lick of pain… because god knows she did.
38
Sophie
Elyse is sitting next to me, her hand tightly gripping onto mine. Ella, Violet and Keira sit on the couch across from us. We try to keep the conversation light, talking about their pregnancies and baby showers. But neither, Elyse or I can stop thinking about where the guys are and what they are doing right now. They’ve been gone a few hours and none of us have heard from any of them yet.
We eat lunch, and sit in the huge living room, with guards posted at every door. I guess Xander wasn’t kidding when he said there would be no one getting in or out. Apart of me feels at ease because the last thing I want is for my father to somehow escape and get to me, but another part of me wishes there wasn’t a need for the guards to begin with. After what seems like an eternity of waiting, someone’s phone finally starts ringing. All eyes move to the phone as it rings and vibrates against the glass top coffee table. I hold my breath, and squeeze Elyse’s hand in mine.
Ella grabs her phone, and answers it right away. Her shoulders relax as she listens to what I’m assuming is Xander on the other line.
“So everyone is okay?” She asks into the phone and then looks around and gives each of us a reassuring smile. I exhale a sharp breath, my chest filling with oxygen, my heart beating normal again.
“Okay...I love you too.” She hangs up the phone and places it back down on the table.
“Everyone is okay. They are on their way back here as we speak,” she announces to the room. Elyse gives me a reassuring smile. I’m so glad she’s alive and here with me right now.
Twenty minutes later, one of the guards comes to tell Ella that Xander and the others have just come through the gate. My legs are jelly as we all get up and walk to the front door to wait for them. It’s such a strange thing to know that all our significant others are a part of something darker, and unworldly. They each have killed for someone they love, and would most likely do it again.
Moments later the doors open. Xander appears first, a smile gracing his lips. Damon is right on his heels, and then Hero. Ivan walks in next. All the guys walk up to their girlfriend and wives, but Roman still hasn’t walked through the door and that scares me.
Ivan passes me and just before he takes Violet into his arms, he gives me a weary look that I can’t quiet gage. My first thought is that something happened to Roman, but surely someone would say something to me if that were the case.
I’m about to ask him where he is when someone finally steps into the doorway. I take a big step forward a big smile spreading across my lips when I see Roman. That smile slips the moment I see who is walking beside him.
“Luke?” Elyse gasp, letting go of Hero’s arm as she sprints forward, and toward our brother. She throws her arms around him and pulls him to her chest so tightly I think she might squeeze the air from his lungs. “Oh Luke, I can’t believe you are here! How are you? Oh my gosh!”
Roman appears by my side, putting an arm around me and kissing the side of my head. I take a deep breath, trying to figure out how I feel about him being here. He is the one who pushed me to get married. He spent hours, upon hours, trying to talk me into it and I never understood why. We used to be close, I thought he loved me and then suddenly he wanted me gone. He never hurt me, and he sheltered me from a lot of bad that happened but in the end he couldn’t save me, no one could.
Looking at him now I see not much has changed, he’s still tall, handsome, with brown hair that looks like it needs a brush, and blue eyes that glimmer with happiness. His body’s lean, but tone from all the work our father made him do.
“Why is he here?” I whisper to Roman, who starts rubbing my back as if he is trying to comfort me. It soothes the ache forming in my chest, but it doesn’t stop my rampant thoughts.
“I know it doesn't make sense right this