Page 34 of Revived
“I’ll tell him, but he won’t listen. Love you big brother.”
“Love you too, little brother. Goodnight.”
I kill the call before pushing the conversation and everything else on my mind to the back corner until only two thoughts consume me.
One: How quickly can I get to my bed before I fall on my face?
Two: I hope Elle is in there waiting for me.
Chapter fifteen
Elena Rossi
It’s just after eight when Addy, Kenz, and I drag ourselves inside my house. We’ve worked hard today and my entire body aches, but I didn’t want to be home alone so they came over. After ordering dinner on DoorDash and getting comfortable on my couches, we turn on the newest installment of our favorite scary movie franchise. I don’t care what anyone thinks, theStrangersmovies are the best scary movies out there.
It isn’t until our Dasher drops off our dinner that I realize there’s a beautiful bouquet of pure white roses on my kitchen island. I set down the bags and pluck out the card set in the middle. Pulling out the card, I read the typed message.
I love you Principessa. See you soon.
My Papa is so cute. He randomly sends me white roses all of the time. One of the boys must have stopped by and brought them in for me. I’m supposed to go back to Jersey next month to visit him, but I may just have him come to DC and I’ll come see him there. Much like all of my best friends, being in Jersey City is too hard now. I’d much prefer him to come to me.
“Ooh, pretty!” Addy exclaims, walking up behind me.
“Who are they from?” Kenz asks, also admiring the flowers.
“My Papa. He sends me flowers randomly.” I smile because he really is the sweetest Papa.
After my sister was taken and my Mama died, it was just the two of us. He was the most involved and hands on Papa. He was there for every competition, every school assembly, and every dance. He had to play the role of both parents, and although I know exactly who my father is outside of our house, I never saw that directed towards me.
My biological sister once made the comment that my Papa’s work came home with him and that I spent my life with a target on my back. One that she no longer had since being rescued from the trafficking ring she was kidnapped and sold into. One that her adopted family erased from her.
She couldn’t be more wrong about that. I didn’t have any more of a target than any of my friends. I had guards that treated me like I was their own, and a Papa who tried his best to keep his work out of our house. I didn’t bother explaining that to her, though. I just asked her not to speculate about what I’d been through, and we moved on. Little does she know that the man, who in her eyes didn’t protect her enough, put me first in every aspect of his life. That didn’t stop bad shit from happening. He’s my Dad not a god. He can’t control it all, but he tried. He also never stopped trying to find Lee and get her back.
“Your dad is so dreamy.” Addy bats her eyes, causing me to mock gag.
“You’re disgusting, shut up.” I playfully push her away.
“Okay, ladies. Let’s grab our food and get back to the movie. We can discuss Elle’s sexy as sin father later.” She giggles as she dodges my hand that just shot out at her and runs into the room sing-songing, “gotta be quicker than that, Rory.”
“There’s worse things out there than having a hot dad, Elle. Take it as a compliment. Y’all look alike.” Addy smirks as she takes her food and saunters out of the room.
“I look like a hot man?” I call at her back as I grab my dinner and make my way back to the living room, where both girls are laughing uncontrollably now.
“Yes, that’s exactly what we were trying to say.” Kenz says with a dramatic roll of her eyes.
Before I can retort, a loud knock at my door has all of us jumping. None of the guys knock. Why would they when they all have keys? I bring my finger carefully up to my lips and keep the movie playing. Standing on shaky legs, I tiptoe as quietly as I can to the front door. Looking out the peephole, I see what I’m assuming is a man shadowed by the night. My only clue that it’s a man is he stands over six feet. I don’t say a word, but somehow he knows I’m here. I know he does. The uneasy shiver skates down my spine as his voice startles me.
“Is Tamara home?” A deep gravelly voice that stalls my heart in my chest rings out. That’s my stalker. Mac didn’t kill him at all; he couldn’t have when he’s right on the other side of this door.
He knows what we’re watching. How thehelldoes he know that… My blood chills in my veins. He has to have cameras in here. Of fucking course he does. I’m so stupid for not having someone do a sweep of the house after the car incident. I grab my phone from the pocket of my shorts and shoot a message to the group chat.
Elle: Call 9-1-1 to my house now. Do not come over here until the cops come. I love you guys.
“I know you’re right on the other side of the door, Principessa. Just let me in. We could have so much fun together.” He laughs darkly.
I don’t say a single word, and aside from the movie playing and the sniffles from the girls in the other room, it’s silent. That is until heavythuds of a fist on wood scare me enough that a shriek fights its way out of me.
“Gotcha. See you soon, little gymnast.”
