Page 35 of Broken Skulls

He’s quiet for several minutes.

“The club isn’t going to let you stay here. At least not for now.” He pushes his fingers into my hair, pulling us close. “Jackson is the president of the club. He and his wife, Willow, live on a little farm.” He presses his forehead to mine. “I … I need you to promise me you won’t try jumping off any cliffs while you’re there.”

I can’t promise him that … I just can’t.

“They’ll hate me,” I whisper. “I want to stay here with you.”

His fingertips rub lightly over my scalp. “They won’t hate you if you show up as Elizabeth.”

“Jacob.”

He kisses my forehead. “And I’ll show them Jacob. Okay?”

It’s this moment I realize no one but me knows Jacob. Warmth spreads across my chest at the thought. Me. He trusted me. No one has trusted me with anything for so long I’d forgotten what that felt like. I guess I’ve forgotten a lot of things.

“Okay,” I agree hesitantly. “I’ll try.”

“Lizzie was a prisoner. Elizabeth isn’t,” he says, shaking my head lightly before placing his lips near mine. “So say it. Promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”

“I don’t know how to do this, Jacob.”

“All you have to do is keep breathing, and my friends and I will get you through the rest.”

“You’re so sure they’ll somehow accept me. I’m sure Tank has told them awful things about me, and most of it was probably true.”

“He hasn’t said anything to the club about you. Nothing. I doubt many of them even know who you are.”

I roll onto my back, dreading the thought of going back out into the world. Especially the thought of having to interact with people. Does Jacob remember I haven’t been speaking all that long?

“I don’t think I can do it.”

A soft knock interrupts us. “JD, Elizabeth? Can I come in?” a woman’s soft voice asks.

“It’s Willow,” he tells me as he pulls me to a sitting position.

She opens the door and steps inside the room with us. “I’m sorry. I overheard. I … I just wanted to let you know I was in a similar position when I first came here. It’s scary to trust new people. I understand.”

Willow moves to sit beside me. “I don’t know your story and I don’t need to. Please let our family take care of you. You don’t have to talk. There are no expectations of you here. Like JD said, all you have to do is breathe.”

I nod, allowing her to pull me to my feet.

Jacob follows us out. He rubs his hand over my back as everyone stands awkwardly outside of my safe room. “I guess I should formally introduce you to everyone,” he says, his voice steady and sure.

I’d like to say it relaxes me, but it doesn’t.

“This is Willow and Jackson.”

Neither of them try to shake my hand, but maybe it’s because my hands are strangling each other behind my back.

“And these two beautiful ladies,” he continues, pointing at the women who found me in the basement, “are Jesse and Lily.”

“I’m his best friend,” Lily tells me. She doesn’t say it in a jealous or possessive way, but I’m sure she’s not pleased that I’ve butted into her friend’s life. “I’m Kelsie’s mom,” she adds. Her gaze bounces over my neck as she says it.

I hide behind Jacob, knowing she’s looking for the necklace that her daughter gave me.

“I lost it,” I admit, knowing it will probably make her hate me even more than she most likely does.

She tries to mask the disappointment on her face. “Oh, hun, that’s okay. It’s just a necklace.”

---