Page 109 of Damaged Prince
“Fuck!” Eli’s eyes widen in horror. “No, no, no! I told him not to. No!”
“Not to what?” I try to ask calmly, but I’m freaking out here.
He shakes his head. “We need to go to the station. We need to get him out. He can’t go to jail, Laney. Not over me. Not because of me.”
“Okay, okay.” I try to soothe him. “I’ll drive us.”
He nods, wiping at his eyes.
“But when you’re calmer, I need you to tell me what the fuck just happened,” I tell him.
He looks at me with fearful eyes. “Okay,” he whispers. “But please don’t hate me once I do.”
I’m taken by surprise, brows furrowing. “Eli, my sweet baby boy, nothing you can tell me would ever make me hate you. I love you. Do you hear me? I love you. All of you. Every broken beautiful piece.”
He starts crying again, burying his face into my neck. When he’s done, I take his hand and guide him out of the building. “Where’s your keys?” I ask.
He looks around and points to the ground, a set of keys lying by the front door.
Grabbing them, I lock the studio up before we head to my car. I also make a quick stop by Kai’s car to turn it off and lock it.
As Eli is about to get in, he looks over across the street. The police are gone, so are the EMTs. But the haunting look in Eli’s eyes tells me whatever happened just now has to do with him.And I’m not sure I’m ready to hear the details. But I will. For him. For my sweet boy.
***
The ride to the station is filled with nerve-wracking silence. I try to keep my attention on the road, but it’s hard when my man is sitting next to me, a fucking mess.
He’s quiet, but still shaking, his hand firmly in mine, like he is afraid to let me go. I am the lifeline he needs right now, and I’m not going to let go.
I did call Winter, telling her to meet me at the station. We had plans to meet up, but clearly that’s changed.
Once we get there, I park the car and turn to face Eli.
I’m about to ask him if he’s ready to talk when there’s a knock at my window.
Jumping, I spin to see a frantic Winter staring down at me.
Opening the car door, I get out.
“What is going on?” she demands, worry thick in her voice.
“I have no idea.” I let out a heavy sigh, running a shaking hand through my hair. “I was going to the studio to check on Eli because he wasn’t answering my calls. When I was almost there, he called me, clearly upset. When I got there, he broke down crying. There were cops across the street, EMT’s and fucking Kai was being placed in a cop car.”
“What!” Her eyes widen. “Why?”
“Again, I have no idea. Eli is too shaken to talk, and I don’t want to push him. Winter. I don’t know for sure, but I know whatever happened tonight has something to do with Eli. Please, talk to him. I need answers. I need to know why my man is hurting so much.”
She nods her head. “Okay. You go in and see what’s going on with Kai, I’ll talk to Eli in the car, okay?”
“Okay.” I nod before ducking back into the car to look at Eli. “Eli, baby, I’m gonna go in and see what’s going on with Kai. Winter is going to stay with you, okay?”
He’s not looking at me, his head against the window as he stares at the station. He gives me a nod, a dejected look in his eyes.
My heart clenches as it hurts to see him like this. But I’m going to be strong for him. Whatever is going on, I’m going to be right there by his side.
I hate leaving Eli like this, but I do, trusting him with our best friend as I head inside.
Going up to the counter, I wait until the lady on the phone finishes her call before she addresses me.
