she wants,” I said honestly.“She’s confused.Guilty she couldn’t visit him after her grandma died.Angry she allows herself to feel guilty because she knows he’s playing on her emotions.He’s pressing hard.She doesn’t feel like she can turn her back on him.”
Gunnar exchanged a look with Knuckles; something passing between them I couldn’t read.
“Every man deserves a second chance,” Gunnar said slowly.“That’s what we believe here.”
My head snapped up.“You can’t be serious.”
Knuckles held up a hand.“We’re not saying he stays indefinitely.But maybe…” He sighed heavily, rubbing a hand over his face.“Two nights.That’s it.Just so Ellie doesn’t have to feel like she abandoned her own blood.After that, he’s gone.”
“He’ll use those two days to worm his way into her life,” I argued, leaning forward in my chair.“You know this guy has to be good to have gotten away with what he did all those years.”
“Which is why we’ll be watching him,” Gunnar said firmly.“Every second he’s here.First sign of anything suspicious, he’s out on his ass.”
Knuckles nodded.“Two nights, no exceptions.And he sleeps in the guest quarters on the other side of the compound, not anywhere near Ellie, and he’s to have two brothers on him at all times, including in his quarters.You protect Ellie.Stay at her side at all times.”
I wanted to argue further, but I could see the decision had been made.And part of me understood the reasoning.Ellie needed to see for herself what her father really was, needed closure that wouldn’t come if we simply shut him out.
“Fine,” I conceded.“Two nights.But I want it known I don’t like this.”
“You’d be a fuckin’ moron if you did,” Knuckles said dryly.“Tell Ellie he can come tomorrow.That gives us time to prepare, set up some cameras, brief the brothers on the situation.”
I stood, my body tense.“I’ll tell her.”
As I turned to leave, Knuckles called after me.“Chains.”I paused, looking back.“We protect our own.Always.If this guy makes one wrong move, if he upsets Ellie in any way…” He left the threat unfinished, but I understood perfectly.
“I know,” I said quietly.“She’s ours now.Also, for the record, if you decide to take the bastard out, I want the kill.”
“No, you don’t.”Knuckles held my gaze.“You’re not gonna kill your woman’s father.No matter how estranged or how much she hates him or even how much he deserves to fuckin’ die.”I opened my mouth to protest but Knuckles raised his hand.“I will, however, allow you to be present and bear witness.”
“Ellie is mine.And I’ll kill that bastard before I let Tate Blackheart hurt her again, Knuckles.Physically or emotionally.”
Knuckles held my gaze before nodding.“I hear you, brother.But only if she’s in immediate danger, or he attacks either of you first.”He pointed at me like a strict father.Or mother.I had to smother the grin at that thought.“I mean it, Chains.You don’t need the ghost of her father between the two of you.And if you kill him yourself, you’ll drive a wedge between the two of you that might never be removed.”
I left Knuckles’ office.Two days.We could survive two days of Tate Blackheart’s presence.And maybe, just maybe, it would give Ellie the chance to see him for what he really was and finally close that chapter of her life for good.But if he tried to manipulate her, if he caused her even a moment’s pain, all bets were off.I’d personally escort him off the property, and he wouldn’t be walking when I was done.Or eating his meals any way other than through a straw.
I found Ellie exactly where I’d left her, huddled on a lounge chair in the Oasis with Hannah’s arm around her shoulders.Carrie and Pippa sat across from them, their faces tight with concern.All three cats had somehow escaped her apartment and found their way to her, circling the couch like furry sentinels.Even Lucifer, who normally kept his distance, pressed against Ellie’s leg as if sensing her distress.Her fingers absently stroked his sleek black fur, but her eyes remained distant, focused on something none of us could see.
The moment I stepped into the room, her gaze snapped to mine, questioning.I gave her a small nod, and the women fell silent, understanding passing between them without words.Hannah squeezed Ellie’s shoulder once before rising.
“We’ll give you two some privacy,” she said softly, motioning for Carrie and Pippa to follow.As they passed me, Hannah touched my arm briefly.“Take care of her,” she whispered, her eyes serious.I nodded, grateful for her concern and her trust.
Once they were gone, I crossed to Ellie and sat beside her.Binx immediately jumped into my lap, purring loudly, while Salem watched from her perch on the arm of the couch.Lucifer remained at Ellie’s feet, his yellow eyes fixed on me with suspicious intensity.
“What did they say?”Ellie asked, her voice small but steady.
I covered her hand with mine, feeling the slight tremble in her fingers.“Knuckles agreed to let him stay,” I told her.“Two nights, no more.”
She exhaled slowly, relief and anxiety mingling in her expression.“Two nights,” she repeated.“That’s… that’s good.Thank you.”
“There are conditions,” I continued, needing her to understand the limits we’d set.“He stays in the guest quarters on the other side of the compound, not near your apartment.And he’ll have two guards on him the entire time he’s here.He won’t even be in his apartment alone.”
Ellie nodded, a small furrow appearing between her brows.“He won’t like that.”
“I don’t give a fuck what he likes,” I said, the words coming out harsher than intended.I softened my tone.“Sorry.But this is our home, our rules.If he doesn’t like it, he can find somewhere else.”
