“I wouldn’t let you get murdered.” She leans into me, and I can’t help but let a slight laugh out.
Walking into Dax’s house, Lucy, Billie, Dax, and Fury are all in the kitchen talking about Ash. I know that’s what they’re talking about because when I step inside, they all quiet down. I look around at them as they stare at me, and I want to hit every single one of them. I say nothing. Just walk past them and then into the living room where Liv and Eliza are.
The door pushes open a while after the group leaves for the hospital.
“Ella?” I hear him ask as he steps inside.
“What?” I brush past Axe as I walk into the kitchen.
“You, okay?” He asks as I walk to the sink with the bottles.
“Fine.” I snap at him.
“Damn, cold.”His low voice says from behind me. It causes my entire body to tighten, and I have to press my thighs together, trying to relieve some pressure building between them.
“It’s just…” I spin around and am slightly shocked at how close he actually is to me. “Oh, um…” I pause, having to gain my composure again. “I’m just sick of everyone babying me. Like I’m going to be 18 in a couple months… and I don’t doubt that everyone will still treat me the same. Quieting down as soon as I walk into the room because they don’t want me to know what’s going on. Because I’m too weak to think about it.”
“They just want to protect you.” He tells me, causing me to laugh.
“Yeah, well, they won’t always be able to protect me.” He laughs this time.
“Babydoll,” he reaches up and places his finger under my chin before tilting my head up. “We will always protect you.”
“We?” I ask him as I see him fight against a smirk that’s spreading across his face.
“Yes, we…” he loses the fight with a smirk. “You’re a part of this family. We protect the family.”
“I’m a part of your family.” I tease him.
“Yes.” his hand drops from my chin and rests on my shoulder. “Everyone just wants you to be safe.”
“That’s fine and all, but I can’t be protected from everything. Shit is going to happen that no one is going to be able to stop.”
“And then we’ll take care of it for you.”
“Axe.” I look up to him and sigh.
“Babydoll, don’t be mad at them. They’re not trying to exclude you or treat you like you can’t handle it. They just don’t want you to have to handle it.” Slowly, I nod my head.
“How is he?” I whisper, looking up at him and he just sighs until I sigh, pushing him away, and walking past him into the living room.
“Ella…” he calls after me.
“Just go home Axe. I’m fine.” I turn the corner, rounding the staircase.
“Ella.” He calls after me as I continue to keep moving, but I feel his hands on my arms as he pushes me against the wall. “Please don’t be mad. We’re not trying…” and he pauses. “Okay, I’m not trying to keep things from you.”
“Then why don’t you tell me.”
“It’s not what you think.” He finally tells me.
“Then how is it?” I ask him, but he says nothing. He just looks at me like he’s struggling to figure out what to say. The girls start crying upstairs, and I push past his arms as I walk up the steps.
I change the girls as I look over at him standing in the doorway as I finish with Liv and he walks over, reaching for Eliza. She giggles as he picks her up and then we walk downstairs. I think he’s going to stay, but as soon as he sets her down, he looks at me, frowns, and then leaves the house.
What the fuck?
Waking up it’s early and I’m supposed to be the only one here. Lucy and Billie took the girls up to see Lucy’s parents for the day. They just needed to get away… or so they said.