Page 88 of Tell Me Everything
“Where's Lena?”
“She went upstairs with someone,” Tiago replied.
Not wasting any time, Alex climbed the stairs two by two and searched each room, his senses on the alert. Was Elena planning to spend the evening with someone else? Just thinking about it made him sick. It couldn't be true. After all they'd been through, he couldn't accept it.She’s not like that. He ran to the second floor and heard her voice.
“No, don't.”
Alex entered the room, and his blood ran cold. Fear clawed its way up his spine. Vincent had Elena pinned against the wall. How had he managed to get in? Had no one noticed? Elena tried to free herself, to no avail. Vincent turned his head towards the door and smiled.
“Alexander, what a nice surprise.”
Red tinted Elena's cheeks. Was she drunk? Elena stared at him with round, wet eyes, her gaze full of regret.
“Alex, I'm sorry.”
“She's beautiful.”
When his former coach stroked her cheek, Alex felt something break inside him. Without thinking, he grabbed Vincent by his sweater and pulled him back, coming between him and Elena. Tears rolled down her cheeks when Alex touched her face.
“I'm so sorry.”
“Are you okay?”
She nodded. Alex fished his keys out of his pocket and handed them over.
“Get in the car. I'll be there in a minute.”
Elena staggered out of the room.
“We're alone at last. I wasn’t sure we'd ever see each other again.”
“What did you do to her?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to talk.”
Rage pulsed through his system, and Alex pushed him against the wall. He'd never thought he'd come face to face with Vincent again, let alone in a position of strength. For years, that face had haunted his nights, driving him to madness. But Elena was right. Alex was stronger now. His former coach could no longer hurt him. Now that Alex looked into Vincent's eyes, he felt nothing but disgust and anger.
“You destroyed years of my life. I won't let you destroy someone else's.”
“I only wanted what was best for you.”
Alex saw red, all the bad memories blurring his vision. He threw a punch at his tormentor, then another, then another. Standing over the man who had destroyed his childhood, he let all his rage and pain escape.
“Alex, stop.” Elena tried to pull him back, but he was too far gone. “Please, stop!” she yelled. She knelt beside him, her hand on his shoulder. “Please, I'm begging you. You're better than him.”
Alex turned his head towards her, and his arms went limp. Seeing Vincent's inert body on the ground and his bloodied face, sadness threatened to swallow him whole. She was right. He didn't want to be like this anymore. Acid tears burned his eyes. Feeling suddenly powerless, he dropped down beside Vincent.
“Come here.”
Elena wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he burstinto tears.
“It’s over. You're okay.”
His whole body trembled. For long minutes, she continued to stroke his hair, reassuring him. And for the very first time, Alex understood how much she loved him. He clung to that thought. She was the light at the end of the tunnel that made him lift his head. Elena watched him. All traces of alcohol in her system seemed gone.
“Let’s go?”
She stood up and held out her hand. As always, she was there to help him up.
