Page 16 of Elise
Deadeye gives the account of their trek from the camp to the city where Elise was being held. He holds Elise’s hand under the table as he recounted how they found her in the room where she was being held. He could feel her trembling and wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and demand they allow her to leave the room while they finished the debriefing, but he knows that is not an option. Once all the team members have given their account, it is Elise’s turn to tell what happened the day she was taken until she was freed by Deadeye and his team.
Elise tells her story in great detail. She is gripping Deadeye’s hand tightly as she tells about her guard detail being killed right in front of her. She tells them about the trip through the desert, stopping in the tent village, and then on to the city where she was held for most of her captivity. She pauses then and looks at her parents.
“I’m not sure they need to hear this next part.” Elise’s voice cracks with emotion and tears form in her eyes. Deadeye gives her hand a squeeze. He notices Straw has placed his hand on her shoulder in silent support.
“Elise, dear what ever happened, we can handle it. We want to be here for you.” Mr. Sommers says. Elise nods and takes a couple of deep shuddering breaths before continuing her harrowing tale. She looks at Deadeye with fear in her eyes.
“Just look at me, sweetheart. Pretend it’s just you and me, ok? Tell me what happened.” Deadeye says to her softly. She nods at him and turns to face him, taking both of his hands in hers.
“When we arrived in the city, the abuse began. Hussan would come to the room where they held me. He had a man come to examine me for…purity.” Elise’s voice breaks and the tears begin to fall. Warren cups her face with his hands and wipes her tears away encouraging her to continue. “He said since I was pure, he wouldn’t violate me before the marriage ceremony. He wanted to be able to give proof of my virginity to his people.” Elise is shaking all over and the tears are flowing freely. She knows she needs to get this over with but isn’t sure she can continue.
“It’s going to be alright, sweetheart. You can do this.” Deadeye whispers to her. She seems to take strength from him and continues with heavy emotion in her voice.
“He forced me to do things to him though. He would force himself into my mouth. If I didn’t cooperate, he would bring a young girl into the room and hurt her to make me comply. I didn’t know he was going to do such terrible things the first time he came in to try and force himself on me. He had his men rape the little girl in front of me.” Elise is sobbing at this point. She leans into Deadeye’s chest and he wraps his arms around her, stroking her hair as she cries. “He made me watch. He said if I didn’t, he would let everyone of his men have a turn with her until I had watched. They would hit her for my offenses. He killed her the day I was rescued. He cut her throat and just let her bleed out. Shortly after, Warren and his men came in and saved me.”
Ellen has gotten up from her chair and walked around to Elise. She hugs Elise and Deadeye while Elise sobs. Deadeye looks over her shoulder at Hawk.
“I think she’s had enough for now.” His voice is hard and full of emotion. Hawk nods.
“I agree. I think it would be best if her parents give a statement to the press. It needs to be short and only basic facts that she is home and in good condition. They don’t need any other information.”
Chapter 14
The meeting breaksup and Elise’s parents move to her side. They are wanting to take her with them to the press conference. They want her to stand beside them while her father makes a statement to the press, but not answer any questions. Deadeye is infuriated that they can’t see how much this is upsetting Elise. He is determined to keep them from putting her through this torture.
“Elise, do you want to go out there with them?” Deadeye asks her while her parents were working with a secretary to write up their statement.
“No Warren. I can’t go out there in front of all those people. They are going to be asking me questions, taking my picture. I’m not ready for that. Please talk to them.” Elise pleads. Deadeye nods and takes her in his arms and rocks her gently. He places a kiss on her head before handing her off to Ace and Tank for safe keeping while he talks to her parents.
“Mr. and Mrs. Sommers.” Deadeye begins. “Please reconsider asking Elise to accompany you to make this press statement. She isn’t in any condition to face a room full of reporters with nosey questions. You saw how upset she was trying to tell us about what happened to her.”
