Page 22 of Monster: King of Nevada

“I’m fine, Ella. Where are you, though? You left a vague note and not much else.” I hate to hear the concern in his voice.

Blowing out a breath, my eyes roam the room, and I know I should tell him. Oliver wouldn’t sell me out, but I worry…

“Oh my god! He hit you, didn’t he? Because you don’t know where I am?” My hatred of Blake grows deeper now.

Throwing off the covers, I flip the screen and scramble to get dressed.

“I’m fine, Ella. I can watch out for myself.”

“Like hell you can!” I take my big sister role very seriously, and I’ll never allow my brother to be hurt because of me. “I’m on my way home. I’ll be there tonight.” I have no idea how, but I will be.

“No, Ella. You can’t. He’s so pissed I think he might actually kill you.” I hate how afraid he sounds.

Dragging a sweater over my head, I turn the camera back around. “Do you really think I’m going to allow him to lay hands on you and not do something about it?”

“Ella,” he groans and pinches his nose, looking older than his fifteen years.

“It’s not your job to protect me, Oliver.”

“You’re right!” I jump and turn around to see Theias standing in the doorway, an angry scowl on his face. “That’s my job now. Whatever the fuck you think you’re about to do, think again, little girl.” Why does that angry growl make my sex tighten and my legs tremble?

“Who the hell is that?” Oliver sits up straighter, his tone slightly curious.

Dropping my shoulders, I blow out a breath and tilt my head back while counting to ten before turning the phone so they can see each other. “Oliver, this is Theias Lorde. I’m…working? For him. Theias, this is my younger brother, Oliver.”

Theias’ head tilts curiously to size up my brother, and I imagine the younger man might be doing the same. It’s all very surreal at the moment.

“You’re not sure if you work for a guy who looks like a hit man?”

Theias breaks out in laughter at Ollie’s question, and my nipples perk up at the sound, liking it very much.

“He’s not a hitman,” I reply, a little unsure.

With the way he talks and the things he does, I’m not sure he isn’t. Right now, however, he looks deadly and dangerous. The sleeves of his dress shirt are rolled up to his elbows, showing off some lethal ink, which also peeks out at his neck where his tie is loosely knotted. His eyes are in a constant state of molten lava, and unless you’re up close, they’re hard to read, making him appear threatening.

He’s also got this scar slicing through some of the ink on his throat, and now I wonder how that happened as I step closer, reaching up to touch the puckered skin, forgetting about the argument I should be having with the two of them.

Theias’ hands tightening on my hips shatter my focus as he shakes me a little and asks, “Did you think you were going back to L.A.?”

“Uhm.” I can’t lie to him. But I can’t find the words to tell the truth either.

“Yeah, she doesn’t think I can handle a punk,” Oliver shoots back. “I can hold my own.”

Theias’ darkening eyes remain on me as he speaks to Oliver. “How about you come to Vegas, learn to fight.” My jaw drops at the suggestion.

“Seriously?” He’s clearly excited as I shake my head no. He doesn’t need to learn to fight; he’s just a boy. “I’d love to! I’ll ask my parents. Call you later, El!” He’s gone before I can argue.

“Why would you do that?” I hiss, pulling from his arms. “Do you have any idea what I’ve done to protect him from violence?”

“If he’s here, then this asshole can’t touch him, and he’ll learn how to defend himself properly.” I notice his frustration over my objections.

“NO!” I spin around, pointing at him, anger boiling my blood. “You don’t get to make those types of decisions without asking me. He’s my brother, not yours!” Tears spring into my eyes, I’m so damn mad.

“Like you leaving me? To defend him against a man who has already beat the shit out of you. Raped you. Forced his wants and needs onto you.”

My heart shrinks, yet it pounds so hard I can’t breathe with every word he spits out.

“He didn’t…” I have to catch my breath. “He didn’t rape me. I could have said no.” Even as I say it, I know I couldn’t have. I know it wouldn’t have mattered to Blake. He’s always just taken what he wanted from me, never caring how much it hurt me. “He! Didn’t! Rape! Me!”

---