Page 29 of Lost in Her
I take another few steps forward as he lifts his head and turns and looks at me, like he knows I am near.
Ethan is fucking gorgeous.He is about six feet tall.He has longer blond hair, almost to his shoulders.But like always, his hair is pulled back into a bun, showing off his strong jaw line.
He is wearing a black button up shirt.The sleeves are rolled up past his elbows to show his strong muscles and tattoos.The first three buttons of his shirt are undone.
His eyes lock with mine as I look him over.His face and chest are covered in blood.My heart stops as he continues to look at me.I can see the pain and sorrow on his face.
Whatever happened has affected him, affected him more than he would like me to see.But he can’t hide from me, and I never would want him to.I want to know him.All of him.He doesn’t have to hide from me.
Losing Ethan is one thing I don’t think I would be able to survive.
I take a deep breath as he pushes off his car.I watch him walk toward the metal gate leading into the apartments.He puts in his code.I watch the gates open, and he calmly walks in with his gun in the back of his pants.He doesn’t even try to hide it.
My heart sinks as the gate closes, leaving me feeling shattered for a whole new reason.
“Jenn.”Shawn is stopping in front of me.His arm is wrapped around Emory.Her face is resting against his chest as their children laugh and chase each other around the lawn.
“Yeah?”I look up at Shawn’s eyes, filled with pain and sadness.Whatever has happened has also affected him.
“He needs you,” Shawn whispers.
“What happened?”I ask, feeling my anxiety starting to build.I swear if they hurt him...
“He asked your father to free you.He said no, so Ethan killed two of his men in front of him, trying to change his mind,” Shawn tells me in a shaky low voice.
“Did he change his mind?”I ask, but I think I already know the answer after seeing Shawn’s and Ethan’s faces.They look defeated.
Shawn shakes his head.”No.”
“What happened, Shawn?What happened to Ethan?”I ask not hiding my anxiety, my own pain from all of this.My father is a stubborn man, and I knew he wouldn’t just let me go.It’s not in his nature to just relinquish what he believes is his.
He takes a deep breath and tightens his grip around Emory, pulling her tightly against him.
“When your father said no, Ethan pointed the gun at his head.Your father wouldn’t give Ethan the answer he wanted, so he shot him in the head.Your father is dead, Jenn.”
My heart stops, but not for the reason Shawn thinks.My father is a horrible man and has hurt me in more ways than I can put into words.My heart has stopped because of Ethan.What he had to do.I never wanted him to have to do that.Take that on.Feel that.“What?”I whisper, barely able to hear myself.
Shawn takes another deep breath.“Ethan did the only thing he could to protect you.”And I know it is true.I know my father and I know he wasn’t just going to walk away.Ethan did what he thought he had to do.I know that.I don’t doubt that, and even though I have no love my father, somewhere inside me it still stings a little to hear he is dead, I don’t blame Ethan.I am not angry at him for what he had to do.He has to do it, I know that.What happened to me, what my father put me through is not normal.Not by a long shot.
“He killed him.For me?”I ask, remembering all the whispers Ethan has said in my ear.His soft gentle lips on my skin.His gentle touch.He has shown me in every way he can how he feels about me, but this—what he did to my father for me—it takes this to a whole new level.
Shawn nods.“Yes.I don’t think there is anything Ethan wouldn’t do for you” Shawn says softly, tightening his grip on Emory.
“What about Tristan?”I ask, feeling my heart race with my words.
“We let him live.For now.But we will need to go back to the studio and get the other girls.”
“There are others?”Emory asks softly in a sad voice.
“Yes.We need to go back for them soon,” Shawn replies in the same concerned voice.Of course, there are more girls.My father always made sure the studio was filled with girls, making us all do what he wanted to make money and keep his clients happy.
“Yes, we do,” Emory states in a stern voice.I know her, and nothing will keep her from saving those other girls.
“You need to go to him, Jenn.Ethan feels deeply and feels murder deeper.Don’t let him push you away, okay?”Shawn is pleading with me with his eyes, but he doesn’t need to.I am not going anywhere.
“I won’t.”
“We will be in the center if you need us, okay?’Emory says, staring at me.Her eyes are filled with worry and concern, because once again things are going to change.
