Desolation (New Rochelle Mafia #1)

23. CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 23

ELODIE

T oday is the day of my appointments. I wasn’t able to eat anything at all for breakfast this morning. My nerves are shot from wondering when the other shoe is going to drop. Dominic reminded me again to make sure I don’t do anything stupid. It makes me worried he may have someone else follow us. But I don’t care. I’m going to try to get away or die trying.

I made an appointment for hair and nails at a salon that had a back door I might be able to escape from. Providing I could even get back there. Could I ask someone there for help? Probably not. I don’t know who all Dominic knows, or who has ties to him or his men. The clothing store I picked was upscale enough that Dominic won’t complain, but not busy like Barney’s or Bergdorf’s. No way I’d be able to sneak out the back at a place like that. Apparently, the downstairs doormen are going with me. And the driver of course. So, I’ll have to give them the slip somehow.

I finish cleaning the kitchen and head towards my room. Dominic doesn’t allow any staff in here, other than the door guards. Until a few nights ago when we went to dinner with Aiden and his wife, I don’t think a lot of them even knew he had a wife, or whatever they thought I was. There were a lot of shocked looks on the way out and again when we came back in.

I gather my things after changing my clothes. Dominic gave me the credit card to use, though I have a limit. It’s fine with me. I’m probably not even going to use it at all. Looking around me at the prison that has been my life for the last year, I flip it off and then close my bedroom door and make my way to the living room.

The downstairs doormen that have been here a couple weeks are waiting. They introduce themselves as Zeke and Eren. We enter the elevator and Zeke pulls a key from his pocket, puts it in the elevator, and down we go. Other than the introduction, no one says a word.

I think a little part of me was afraid that Dominic would come in before I left and tell me he changed his mind. Exhaling, I try to relax a little as I realize I’m one step closer to my freedom.

The elevator stops on the ground floor. The doors open. No Dominic. Another step .

The car is waiting out front. No Dominic. Also no driver. So it’s to be the three of us then. Well easier to give two the slip than three. Another breath, another step.

We get in the car, and as Zeke helps me in, I feel a slip of paper touch my hand along with his. Raising my eyes to his, he shakes his head almost imperceptibly. I slide the rest of the way into the car and Zeke shuts the door behind me. Another breath, another step.

Slowly and very carefully, I unfold the note. Written very small are three words.

Drake is waiting .

I take in a startled breath and look towards the rear view mirror. Eren smiles at me and pulls away from the curb. I start to speak, and Zeke shakes his head again so I cover it with a cough. He nods slightly.

Tears fill my eyes. Could it be? No, I can’t get my hopes up. I’m still going along with my plan. It doesn’t mean he’s waiting for me right now, like literally. He wouldn’t even look at me the other night. He doesn’t care anymore.

We drove for a while in total silence. My brain has been going a thousand miles an hour for the whole drive. What could this mean? Why did Zeke hand this to me? Do they know Drake? I don’t understand what’s happening. My stomach churns with nervousness. My hands are sweaty and I feel a panic attack coming on.

Eren suddenly pulls over and Zeke jumps out and comes to my side of the car, opening my door. Grabbing my hands he says, “Look at me. Breathe in and breathe out. Stop thinking about whatever you are thinking about and just breathe. ”

I nod, taking a deep breath. In through my nose, out through my mouth. The tears are flowing. Very quietly Zeke asks if this is the first time I have been out alone. I nod, still working on my breathing.

This is the first time in a year someone has helped me through a panic attack. Dominic always just left the room when I had one and called me weak. Zeke is holding my hands still and breathing with me. Eventually I calm enough that Zeke goes back to the front and we finish the drive.

Eren parks us and Zeke comes around and opens my door, helping me out of the car. We head toward the front of the salon. As we walk through the door and go to the desk, Zeke asks the receptionist where the restroom is. She points to the back and I see that it’s right next to the exit.

We walk toward the hallway and Zeke gives me a soft smile nodding his head in the direction of the backdoor and turns and walks back into the main part of the salon. His back is to me and as I watch, Eren smiles and turns around also.

Now is my chance. Are they helping me? Either way, they are far enough away that I think I can outrun them if I need to. Shooting out the backdoor, I push through and run directly into a hard body.

Fuck. It’s gotta be Dominic. I knew it was too good to be true. Opening my eyes, I stare into the crystalline blue eyes that I have only been able to see in my dreams for the last year and immediately burst into tears of relief, lips trembling and heart wrenching.

Drake wraps me up in his arms. Both of us are crying and he pulls back, taking my face in his hands and says, “Hey Bug, let’s get out of here.” The look of pure joy and relief on his face makes me start crying even harder.

Turning I see Louis and give him a small smile. Drake opens the door and gently sits me in the car, getting in behind me and we peel out of there.

“So Zeke and Eren?” I say.

“My men. They’ve been undercover trying to even figure out if you were alive. No one has seen you until we saw you the other night. Reba was in bad shape when she got to us. It’s been hell. I’m never letting you out of my sight again,” he says, gathering me close.

Louis looks at me in the rear view mirror and says, “We gotta stop meeting like this, but I’ll be your getaway driver any time you need me to.”

I bust out a laugh and bury my face in Drake’s shirt. “Is this real?”

“It’s real. We are on our way home. Everyone is waiting for you,” he says, holding me close.

