Page 34 of Taking Over the Dark

“I’m in school, and it’s supposed to be stressful. And I didn’t plan to drop off the face of the earth for days at a time, either.”

“You know you don’t need schooling to be a successful business owner like you want to be. You have the desire to learn from the people around you. Sit with people you want to be like, and you’ll become that. A lot of the most successful business owners have no college degrees.”

“You have one,” I snip back.

“Only because I wanted out from my father’s ruling for a few years. I wanted to be a doctor, but I had to stop that when my father started burning every connection he had, dismantling our family one kill at a time.” I always forget Marcello was pre-med while he was studying in school. Which is so far from the ruthless businessman he is today. It does make my heart happy in the most fucked up way that he still gets to help people in some shape or fashion with the doctor and all the organ harvesting he does.

“You do need to call one of your goons to get me the morning-after pill, just in case. I don’t feel like leaving this apartment for a few days.” I’m not risking shit around here. Pregnancy-wise and safety-wise. I’m also making him text the doctor to call in another form of birth control. I think I will give the insertable ring a try, being that they’re so similar to the disc I’m used to wearing while on my period.

I refuse to be the dumb bitch that falls for her stalker… well, I’ve already fallen for him, but I will at least make him grovel like his life depends on it. And I sure as hell will not be pregnant before I’m ready.

That reminds me, I’ve been wanting my hair done, so I shoot off a text to Blair real quick.

Me

Hi babes

Blair

Oh, thank fuck you’re alive! *sad emoji face

I’ve missed you so much

Me

I’ve missed you too

Is there any way we can catch up while you fix these nasty roots of mine? I’ll make your uncle pay you whatever you want for the house call

Blair

Whatever I want?!

Duh, I’m in!

I’ll be over after I run to the shop to get the supplies.

Me

See you when you get here

Be careful, please

The knock on the door echoes through the oversized apartment no less than thirty minutes after I texted Blair. It was surprisingly quick, but it pulls me out of the haze I was in. The biggest shock is her actually knocking; this is her uncle’s place, but one thing I know about Blair is that she treats other people’s homes like they’re her own. As I swing the door open, I see a glowing Blair with her hands completely full with all the supplies to get to work on my hair. I wrap my arms around her, squeezing her until I hear a little squeak from her. “I’m so glad you’re okay, Ellie.” Holding her by her shoulder, I lean her away from me and look her in the eyes to see tears lining them. I’ve never been one to have a ton of girlfriends, but I find myself thanking whoever put us on the same path to work at Shenanigans together.

* Love Galore (feat. Travis Scott) - SZA, Travis Scott

* T.H.Y.M. - Glasswaves

TWENTY-FIVE

MARCELLO

I’m in my office watching the camera feed from the kitchen. Blair came over to do Ellie’s hair, and hearing the laughing and happiness coming from both of them makes my heart happy.

I’m trying to distract myself from what I need to do.

Call Dario and his crew in for help.

---