Mr. Sommers glares at him but spares a glance at Elise. His expression changes then into a frown. He looks at his wife then back at Deadeye. “Perhaps you are right. We just wanted to keep her close to us, but I can see she is barely hanging on. What is going on with you two? She has been clinging to you ever since she got off the plane.”
“I care for her, Sir. I thinks she feels the same, but perhaps it’s just because I was there when she came to after we got her out of that hellhole.” Deadeye informs him. “I only want what is best for her. She tries to be strong, but this has been very hard on her. She is going to need to see a psychiatrist to help her get past all of this. Hawk’s wife was held captive for over 2 months before we found her. She struggled for a long time, sometimes she still has bad days every now and then. I know you love her and only want what is best for her, but don’t try to smother her. She needs to be allowed to make her own decisions.”
“Where do you get off telling us how to treat our daughter?” Ellen almost growls at him. “She is our daughter. We know her better than anyone. We were there when we almost lost her all those years ago. You don’t know anything.”
“Mrs. Sommers, I am not trying to tell you what to do, but Elise has talked to me about her life before going to the refugee camp. I know you meant well, but you were keeping her from living her life. It’s one of the reasons she chose to go there in the first place. She needed some space and a chance to be on her own. She needed to prove to herself she could make it on her own.”
“Yes, and we can all see how that turned out, can’t we?” Mr. Sommers says with venom in his voice. “She is our daughter and you will stay away from her. She’s young and vulnerable. She doesn’t need some man old enough to be her father interfering in her life.”
Frustrated with the whole conversation, Deadeye turns away. He knew his age was going to be an issue for her parents, but damn if it didn’t hurt when they threw it in his face. Was he doing the right thing? Should he back off and give her space? It was true she had been through an awful ordeal. Perhaps she was clinging to him because he just happened to be the one holding her when she woke from her nightmare. He needs advice before he can make any drastic decisions. Hawk, Charlotte, and his teammates were his best source for advice. He motions to Hawk and then leaves the room. Elise follows him with her eyes but doesn’t move to follow him.
“Hawk, can we call a team meeting? I need some advice.” Deadeye asks his commander and friend.
“Yeah, meet me in the command room in 10 minutes.” Hawk turns and heads back into the room they just left to gather the team. Deadeye follows him back into the room to find Elise. She is sitting alone at the table where they had given the debriefing. Deadeye moves to her. She looks up at him with her doe eyes and it’s all he can do to keep from grabbing her up and running away as fast as he can.
“Hey, sweetheart. Hawk is calling a team meeting. I’m not sure how long it will take, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Deadeye says with a heavy heart. He isn’t sure what decision he will make regarding Elise once he has discussed it with his team, his friends. “I think I have convinced your parents to leave you out of the press conference.” He gives her a hesitant smile.
Elise stands and wraps her arms around his waist, burying her head in his chest. He wraps his arms around her, soaking in the moment. She mumbles something, but he can’t understand what she has said with her face in his chest. He pulls back to look at her. “What was that, sweetheart?”
“Why does this feel like good-bye?” She whispers with tears in her eyes. He wraps her close to him again, before pouring his heart out.
“I don’t want it to be good-bye. I need to do what is best for you, sweetheart.” Deadeye’s voice is pained as he tries to help her understand. “I’m too old for you. Your parents made sure to point that out. I don’t know what is going to happen, but know this, I care for you Elise and I will do anything to make sure you are happy and healthy.” Not caring who is looking, Deadeye takes her face in his hands and places a kiss on her sweet lips. She opens for him and he takes his fill as she does the same. All too soon, he hears someone clearing their throat behind him. He pulls back and looks deeply in her eyes with his hands still on either side of her face. “Wait for me here, alright? I’ll be back soon.” Elise nods and closes her eyes when he places a soft kiss on her forehead.
Deadeye turns around then to see Tank smirking at him. “Come on lover boy. We have a meeting to get to.” Tank rumbles at him before turning and leaving the room. Deadeye sighs and follows him out of the room.
As soon as everyone is in the room, Hawk turns to Deadeye. “The floor is yours, big guy. What’s up?”