“Why wouldn’t you look at me the other night? I thought you didn’t care anymore and now this? How did you even make this happen?” I ask.

“I couldn’t do anything at the fundraiser because there were too many people. He knew what he was doing by introducing everyone to his wife,” he says that last part with a sneer. “I called Zeke and he told me Dominic had told them they were escorting you to your appointment. So it was now or maybe never and I wasn’t going to take a chance with never,” he says, lifting my face and cupping it in his hands .

“Where are my parents?” I ask. “I haven’t seen them since the day Dominic forced me to marry him.”

Louis chokes in the front seat, and then tries to cover it up with a cough.

“What?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at Drake.

“Can we talk about that after we get home?” Drake asks, looking very nervous.

“You sure are always asking me to talk about something later,” I say as I study his face. He looks like a puppy that chewed up a shoe. “Fine. But you are going to tell me.”

He nods. We pull up in front of his building. There are about eight guards standing there waiting. My eyes widen and I look at Drake.

“I’m not taking any chances. It’s going to be very scary for a while till we get this sorted. So extra guards at all times and we’re on house arrest for a bit,” he says grimly.

He gets out of the car, pulling me gently out behind him, the guards all form a tight circle around us and into the building we go.

Stepping into the elevator, Drake takes a key out of his pocket and inserts it into the panel. I am suddenly taken back to the other times over the last year that this happened and my breathing picks up. Drake pulls the key out after he pushes the button and then hands me the key. The feeling of relief hits me as soon as the key touches my fingers. I won’t be locked in any longer.

“This is your key. Just so you have it and know you can get out if you need to, but I’m asking you to please not to go anywhere without me, Anthony, or my dad right now. You will be fully guarded at all times, but it isn’t to keep you here, it’s to keep you safe. Dominic is going to come after us when he realizes you’re gone,” he says looking deep into my eyes, waiting for confirmation that I am willing to do as he asks.

“Okay, but I have questions that need to be answered. Like why didn’t you get me before now? Why did you leave me there all this time?” I ask, as I watch his heart break with every word that slips from my lips.

“Dominic knew what he was doing when he forced you to marry him. We couldn’t make a direct move. When he married you, you became a part of the Petrucci Familia. They could have gone to war against us if we had tried anything. So we had to wait, until you could escape on your own. But it appears he kept you behind lock and key. Like I said earlier, no one knew if you were even alive till the guys saw you the other night when you were going to some dinner with Dominic,” he says pulling me close. “Though I have been outside that building every single night watching for any glimpse of you.”

“The only reason I was even allowed out today was because Dominic just got a new business partner and he wanted me to dress up more so that I could get closer to the wife. This is the first time I’ve been allowed out by myself,” I say quietly, “and only because of this business deal.”

Can I forgive him for not making it to me before now? Should I even be angry at him in the first place? I knew Dominic making me marry him would make it where they couldn’t come after me without a war. I made my peace with it when I made the decision to get caught by Dominic.

I also know Drake isn’t an actual part of the decision-making process. Is it fair of me to be upset or hurt that his father and brother didn’t get their men killed coming after me? No. I wouldn’t want people to die because of me anyway.

“El, will you talk to my dad and Anthony sometime soon about things you saw and heard there? You may have heard things that might be important to them. On your time, whenever you feel ready,” he asks.

I nod. Honestly I was already going to say something anyway. From the few things I heard at the dinner the other night, Anthony and Gio are going to be really interested to know about Dominic’s new business partner. I didn’t hear anything concrete but I have a sneaking suspicion that Gio and Anthony know Aiden well.

We make it to the top floor and the elevator door slides open, revealing Gio, Anthony, Evan, Gwen, and Reba. Reba runs to me sobbing, pulling me into her arms. “You foolish girl, why did you trade yourself for me?”

“I couldn’t let them kill you. Not because of me. I’m nobody,” I say, tears running down my face.

“Look around you Elodie. Do you see how many people here are crying now that you are here? Does this look like you’re a nobody? Or does it seem like you might be somebody to these people? I’ve been worried sick; you are like my own daughter. Gwen has been beside herself. Drake, well Drake has been a ghost. A very surly, growly, grumpy ghost. Gio and Anthony tried to figure out any way they could to get you out without causing a war. We missed you and wanted you home every single day,” she says pulling me into her arms.

We drop to the floor sobbing into each other’s arms. Am I home? Is this my home, with these people ?

Looking up at Drake, I see tears streaming down his face, the same with Gwen, Evan, and Gio. The only one not crying is Anthony. He looks angry.

I flinch and he immediately holds his hands out and squats down, “No El. I’m not mad at you. I’m angry because they hurt you, and they didn’t take care of you. And we are going to have to kill a lot of people before it’s over. We can’t let this slide.”

Gio comes over too and wraps Reba and I in his arms. “I’m so sorry Elodie, can you ever forgive me?”

“There isn’t anything to forgive, you couldn’t start a war because of me, but later, I have something I need to talk to you and Anthony about, alone,” I say looking at Anthony. Gio looks down at me questioningly.

You’ll get your war. But there is going to be some pain along the way . Nodding, he stands up and tells Evan to start the divorce paperwork immediately. Gwen grabs the camera bag and her and I head to my old room to take pictures, yet again.