Page 35 of The Madman's Nightmare
I didn’t answer his text since we’d be at the building in another ten or so minutes. Looking over at Lucian, I asked, “Has everything from the house been moved to the conference room?”
“Everything we could find.” He came to a stop and looked both ways before proceeding through the sign. “Rhys said he’s close to finding the electrician who ran the solar line to the house to power the basement.”
“Good,” I answered. “Let me know when he finds them.”
Lucian had been by my side since this whole thing kicked off, and I felt bad that he was missing time with his wife and their twins. But he loved Elise and knew any threat to her could still be a threat to his wife, so he wasn’t going to stop until we found the siblings and ascertained if there were any additional dangers.
The closer we got to my building, the higher my anxiety became. The last thing Elise said to me cut me to the bone, and I worried that she wasn’t going to be respective to the truth, or what I knew of the truth, regarding the siblings.
I just hoped she could forgive me and maybe, just maybe, be holding the key to finding them and ending this, once and for all.
Chapter 18
Elise
Iwas positioned on some pillows on my couch as Amaya handed me a glass of sweet tea and my pills. The pain wasn’t too bad once I got moving, but I knew I had a few rough days ahead. I missed my sons and seeing their toys scattered in their play area off the side of the living room made me miss them so much.
Chuck had come and sat with me while James was getting me discharged and he suggested I call the boys tonight but should give it a few days before seeing them. My bruises were extensive, and I didn’t want to scare them. Knowing he and Blaire were watching over them, keeping them safe from Kendra and Bradon’s insanity was the only reason I agreed.
That and they were surrounded by Death Hounds, one of which was his aunt, so I knew nothing would hurt them.
James had gone down to the conference room to speak with Regan about something, and Amaya volunteered to sit with me.
“How are you holding up?” she asked me after I swallowed the pills and pushed against the pillows.
Shrugging, I admitted, “I’m pissed, I’m confused, and I want to kill somebody.”
“I can understand that,” she replied and glanced to the side. “They didn’t . . .”
Her question was left unasked, but I knew was she was inquiring about. I shook my head, she visibly relaxed. The question of assault was one I answered when I was taken to the hospital. Everyone feared I’d been hurt, but I wasn’t touched likethat. The beating wasn’t fun, but I was grateful Bradon didn’t touch me like that.
“Do you need anything?” she inquired.
“Just Devlin,” I remarked and less than three seconds later, the elevator dinged before the doors opened.
“Speak of the Devlin,” Amaya remarked with a chuckle and stood from her spot beside me. She leaned over and kissed my cheek, resting her head against mine as she whispered, “I’m glad you’re home and safe.”
She and I had grown closer than sisters over the last four or five years and I could see her glassy eyes as she turned and walked to the elevator doors. Devlin was standing in the entrance, his eyes locked on mine and his stance guarded. She whispered something to him, and he glanced at her with a nod before she got into the elevator.
I saw her give me a subtle wink just as the door were closing. Pushing myself up straighter, I winced, and Devlin practically flew across the room to tend to me. Carefully, he placed his hands onto my shoulders, unsure of what he could do to help.
“I’m okay, Devlin,” I began. “Just a little sore.”
Taking a seat next to me, he reached out and took my hand as he spoke. “I’m so sorry, baby. I never meant for any of this to happen.” He looked down at our connected hands and lifted his pain-filled blue eyes to mine as he asked, “Can you ever forgive me?”
I offered him a smile as I answered. “There’s nothing to forgive. That bitch is crazy, and he does all her bidding. This wasn’t your fault.”
He shook his head and explained. “If I hadn’t strung her along all those years ago, she wouldn’t be giving us problems now.”
“I need for you to explain the relationship you two had, and why she’s out of her fucking mind where you’re concerned.”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he stood from his seat. Looking at my drink, he lifted one finger and I nodded before he walked into the kitchen. I heard the fridge and a drawer open and close before he returned. His gun was still strapped to his thigh as he carried a bottle of water in one hand and my wooden box in the other.
Placing it beside me, he raised his eyebrows as took his gun and placed it on the coffee table in front of us. Normally, all weapons are kept locked away from the boys, but the kids weren’t here, and Devlin seemed on edge, like Kendra and Bradon were going to jump out at any moment.
I took a joint out of the box and handed it and a lighter to him as he took a seat beside me. The stress was wearing on him and I reached out, placing a hand onto his shoulder. Devlin snapped his head to me and I asked, “Where did they shoot you?”
Tears filled my eyes remembering him lying on the ground, bleeding onto the dirt as I was drugged and carried away. He pulled the collar of his black shirt to the side, showing a bandage taped to his chest. Pulling it off, I saw the jagged wound looking raw and painful. Carefully, I reached out and touched it lightly the tip of my finger.
