Page 37 of Taking Over the Dark

ELLINOR

I watch as Marcello’s face drops, and then it hits us all like a tsunami.

Willow has been taken.

Nash’s sister, Willow.

?*Why would both of them be taken?

This all has to be spun into the same disgusting web of people. Dario’s cracking voice has tears lining my eyes. “Our hacker is running the video they sent, but it’s heavily encrypted. We think it has something to do with the Hayden’s dad…”

My eyes shoot to Nash, but he doesn’t look sad.

Determination.

Determination is what lines his features, and burning anger.

Zamir has his phone out and up to his ear before the news has even sunk in.

“We need you up here now, Noah.” There’s not a hint of softness in Zamir’s voice. The care he already carries for Nash’s family, really all of us and our families, has my heart swelling more than I knew possible.

I question, “Nash, baby, are you okay?”

“This has my dad written all over it,” he says, but his eyes aren’t focusing on me. He’s staring off into the distance like he’sstuck in a memory. I have a bad feeling the memory is what his dad did to him when he was taken as a child.

Marcello announces, “They’re fueling the plane as we speak. Pack your bags; we’re all going. I refuse to leave anyone again.”

“I’ll go pack quick for everyone. You all do what you need to.”

Zamir pecks my lips, whispering, “Thank you,Shpirt Im.I’ve got him until you come back out.” I give him another kiss on the lips, spin on my heels, and walk back to Marcello’s room, where all of our shit is. He’s the rock that this relationship between the four of us needs. Marcello’s the absolute unhinged one, Nash is our sweet teddy bear of a man, and Zamir is the perfect mix of both.

I’m in the room pulling out the basics I know we’ll all need, mindlessly stuffing them into a couple of different bags. This has to be some kind of trauma response. I’m nowhere near ready enough to be dealing with this kidnapping, so close to being kidnapped myself. Then I find my head putting myself in Nash’s shoes and imagining if this was my sister who was being held captive, and brand new tears are streaming down my face. But the sob that breaks out of me shocks me the most.

I’m throwing our toothbrushes into a toiletries bag along with some soaps and basic skin care when I look up in the oversized mirror at my reflection and see nothing but the exhaustion that’s blanketing my whole presence.

Then there’s even more tears.

The tears that I haven’t had the time to shed.

The tears of the woman I was before.

Before, I was fearful of my stalker.

Before, I thought I was going to die.

Before, I was stupid enough to forgive that same man who caused all of this solely because I know the soul and good meaning behind those fucked up actions of his… no matter how bad they were.

Marcello Barone is a good man.

A good man to a fault.

I stuff all of that down deep inside me and put my hardened mask back on.

Soft Ellie got me kidnapped, and clearly, letting my guard down leads to horrible shit happening to all of us. And my soul can’t handle any more horrible shit.

Driving into the private area of the airport feels illegal, but I’m quickly remembering that nothing is illegal when you’re in the presence of Marcello Barone. His private planes were sitting there on the runway, ready to go, and I really should’ve taken something to take my mind off of flying.

I fucking hate planes.

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