Nodding in acquiescence, I climb behind the wheel and pull out into the street. The visor mirror reveals that my face and hands are a mess of blood and...is that a sliver of...tongue?Nothing a couple makeup wipes from the console can’t handle. They cut right through the viscous liquid.
“We uhh...need to go to a safe house on the other side of town for a while. At least until the bodies are found.”
Looking into the rear-view mirror, I see the three of them huddled together in the back. Marshall meets my reflection for only a moment and nods in understanding.
Chapter 25
Elijah
By the time we get all the way across town and through the city traffic, nearly forty minutes have passed, and they’re all asleep. They’ve had a hell of a day. Luckily, they didn’t see how we got here or where we are.
“We’re here. It’s getting late. You guys can shower and pick a bed if you want. Or eat, or just whatever.”
They’re all stretching and looking around. Taking in their surroundings. There’s not much here in the garage that gives this place away.
“You can shower first. We’ll find some food.” Jax speaks softly to Vaughn and rubs her shoulders to comfort her.
“Thanks.” Her smile is tired, but it’s still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
Inside the house, I lead everyone into the dining room. Their feet shuffle to an abrupt stop behind me. They’re shocked. I can tell without turning around that their jaws are on the floor.
“Hey Ma.” I kiss her on the cheek before moving to Abbi. “Abbi. And my main man.” Normally, I would grab him out of her hands and toss him in the air a few times, but I desperately need a shower before I touch my dude.
“Mama, Abbi, Abel...these are my best friends Jax-” I motion to the dark-haired man “Marshall” I motion to the blond, “and this is my girlfriend, Vaughn.”
“Uhp. Huh? No. I’m not. I’m not his girlfriend. I...” Vaughn is struggling with her words, and she doesn’t know quite how to respond in this situation.
Looking to Abbi, I attempt to explain my girlfriend’s strange behavior. “I believe she’s stuttering under the misunderstanding that you, and I are married. Maybe even that my nephew here, is my son.”
Abigail’s hand flies to her mouth to cover the giggle.
“Oh, Eli. Why would you let her think that? I raised you better than this. You apologize to that girl.”
“In fairness, Mama, I never meant for her to get that impression. My mistake was not telling her about all of you. About...Abel. I...uh...I owe you an apology, too, Mama.” The emotion in my heart is heard in my voice as I confront the hurt I’ve been running from. “And you, Abbi. If I hadn’t been avoiding all of you, none of this would have happened.”
My mama holds my face in her small hands as tears stream from her eyes. “You have to understand there’s nothing to forgive. It wasn’t your fault. We just want you back. You running from this means we didn’t just lose Abe. We lost you, too.”
Something like a cough-whimper absconds from my lips. No one can make a man break down as quick as his mama can, and I just barely hold back the tears.
“I’m sorry, Ma. I’m not going to hide from any of you anymore. Still working on the forgiveness and grief stuff.”
Abbi has her lips pinned between her teeth. She’s still stuck on the me and her being married thing.
“It’s really not that funny.”
Now the floodgates open, and Abbi cackles. “ME and YOU?! MARRIED?!” Her laugh is loud and shrill. “It’s hysterical. I mean, if we could cut the hair, and cover up the tattoos, and there could be” she gestures to all of me “just less of you overall, I could see the physical attraction part, but no way could I marry someone who” she starts ticking off points on her fingers “rides a motorcycle, sings karaoke, is a terrible singer, cooks better than me, smiles incessantly, awful card p-”
“That’s quite enough, little sister. My girlfriend happens to like all that shit you just said. Don’t you, Vaughn?”
All eyes in the room fix on Vaughn and I’ve never seen her this uncomfortable. I don’t hate it.
“Just...I.” She is visibly SQUIRMING! “The singing could be better.”
Laughter. All over the room. My ego is wounded. I’m metaphorically bleeding all over the floor, and they’re laughing. My family and my best friends. Not Vaughn, though. there’s not even a smile on her perfect face as she looks back at me. She’s still unsure. She still doesn’t know how we got here.
“V.” The laughter in the room quiets when everyone senses the tension between us. “This is my mama, Ruth. This is my sister, Abbi. Technically, she’s my sister-in-law, but she’s my sister in every way that matters to me. And this guy right here is my nephew, Abel. My brother’s son.” This is a lot to take in, so I pause, allowing Vaughn to absorb it all.
“My twin brother, Abel was killed...on a mission. We are...were...well...I still am. Eh...I don’t know. Still figuring it all out, I guess. Anyway, there was a kid with a bomb strapped to his chest. I hesitated and, because of that, my brother only had time to shield my body with his own before the blast. He died to protect me. Most of our unit died and,” I have to clear my throat of the pain that just talking about him brings. It’s now that I look around the room and see that tears are streaming down everyone’s faces. Some of them hit my shirt, so I reach up to wipe them away, but...how can their tears wet my shirt?These are mine. Swiping my face, I realize there are just as many tears on my face. More, even. I’m crying. I haven’t let myself feel this. Haven’t let myself cry.
