ELLIOT
“I think we should listen to what she has to say,” I told them both as they stared at me like I had just spoken Greek.
“We listened to her for this meeting, and look where that got us,” Tristan said as a retort.
“I get that, but—”
“I’m siding with T on this one, El,” Seb interrupted me.
“I think what happened was a mistake. I saw the way Motshan looked at her. He was happy to see her, and we all listened to their conversation. The way he spoke to her…that shit was genuine. He missed her, and she missed him. If that’s her only family she has left that she could love and would love her back, we owe it to her to give it a shot.”
“So, you’re saying,” Tristan said, pacing at the foot of Seb’s bed, “that…what? We let her put herself in that position all over again?”
“I’m saying it won’t be the same position. Let’s consider for a moment that she does actually know what she’s talking about instead of dismissing her so easily. She said Motshan would be on her side, that he felt like he was on her side. What if he was put in an impossible position?”
“I really don’t like giving that fucker the benefit of the doubt, mate. He was ready and willing to take her back to her family. Her family that—may I say once again—tried to kill her.” Seb winced as he got too animated with his gestures, and his thumb eagerly pressed that little morphine button. I think we all wished we had a little morphine button after the last forty-eight hours.
“What would I have done?” I asked them, causing Tristan to stop in his tracks and look at me. His blue eyes were piercing even in the dim light of the hospital room.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“I think Motshan and I are extremely alike. I had my father; he had Scarlet’s father. They were both overbearing, controlling, manipulative, abusive little shits. If I was in his shoes, and it was my father…what do you think I would have done?”
They were both silent, Seb’s eyes struggling to stay open as the drugs took over.
“I would have done whatever I could to keep him happy and keep the girl safe. And if that meant taking her back home, where I could appease my father and also keep her safe…I would have. In a heartbeat.”
Sebastian blinked a few times, trying his hardest to fight the drugs as he nodded.
“Fair point,” he said before his head plopped back against the bed and his eyes shut.
“Well, he’s out,” Tristan said, laughing and beginning to make his way out of the room. “Get some sleep, mate.”
We both walked out of the hospital room, meeting Simon on the outside of the door. He nodded as a greeting as the door clicked shut behind us.
“How’s he doing?” he asked, motioning to Seb through the door.
“In pain, but very happy with the cocktail of drugs they have him on,” Tristan answered.
“And your girl?”
“That’s a more complicated answer,” I said, running my hands over my face. “But we’re going to try and work it out. Right now, I think I need to pull some strings to get our guys out of here. We’re sitting ducks if they do decide to come pay us a visit.”
“Hi, Simon!” Scarlet exclaimed as she came around the corner with a wide smile on her face. She threw her hands around his neck, and he took a step back, surprise showing on his face as he gently hugged her back. “I’m so glad we didn’t lose you,” she whispered.
“Nah, won’t get rid of me that easily,” he answered as she let go, and he smiled down at her. “How’s the youngin’?”
“Finn’s alright. He gave himself a little bump of morphine after our chat, so figured I would head back over here to see what we can do about getting them both out of here.” She put her hands on her hips and turned to address both me and Tristan as well. “How soon can we get our boys home?”
“Our boys?” I asked her, raising an eyebrow at her possessive tone. I didn’t like her using that with Tristan and Sebastian, let alone the other guys that worked for us.
“They’re my boys too. As long as I’m sticking with you three, they’ll be part of my family as well.”
Tristan tugged on her arm, causing her to fall into him as he kissed her hair. He breathed her in, and I could feel the kernel of jealousy threatening to pop into a rage. This whole sharing thing was something I was going to have to work on.
“Elliot was just about to go figure that out, princess,” he murmured against her skin before gently kissing her neck. The pit in my stomach grew. I wanted to hold her. I wanted to kiss her and tell her everything was going to be alright.
“I’ll go with him,” she suddenly said, turning in his arms to face him and give him a quick peck.
“Sounds like a good play,” Tristan agreed. “He can fill you in with his thoughts on what happened with Motshan. You may find them a bit more agreeable than you think,” he added when she looked like she was gearing up for a fight. “And I’ll talk to Simon here about it,” he said, looking to me to agree.
I nodded and took Scarlet’s arm before she could give Tristan any more affection and tugged her in the direction of the main nurse’s station.
“Ow, you big oaf!” she said as she stumbled into me and struggled to keep up with my long strides. “Jesus Christ, Elliot!” she whisper-yelled, swatting my bicep and trying to push herself out of my grasp.
I released her arm and instead let my hand wander up to the back of her neck, pushing her hair out of the way and grabbing onto her soft flesh like a puppy being scolded by its mother.
“What is your problem?” she asked, breathless.