By the ti I make it downstairs, breakfast is already laid out. Margaret glances up when I enter and smiles at like she always does.
Zane is there too, seated at the table, his posture is rigid looking at sothing on his phone beside his plate.
I take the chair across from him and start eating without acknowledging him.
"You look dressed where are you going this morning ?" he asks.
I don’t answer him, I don’t have to him keeping a body guard on my trailing is already enough he doesn’t get to question my whereabouts too.
I keep chewing, keeping my eyes on my plate.
Aaron stands near the doorway, pretending not to exist, which I appreciate.
Zane’s jaw tightens. "Elaine."
Still nothing from .
Margaret clears her throat and steps in smoothly. "Would you like more eggs, dear?"
"Yes, please," I say, imdiately, grateful.
Zane exhales through his nose but doesn’t push. He finishes his al quickly, stands, and leaves without another word, shutting the door harder than necessary.
I finish eating, wipe my mouth, and stand. I lean over and kiss Margaret’s cheek.
"I’ll see you later," I tell her.
She pats my arm. "Be safe sweetie."
"I always am," I lie.
Outside, Aaron opens the car door for .
"My brothers’ place," I say once I’m seated. "You know where it is?"
"No and which one."
"Lucas’s house, I’ll give you the coordinates."
He nods and starts the engine.
The drive is quiet as I watch the city pass by, hands folded in my lap, heart thudding harder the closer we get.
When we pull into the driveway, I unbuckle and reach for the door.
"You want to wait?" Aaron asks.
"No," I say. "I’ll call you when I’m done."
I step out, then pause when I hear his voice again.
"Ma’am." I hate that he calls that, it makes feel old and wrinkly.
I turn.
"You don’t have my number."
Yea righ of course.
We exchange phones digits, quickly and for so reason it feels awkward.
"There," he says. "Just in case."
"Thanks," I reply.
I head inside.
The house is tense the mont I step through the door.
I find lucas already pacing the sitting room trying to tear it down with how frequently he Is walking back and forth, Noah is sitting stiffly on the couch, elbows on his knees. Caleb stands by the window, just staring out at it. Ivy sits by Noah treading her arm through his, fidgeting with her dress.
I’m so happy when I see her that I cross the room and pull her into my arms.
"You’re so awful," I mutter into her hair. "You just disappear and don’t even bother to call."
She hugs back just as tightly. "I know I know, I’m sorry and I missed you."
I pull back and look at her face, she looks worried. They all do.
"Sit," Lucas says. "You are scaring us."
I do and I take a breath. Then another.
"This isn’t easy for " I say. "So I’m just going to say it."
"I saw him," I continue. "Anthony. I saw Anthony.
Imdiately the na leaves my mouth Caleb’s glass shatters in his hand.
Whiskey spills onto the floor and his blood follows imdiately.
"Caleb," Ivy gasps.
"I’m fine, I’m fine" he snaps, but his hand is already dripping red.
I’m on my feet in a second, heading for the f first aid kit in the bathroom.
"I’ll get the first aid kit," I say, mostly because my head needs sothing to do.
When I co back, Caleb is sitting now,his jaw clenched and eyes dark.
I kneel in front of him and start cleaning the cut. He doesn’t flinch when I apply the spirit to his wound.
"How?" Noah asks quietly.
"At a club," I say. "Claire dragged out awhile ago, I didn’t know what kind of place it was until I got there."
Lucas’s fists clench. "And Zane?"
"He showed up when things went bad," I say. "He stopped it, stopped him."
Silence.
Caleb finally looks at . "You’re sure it was him?."
I don’t hesitate. "Yes I am very sure, I would never forget his face or his sll... I would never..."
My voice shakes a bit..... the flood gates to mories I’ve kept hidden and away for nearly six years coming back to assault again.
"I would never forget any of them," I add. "He was one of the n who raped five years ago."
Lucas looks like he might be sick while Noah’s face goes pale. Ivy’s eyes fill with tears she doesn’t let fall probably rembering that night too.
Caleb’s injured hand curls slowly into a fist.
"Did he touch you? Again?." Lucas asks, carefully.
"Yes," I say. "He did this ti to or wanted to Zane got there in ti and pulled him off of ."
"Fuck!." Ivy snaps, standing. "He fucking exists and he’s walking around probably doing the sa to other won too."
"I know," I say.
I sit back on my heels, exhaustion crashing into .
"That’s why I needed you all here," I continue. "Because I don’t know what to do with that."
No one speaks for a long mont.
Then Noah does. "You don’t deal with it alone."
Lucas nods. "Never."
Caleb swallows hard. "If I see him...."
"You won’t," I interrupt. "Not unless I say so."
They look at , surprised.
"He is mine to deal with, that revenge is mine to take and I will take it." I say. "I just needed to know you guys are with when i choose to do sothing..... I want him dead."
"Sunshine are you sure you want blood on your hands.?." Lucas asks
"Yes I am sure....i want them to feel exactly what I felt that night."
Ivy sits beside and takes my hand.
"Whatever you need, El" she says softly.
I squeeze her fingers.
My phone buzzes and I loook at it.
Aaron.
I glance at the screen, then back at my family.
"I should go," I say. "But uhm..... thank you."
Lucas pulls into a hug, then Noah, then Caleb, careful with his bandaged hand.
I hold Ivy a second longer.
"Don’t disappear again on again," I tell her.
"I won’t," she promises.
I leave the house feeling lighter than I did before.
And knowing this isn’t over.
Not even close
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