Then he’s gone again.
What the fuck?
I scrub the offending object thoroughly before inserting it so I can get out of the bath and towel off.
Once I’m dressed, I pad back into the bedroom to find the bed changed with fresh sheets and a hot water bottle waitingon top.
I take it, cuddling the warmth to my chest as I head downstairs. The sofa beckons, so I stretch out and grab a book from the shelf.
Eli appears—somehow always knowing exactly where I am. He’s holding a tray loaded with snacks. Various chocolates and biscuits tempt me. I snatch the Hobnobs like he’s about to take them away.
Fuck him for knowing they’re my favourite.
Eli doesn’t linger, clearly sensing my need for space. Fuck him for that too.
I spend the rest of the day on the sofa, either reading or watching TV. It’s been… peaceful.
I swear I’m living in a fucking fever dream right now.
Stupid, considerate, kidnapping stalker man.
28
I’ll Be Here To Protect You
Eli's Search History: background check for Dr. Emily Morgan
Emily
It’sFridayevening,andEli has been working for Karl on ways to take down the organ trafficking group.
I’m sitting crossed legged, watching the news, with Graham at my side, when Eli storms in, face red. Held tightly in his fist is my phone.
“Why is someone named ‘G’ texting you, saying they miss you?” he asks, his tone lethally calm despite the darkening of his eyes. “Who is he?”
This is awkward. He’s once again mistaking someone for another man. But this time instead of a cat… it’s my ex… girlfriend.
“Not a he,” I whisper.
Eli doesn’t know this part of me yet.
He looks at me, then down at the phone, face screwed up in confusion. “One of the texts says: ‘You can’t hide from me forever. You’re mine.’ You’re telling me that’s not from an ex-boyfriend?”
I shake my head. “Gia… she is an ex.”
Eli rears back.“She?”
“Yes.Sheis the reason I left Italy.”
Eli sits down on the couch beside me. “Tell me about her,” he says. There’s no question, but it’s not a demand either. Still, I obey. I haven’t opened up to anyone about what Gianna did to me. About how bad it became.
For some reason, there’s no hesitation in me.
I take a deep breath. Eli’s hand reaches out, interlacing our fingers. I hate the way it soothes me.
“She love-bombed me from the beginning and was obviously narcissistic. Instead of doing the rational thing, and running in the other direction, the therapist in me wanted to be the one to fix her.” Instead, she broke me.
Eli’s grip tightens momentarily before releasing. He nods for me to keep going.