Page 51 of The Lonely Hearts Guide

“Why would you drug her?” Alexander continued, looking exhausted by the exchange.

“Because she was going to call Jared. She was going to have him come and take Elliot, and I will not let that happen.” She cupped Elliot’s cheek. “You’re never going back to that horrible, hateful man again.”

Elliot nodded, leaning into her touch. “Yes, Mrs. Peppercorn. I know. The thing is, Jared is no longer a threat.” He knew he had to fill her in, but he worried once she knew he was a killer, she may no longer care to socialize with him. It would sting. It would be a bitter ache to lose the love she’d given him, but he knew he had to be open and honest with her, because a friendship could not be built upon lies. “He sleeps with the fishes.”

“Pardon?”

“Jared. He sleeps with the fishes too, but not like Mother.” He closed his eyes and sighed, refusing to open them. “Master Price attempted to harm our child, and I went off the deep end.” He chewed his lip, hoping if he nibbled long enough, Alexander would step in and save him from the memory. Alexander’s hand touched Elliot’s, wrapping around and squeezing softly.

“Jared’s dead,” Alexander said softly, squeezing Elliot’s hand a bit tighter. “He was trying to hurt the baby.”

“Elliot,” Mrs. Peppercorn demanded kindly, and his eyes snapped up to meet hers. “Good for you, baby. Good for you.”

“I didn’t mean to,” he whispered. Even if she didn’t feel repulsion when looking at him now, it didn’t ease the guilt Elliot felt. “I took his life.”

“He was going to take yours,” Alexander reminded him. “And if he didn’t kill you, he probably would have killed her.” He lifted his hand and placed it on Elliot’s tummy. “You did the right thing.”

“I know. It’s still hard to process, though. I didn’t want him dead. He was horrible and awful to me, but he didn’t deserve to die.”

“That’s subjective,” Mrs. Peppercorn said, taking a sip of her water.

“And now we’re on the run. It isn’t fair. If Mother had her way, I’d still be with him, taking all the hurt he had to offer because I was created to be tortured.” A tear slipped down Elliot’s cheek, and he was thankful when Alexander wiped it away. I know I’m safe now, but it’s not just about me. I have brothers still suffering the same fate. They’re being brutalized to fulfill their husband’s sadistic fetishes. It’s not right. None of this is right.”

“Someone needs to save them,” Mayor Rivera said as he took a seat. He glanced around the room, studying the beaus in attendance. “Maybe someone will. The ones who want to leave their suitors should be able to.” Beau leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest. “When I was nine, my Aunt Lurlene helped me rescue a litter of piglets who were headed for slaughter. Ten years later, we had the biggest pig rescue in the south.”

“As much as I’m enjoying this slice of your life, Mayor Rivera, I’m not sure what it has to do with anything,” Elliot said, though not unkindly.

“What I’m saying is, I’ve been searching for purpose all my life, and I think I might have just found it.” He turned to Mrs. Peppercorn. “When we return home, I’m going to need your help.”

Mrs. Peppercorn opened her mouth to respond, but her upper denture slipped, falling against her lower denture and making a loud clanking sound. Her eyes widened and she closed her mouth, running her tongue across her upper teeth, then the lower palette. With a sigh of relief, she nodded. “Good. I was worried I cracked them to high heaven.” She gave Beau an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry for ruining your speech, sugar. What was it you need my help with?”

Mayor Rivera looked around the room, nodding to himself. “I want to save them. However many I can. Whoever wants to be saved.”

“There are over fifty bountiful beaus on the ship, son,” Mrs. Peppercorn pointed out. “I don’t know where you’d even hide them. That’s what you’re suggesting, isn’t it? Rescuing them and keeping them hidden?”

“Yeah. But not just the beaus on this ship.” He smiled at Elliot. “I want to try to save them all. Some of the things I’ve seen on this cruise have made my stomach churn. They aren’t all treated poorly, but the ones who are . . . It’s disgusting what they’re expected to put up with.” He turned his gaze to a suitor sitting two tables away. The man was eating black cherries from a bowl. In front of the man, his bountiful beau rested on his knees, his mouth open. Elliot wasn’t sure what was going on at first, but then the man swallowed down his cherry, leaned forward and spit the cherry pit into his beau’s waiting mouth. He paid no attention to his beau’s discomfort or disgust, which was clear as day. “Case in point.”

“I don’t even know how you’d go about rescuing them. It’s not as if you can simply show up on their doorsteps and offer them a means of escape,” Elliot pointed out.

“I know,” Mayor Rivera agreed. “But I’ve got to think of something. This isn’t right. No one should have to go through what you’ve gone through.” He reached forward and squeezed Elliot’s wrist. “Thank you, Elliot. Thank you for giving me back my purpose.” He turned back to Mrs. Peppercorn. “I’ll need to find somewhere to hide them. That’s where you come in.” Ridiculously, the sassy side of Mayor Beau Rivera reared its head when he waggled his eyebrows like a maniac. “Do you think your Ladies Auxiliary would be up for a little anarchy?”

Mrs. Peppercorn paused, probably considering the request. It seemed like a fool’s dream. Elliot had over five-thousand brothers across the United States. Saving them all would be impossible. Even if Mayor Rivera only attempted to rescue three or four of Elliot’s brothers, he wasn’t sure how that could work. The men would have to stay hidden indefinitely, in hopes the business would collapse so they could live an open life. Another pipe dream, because Elliot was sure if Ms. Broussard’s Home for Bountiful Beaus was closed, the lost lambs would be led to slaughter and incinerated, or worse, rounded up and sent to new homes with horrible new husbands and new hellscapes to survive.

Yes, it was a fool’s dream, but for his brothers’ sakes, he hoped with all his heart it would come true.

As Mrs. Peppercorn and Beau brainstormed ideas, Elliot leaned his head against Alexander’s shoulder, soaking in the affection pouring out of him. After a while, Alexander’s phone chimed, and when he pulled it out, his lax expression faded, his back straightened, and he looked down at Elliot.

“It’s time.”

Elliot nodded, fear rising at the thought of making a mad dash for Alexander’s helicopter on the upper deck. “I’m scared.”

“You don’t have to be. I’ve got you, baby. I won’t let anything bad happen.”

“Listen,” Mrs. Peppercorn said. “I know you probably expect me to get on board that big fancy helicopter, but I think I’m going to stick it out here.” She looked around the room. “These beaus are going to need their Mother.”

Elliot nodded in agreement. Leaving the cruise would mean leaving the rest of the beaus behind. For all Elliot knew, Beau Rivera could have been planning a great escape for all the beaus on the ship, and Elliot didn’t want to ruin any of their plans he’d been too busy cuddling against Alexander to pay attention to.

“We’ll keep her restrained until we dock, and then we’ll figure out where we go from there.” She slowly rose from her chair and hobbled a few steps forward, cupping Elliot’s cheeks and kissing his forehead. “But you have to run, baby. You have to go find your happily ever after.”

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