\[William’s POV\]
“I won’t.”
The words leave my lips as I collapse on the couch while Rosco and Denali continue to watch me. I know that they’re trying to find something in me that says I’m not being serious, but I truly was. Even if Elise and I were in the early stages of truly getting to know each other, not only physically but also emotionally, I was certain of one thing: she was the first woman I felt any semblance of emotion with.
“Since you’ve come to a decision, go to her.” Rosco says, though it is clear he isn’t pleased. “Just don’t end up regretting it.”
“You keep telling me that.” I chuckle, getting to my feet. “Do you think the third time will be the charm?”
“Who knows.” He shrugs. “Just remember she has a sordid past that won’t be so easily overlooked.”
“I’m aware.” I say, beginning to move. “But don’t we all?”
Not waiting for a response, I begin to move until I spot Maria sitting on her heels, watching Elise as she speaks.
Feeling a wave of relief slam into me, I quicken my pace until I’m dropping down beside Elise and grabbing her hand.
“How are you feeling?” I ask as she turns her gaze to me. “Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
“William?” She says slowly, her voice filled with an odd emotion. “Why…”
Eyes widening, I find myself wondering if she didn’t remember what happened before collapsing in front of me. Did that mean that she didn’t remember what we did?
“You don’t remember?” I ask, pain shooting through me. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten what we...”
“Of course not,” she snaps, her gaze narrowing. “I’m just wondering why you didn’t bother putting on anything over your boxers.”
Frowning, I look down and realize that I am, in fact, in nothing but my boxers, which were the only thing I managed to pull on before falling asleep.
“I could ask you the same.” I chuckle. “You’re wearing less than me.”
As a matter of fact, her whole body was exposed since she wasn’t wearing anything.
“Sorry, I was kind of dying.” She manages ruefully. “I couldn’t bother with getting dressed.”
“It’s good to see that you’ve still got your sense of humor after everything. Now why don’t you tell me what happened?”
Since it was clear that she was going to be okay, the only thing left to do was get to the bottom of what happened to her. How did she sustain injuries while she was asleep, and what could we do to stop it from happening again?
“My dad,” she says slowly. “I think I may have seen where he and the cloaked bastards are hiding, but he knew that I was there, so I’m sure that they will be relocating.”
At her words, a hiss of shock escapes me while I try to make sense of what she is saying. So, Roger was able to sense Elise while she was seeing the location of the ones we were hunting? How was that possible when she was physically here with me? Did that mean that when she was having visions, she was in the place she was seeing spiritually, and if that was the case, did that mean if she died there, she would die physically?
“Fuck!” I growl, realizing just how complicated her abilities were. “You’ve got to be more careful.”
“You don’t say.”
Growing quiet, I continue to take her in as I realize that something is off. Although she is trying to act like her normal I don’t give a shit self there’s something off about her. A look in her eyes that holds so much hatred, it leaves me uneasy.
“What is it?” I murmur, squeezing her hand. “Did something happen while you were out?”
“Aside from almost dying?” She asks, trying to act casually. “Nothing else.”
“You’re lying.” I counter, not missing the way her gaze shifts from mine for a second. “Something else happened, didn’t it?”
For a moment, Elise doesn’t speak as she looks from me to Maria, who is still sitting silently, either waiting for her chance to leave or for us to be quiet so she can speak.
“Nothing.” Elise finally responds. “Nothing substantial anyway.”
“Then why do you look so uneasy?”
If she thought she was going to fool me, she had another thing coming. I was watching her carefully. As such, I was growing accustomed to her tiny mannerisms that indicated that she was trying to hide something.
“You don’t have to say it now.” I say slowly, not wanting to make her feel on the spot. “But know that I’m on your side.”
“Are you?” She asks, causing a pang of pain to shoot through me. “You don’t even really know me. All we did was fuck and fulfill our needs.”
Now I was certain that she was trying to hide from me as she desperately tried to put that damned wall of hers back into place. But I wasn’t about to let her do it.
“I didn’t know you were such a coward.” I chuckle, deciding to fight fire with fire.
At my words, a gasp of shock escapes Maria as she begins to look uneasy.
“Thank you for your assistance.” I say, getting to my feet. “Please allow me to lead you back to Rosco and Denali.”
As I speak, I help Maria rise, and once she is firmly planted on her feet, I shoot Elise a look.
“If you dare attempt to run away while I’m gone, know I will hunt you to the ends of the earth.”
“Don’t worry.” She sighs, getting comfy. “I don’t intend on leavingto leave.”
Nodding, I continue to watch her for a moment longer before beginning to move.
Once I’ve returned Maria to Rosco and Denali, who sit in the living room waiting for the okay to leave, I head back to where I left Elise to find that she is in fact still where I left her.
“Now,” I announce, dropping down beside her. “Since we are alone, you’re going to talk to me.”
“And if I don’t want to?” She challenges. “What are you going to do?”
“Then I’m going to tell you my sad story.” I respond, causing her to give me a look of confusion. “I figure that to show my sincerity, I should let you in on the biggest scar that I have to carry. Will you listen to my sad story?”
Growing quiet, I wait as Elise considers what I have asked her, and when she finally gives a small nod, I know that I’m about to pass the point of no return.
“Alright,” she says, all eyes on me. “Tell me.”