Page 42 of Killian
Ellie
My brother stoodin front of me, arms crossed over his chest and looking broody as hell. The thing was, I didn’t care. “I can’t believe you didn’t come and get me. Just ignored what I was screaming into the phone, and don’t tell me you didn’t hear me, Eli.”
Elliot never liked it when we had our little chats. They came often, and most of the time he said something I didn’t like. This time he did something I didn’t like.
“You were safe there, Ellie.”
“And you knew this how?” I pushed, wanting to know more about the inner workings of this relationship between him and Killian. Never seeing them together in recent years, there had to be more to it than what was surface.
Elliot wrapped me tight in his arms. I couldn’t ignore that, so I reciprocated. He stepped back a bit. “Killian is a good man. Rough around the edges, but an overall good guy. Knew he wouldn’t hurt a hair on your head. I also knew he’d keep you safe.”
“Well, now he thinks we are together, together. He says all this shit that blows my mind. If you would’ve just came and got me, like I had asked, none of this would be happening.”
Eli took another step back, his brow raised. “So you’re blaming all this on me?”
It wasn’t his fault, and I knew it. “No. I just…”
My head hung down. This was becoming too much.
“Ellie, it’ll all be okay. If he hurts you, I’ll kill him.” I knew Eli was joking, to a point. He might not kill Killian, but he would beat the shit out of him or, at least, try. That would be a pretty good match, and I’d bet I could sell tickets and make some serious cash.
“Any news on Khloe?” I changed the subject.
“Talked to her folks and a couple of her friends. Says she went away for a few days on vacation, but they didn’t know where.”
“That’s not right, Eli.” And it wasn’t. It appeared Khloe wasn’t the friend I thought she was.
“I know.”
“So whoever shot up my house, you probably don’t know that either?”
His head shook. “Looked at the video, but it’s pretty grainy. Not to mention, they covered the license plates and wore masks.”
“Since it’s not okay for me to live at home, I’m going to come and live with you.”
“You do whatever you have to do. You’re always welcome at my place, but think about it. Killian’s place is secluded and with more security than the damn White House. And I’m not home all the time.” He was far too calm about me remaining with Killian. Not one boyfriend ever got the approval from my brother. And he never willingly allowed me to choose to stay with anyone but him. He really did think Killian would keep me safe.
“Do you really think they’re going to come back?”
He shrugged. “Don’t know that. What I do know is you’ll not have a single bullet inside your damn body. That is on my word.”
“How did my life get so screwed up so fast?”
Eli moved to the small fridge in my office, grabbed a bottle of water, and took a slug. “Life has ways of slammin’ shit in your face that you don’t see coming.”
“Now you sound like Killian, all cryptic and shit. Just lay it out.”
“He’s wanted you for a while, Ellie.”
This made my breaths seize. I wasn’t expecting my brother to admit that. Killian wanted me? I didn’t even know he knew I was alive. He’d never come to the bar, and we didn’t cross paths. For him to want me for ‘a while’ was crazy. “No, he didn’t. He’s just doing this protection thing now, and once it’s over he’ll go off with some redhead with big tits and ass.”
Eli shook his head. “Don’t want to know about this shit, but you need to know. He’s asked me about you. It was casual and never really sent up any red flags. Then, as time went on, I knew something was up. He’s a determined man, Ellie, and if he says he wants this, he’ll have it.”
“And what, I have no say in this whatsoever?”
“You can pretend you do, but no. He’s a man, Ellie. Not like that jackass, Baker. No, Killian is a man who knows what he wants and sets out to do it. If he wants you, there’s no turning back.”
This startled me. I knew it, but hearing it made it all the more real. “Then what, huh? He has me then dumps me, and I’m right back to where I started before this mess.”
