Page 30 of Monster: King of Nevada

It’s after midnight when I arrive, with Lucas greeting me at the door. “You’re going to have to promise to remain calm.” Already, my hackles rise, and my rage roars to the forefront.

“Why?” I ask, with a thundering heartbeat, fists clenched at my sides, and I’m taken aback when an ambulance comes rolling up the driveway, lights flashing. “What the fuck happened?”

Pushing past my friend, I burst through the front door to find Ella sitting on a chair, eyes glazed, face pale, and swaying from side to side. Her head is bandaged, and Dr. Edwards hovers at her side while her brother stands protectively behind her.

“Ella?” Striding towards her, I crouch down, holding her face in my hands as she struggles to meet my stare.

“I have to leave,” she slurs with a hint of underlying fear that I missed before. Her pupils are blown, as well.

“You don’t have to leave, doll. I promise you’re safe here.” I’ll keep saying it until she believes me without fail.

“You don’t understand.” She winces and sways again. “He got Owen. He’ll know where we are now. I can’t let him hurt Oliver.”

Christ, I wish I could get inside her head, make her understand that I’m the wall between her and the world now.

“Everyone leave. We need a minute alone.” Nobody else needs to hear what I’m about to say to Ella.

Dr. Edwards and Oliver try to protest, but Caleb and Lucas usher them outside, along with the paramedics who are about to enter, closing the door behind themselves.

“Eyes, Ella, give them to me.” I keep my voice low but assert some dominance so she focuses on me. “Blake Ramsey will not find you. And if he does, he’ll find me first, and I’m not letting anybody between you and me.” She opens her mouth to protest, but I stop her with a gentle finger on her lips. “I mean it, doll. I am going to keep you and”–I place a hand on her belly–“ourbaby safe. That is my job, and the only one I want for the rest of my life. Will you please trust me on this? Trust me to keep you and your family safe.”

I’m not entirely sure what convinces her, but she finally nods before her eyes roll in the back of her head, and she pales even more. She barely manages to get out, “Sick,” before turning sideways and puking all over the floor.

“Owen!” The door cracks open. “Let the medics and doc in. She got a concussion?”

They said she had hit her head, but I was more concerned with quelling her fear so she would accept medical treatment.

Dr. Edwards says, “I suspect so, although she’s also been in a severe state of panic, which helps nothing. I’d like her to spend the night at the hospital and see a concussion specialist I know that’ll meet us there.” Nodding my approval, I step back as the two men approach to take care of my future bride.

Oliver stands off to the side, trying to look brave, but I recognize the worry in his eyes. I go over to him as Ella gets taken care of.

“Your sister said Blake got to Owen, and from the looks of you, I’d say he got to you too.”

Keeping one eye on Ella, I watch Oliver for deceit. I anticipate him trying to lie to save his sister the heartbreak because the guilt she already harbors is palpable.

“He got there just after Owen showed up. My parents were already arguing with me, so nobody saw Blake until it was too late. He sucker punched Owen; I sucker punchedhim.” The protective streak in this kid could almost rival my own one day.

“And this?” I tilt his chin to the side to get a better look at the cut flesh on his cheek. It doesn’t need stitches but could use a better cleaning than the hack job done before they left L.A.

“Caught an elbow when Owen schooled Blake.” The sly look in his eyes tells me all I need to know. Blake is feeling whatever Owen inflicted on him.

“You ice it?” He shakes his head. “We’ll get you an ice pack at the hospital after they clean it up.” He tries to insist he’s fine, but I stop him. “Your sister will only worry more if you still look like you’ve been in a brawl. She’s going to need as little stress as possible over the next few weeks.”

He’s quiet as we follow the paramedics out and watch them load Ella up. Dr. Edwards goes with her, and I drive Oliver and me behind them.

His question catches me off guard. “Do you think he did it the whole time?”

“Did what?” I have my suspicions about certain things, but I’m unsure how much he knows about their life together.

“Beat her.” His voice wavers with emotion. “Ella was so happy when they started dating. They were happy. I thought so, anyway. Then one day, like a month after she moved in with him, she refused to come to our weekly family dinner. We didn’t see her for a month, and when we finally did, she had two broken ribs, a twisted knee, and there were fingerprints on her throat.”

Fuck.Battling back my rage is brutal when all I want to do is turn around, drive to L.A., and slit this motherfucker’s throat. But I can’t be reckless right now, and it kills me.

“I think it’s likely. She would have hidden it the best she could, though, because she wanted to protect you guys from him. She was likely ashamed and blaming herself.”Fuck, fuck, fuck.“Ella probably thought she deserved his punishments because men like him aren’t truly happy unless they’re hurting the ones they claim to love. She probably never did a damn thing to deserve any of it, but he would have manipulated her into believing it was her fault.”

“But why? She never could have fought back.” His tears glint on his cheeks as we pass under a streetlight.

Reaching over to squeeze his shoulder gently, I try to soothe him. “There will never be a reason that’ll make sense for men like us. Blake is the type of man who thrives on control and making sure the people in his life believe he has all the power. Anything Ella did to try to appease him, he would have found fault in her actions or words.”

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