Page 47 of Merciless King
“When are we going, Mommy?” Elysse’s voice holds concern, like she worries Gabriel will return and keep us prisoner. I can’t deny that I’m feeling anxious as well. But he’s not due back until later tonight. We’re fine.
“Soon. Probably around lunchtime. Elio has?—”
“Elio is going with us?” Her smile is wide and bright, and it fills me with joy that he makes her feel happy and safe.
“Yes, baby. We’re going with him.” For a little while? Forever? That I don’t know. I don’t need that answer right now.
“Will he be my new daddy?”
The question catches me off guard. Elio and I haven’t talked about how or when to tell her the truth. Now isn’t the time, though. He should be here.
“Would you like that?”
She nods so vehemently she looks like a bobblehead. “Yes. He’s nice to us. And he’s funny. He roller skated with us. Gabriel never did that.”
It occurs to me that while Elysse would refer to Gabriel as her daddy, she never actually called him that. She never called him anything.
After we eat breakfast, Elysse and I play a game. Despite trying to keep things light, the tension builds the longer we sit and wait for Elio to pick us up. I keep glancing at the clock, my anxiety mounting with each passing hour. Where is Elio? Is he okay? Has something happened to him?
I fight the urge to call him, to hear his reassuring voice. He's a busy man with a lot of responsibilities. Something, clearly important came up this morning that he needed to deal with. I have to trust that he'll be here when he can, that he won't let us down.
I’ve sent Elysse to wash her hands as I go to prepare lunch when the front door opens. Relief floods through me as I make my way from the kitchen to Elio.
Except it’s not Elio.
Gabriel enters the house looking like he just stepped out of a smoky strip club.
“Gabriel. I didn’t expect you home so early.” Terror fills me. I’m looking around to make sure there is no sign of our plan to leave.
He drops his bag by the door, his gaze raking over my body in a way that makes my skin crawl. "Did you miss me?” He grabs me and pulls me into an embrace. “I bet you missed this.” He grinds himself against me. The feel of his erection makes my stomach churn.
I stiffen, fighting the urge to push him away. “You must be tired.” Why did he take an earlier flight?
“I want to fuck my wife.”
“Mommy?”
I close my eyes as Elysse’s quavering voice reaches me. I gently push Gabriel away.
“It’s okay, sweetie. I’ll go make lunch. Are you hungry, Gabriel?” I hope I sound normal.
He tugs me back. “I told you, I want to?—”
“Elysse is here.”
He turns and glares at Elysse. “Go upstairs. Now. Don’t come down until I say so.”
I nod to her, willing her to comply.
“Elio doesn’t talk to us like that.”
My heart stalls in my chest.
“What?”
I move us, pulling his attention back to me. The tension rises. The air crackles. I have to defuse this, fast.
"Elysse, sweetie, go play in your room. Your dad and I need to talk.”