Page 7 of Desolation

I know. But I can’t leave her. I won’t. Balling my hands into fists, I stand and start pacing. Reba silently gets up and heads to go get ready. It isn’t long before she comes out. She has a small duffle bag with her. “I’ve grabbed a few things for me, but also for Elodie. Wearen’t going to have time to grab her things and I’m sure she will need some stuff to sleep in,” she says.

“I’ll buy her anything she needs, but thank you. This will do for tonight. I appreciate you thinking of it,” I say. Texting one of my guys, I send him out for a few things that she may need for the next couple days. I will let her order whatever she wants after that.

My dad sends a message a few minutes later saying there is a car out front waiting for me. Nodding to Reba, I walk towards the door and we head out. Getting her settled in with Louis, I tell him to follow us, and I climb in the car with the others. “Thank you, Dad,” I say when he answers my call.

“Just be safe, son. I love you. See you soon,” he says before hanging up.

One of the guys hands me a mask and asks me the layout of the house.

“Two story house, Elodie’s room is at the end of the hall on the left side of the upper floor. When I saw them earlier, her parents were still up, not sure about now. They most likely aren’t armed. They would sell anything they had like that,” I say with disgust. Her parents really are the lowest of the low.

They all nod. Slipping down their masks as we drive. No need to get our faces on street cams. We pull up a few houses down and the driver stays in the car. Marco, the leader of this group, uses hand signals once we step out of the vehicle. No one closes their doors fully. We may need to get in quick and sometimes, every second counts.

The lights are still on in the living room but a peek through the windows tells me that her parents are passed out where they sit. I give Marco a nod that we are clear. He tries the front door andsurprisingly, it’s unlocked. Well, that’s pretty damn stupid in this neighborhood. Anyone could break in and hurt Elodie. Although, she apparently doesn’t need anyone to break in for that to happen.

The guys follow us in and they surround El’s parents as I head up the stairs. Trying her knob, it’s locked. Motioning to Marco standing at the top of the stairs, he heads my way pulling a lock pick kit out. I don’t want to boot the door not knowing where she is in there, or wake her parents either.

He works fast and before I know it, I hear the snick of the lock giving way. Turning the knob again, I feel resistance when I try to push open the door. Sticking my fingers in, I feel a warm body. She must be sitting in front of the door.

Squatting down, I whisper to her, “I need you to move so I can open the door, Bug. We’re getting you out of here.”

She groans and I hear a confused voice say, “Drake?”

“Just come with me El. I can explain in the car but I’m getting you out of here right now. So scoot. Reba is waiting out there for you too,” I whisper in soothing tones, or I hope it sounds soothing. I’m pretty angry and feeling desperate to get her away from here and I hope that isn’t coming through when I’m speaking to her. Her parents haven’t woken up yet, but they could at any moment.

I hear rustling, and then a very battered Elodie peers out at me from the now open door. Rage floods my body. I barely register Marco growling behind me when he sees her. All I hear is a rushing in my ears as the adrenaline spreads through my veins.

The urge to kill them now is so strong. Almost like a siren song drifting up the stairs, feeding my rage. It takes every bit of self-control I have not to rush down right now and give in to thatfeeling. But first I need to get my little Shutterbug out of here. Shaking, I reach out to El, “Can you walk?”

She shakes her head, and I hear a whimper escape her swollen lips. Her whole face is one big mess of bruises and blood, her eyes are almost swollen shut, and her nose is very clearly broken, along with one of her sockets, I think.

“I’m going to carry you okay? It’s going to hurt when I pick you up but just bear with me. I’m going to make it better, I swear it to you, Bug,” I say quietly.

She looks up at me and tries to say something. I shush her, telling her to wait using one finger. Pointing outside I motion zipping my lips. Hopefully she stays quiet until we get her out of there. I don’t know how her parents haven’t woken up yet, but if they have been drinking they are probably passed out.

Leaning down, I gently lift her. She whimpers in pain as I stand. Stopping, I give her time to adjust to being in my arms. She motions for her bag, I nod at Marco and he reaches down to grab it. Silently we move down the hallway. Marco goes ahead to recheck the situation downstairs. Everyone is still in the same position and her parents are still sleeping.

We move out, I slip down the stairs silently. Elodie is light as a feather. I’m sure her eating habits aren’t great. The guys follow behind us and Marco takes up the rear, quietly closing the door. I’d really like to light a match right now and watch it all go up in flames. This isn’t the time though, I have to get my girl out of here.

When we reach the cars, Louis jumps and opens the door so I can slide Elodie in. Reba gasps when she sees her and I see tears instantly form in her eyes. “We can’t let her fall asleep. I’m willingto bet she has a concussion,” Louis says from the front seat, after I climb in and shut the door behind me.

“Let’s just get out of here. I don’t want to say a word until we are out of this neighborhood and safe,” I say quietly. Nodding, he drives us out of there and heads towards the city.

CHAPTER 6

ELODIE

What the hell is happening? I open my eyes and see Reba staring at me with sorrow all over her features. What is she doing with Drake? Am I dreaming?

Everything hurts and as I barely open my eyes, a wave of dizziness washes over me and my stomach churns violently.

“Hey Sweet Pea,” she says softly. “You gotta stay awake for me. We are pretty sure you have aconcussion.”

“Where are we? Where are we going?” I ask, my voice sounding raspy. “Is there any water?”

Drake leans over and opens a compartment, pulling out a bottle of spring water in a glass bottle. Fancy. He twists the lid off and lifts the bottle to my lips. Narrowing my eyes at him, I flinch. Okay, I can’t do that.

“I can do it,” I say, taking the bottle and taking a sip. It’s good. It feels so good on my throat.