Page 112 of Damaged Prince
“I’ll be home when you get done, okay?” I promise him. “I’ll get in the car and go right there. We can cuddle, watch a movie, yeah?”
He looks like he wants to say no, to demand I stay, but my man takes a deep breath and nods. “Okay. Promise?”
“I promise.” I do my damndest to give him a smile, holding up my pinky finger.
He gives me the smallest smile, and I almost break down at the sight. He hooks his pinky with mine, bringing it up to place a kiss on the tip, and my heart threatens to give out.
“I love you, Elijah Cross. More than you will ever comprehend."
“I love you too.” He presses his forehead to mine. “Thank you, Laney.”
“You have nothing to thank me for, baby.”
“I do. You know everything. My deepest, darkest pain. And you didn’t run.” He laughs like he doesn’t believe it. “You stayed.”
“Yeah, baby.” I cup his face with my hands. “I’m not fucking going anywhere.”
I kiss him, pouring all my love for this man into the kiss before pulling back. “I’ll see you at home.”
He nods, smiling softly, and it’s another blow to my heart. My sweet, sweet boy.
Knowing I need to get out of here before I lose it, I turn around and head towards the door.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Winter asks.
I shake my head. “I need to be alone right now.” I feel bad for leaving her because she’s upset, too. But I really am seconds from losing it, and I don’t want to do that in front of anyone right now.
“Okay.” She nods.
“I’ll call you later, okay?”
It hurts to walk away from Eli, from Kai, who’s still locked up, bail being worked out.
It’s like I’m leaving two pieces of my heart behind. I’ve never felt so broken in my life.
I want my mom. I want Logan. I want Kai. I want Eli. I even fucking want Owen for fuck’s sake.
But instead, I get into my car and lock the door behind me, staring out the window for a few brief seconds before I completely shatter.
Deep, gut-wrenching sobs bubble out. I scream, and scream and scream until I feel like my head is going to explode. I cry as I pound my fists against the steering wheel.
I break for the little boy who was wronged. I break for the teenager he became, and I break for the man who’s been dealing with all of this hurt for so long.
Every word he said killed a piece of me inside. I felt sick, and I wanted to cry.
The things those monsters did to him. It’s straight out of a horror movie.
It started off innocent. Just two dance instructors doing their job.
Eli said he loved to dance, and he thought his teachers were amazing. They were world-famous ballet dancers, people he used to watch on stage, so having them as his teachers felt like an honor.
Time went by, and Eli was determined to be the best of the best. He wanted to be just like his teachers. To dance in front of the whole world.
So when they offered to spend some extra time giving him lessons, he took the chance, excited and honored.
Everything was fine. Until it wasn’t.
They started to get too friendly, too touchy. Helping him when he didn’t need it, putting their hands on his body to ‘fix’ his positions.
