“I found Elli upstairs vomiting,” she finally admits, letting out a long breath.
My brows crease. “She’s sick?”
“She’s been sick,” she snaps, trying to yank her arm free, but I don’t let go. “I think…” She nibbles on her lip. “I think she’s pregnant, but she doesn’t want anyone to know.”
I let go of her arm, dropping mine to my side. She steps into me instead of running off. “If she’s pregnant, then you can choose to marry her, right?” Her blue eyes are big and full of hope. She wants me with Elli as much as Elli does. She wants me to be the better guy and pick her best friend.
“It doesn’t work that way.” Corbin is the one who speaks when I refuse to answer.
Her eyes go to him. “Why not?” she snaps, irritated once again.
“Sin would get to decide if he wants it or not,” Corbin goes on.
Her wide eyes go back to me and she takes a step back. “No. You wouldn’t do that to her,” she says, understanding what her boyfriend means.
“It’s complicated,” Corbin goes on.
I don’t hide anything from him. He may have gone behind my back, but I’ve accepted what he did. He’s still my best friend. I won’t let his love for my sister get in the way.
“Easton,” she speaks softly. “You can’t do that to her.”
“I’m a Lord,” I say. “I can do whatever I want.”
With tears building in her eyes, she looks to Corbin, and when he says nothing, she spins around and rushes out of the ballroom.
“Fuck,” Corbin hisses.
Placing my hands in the pockets of my slacks, I make my way out of the ballroom and upstairs, not even bothering to try to talk to him about what just went down. He can choose to follow Kira or not. Not my relationship, not my problem.
I enter Elli’s room like I own it and see the French doors open to her balcony. She’s standing on it, back to me, forearms on the railing.
Stepping outside, I watch her body stiffen, feeling my presence. “Why are you here?” comes her soft voice. It doesn’t sound mad or curious. Just tired.
“Your mother invited me.”
“Of course, she did.” She sighs, pushing off the railing and turning to face me.
My eyes scan over her puffy cheeks, bloodshot eyes and … they’re dilated. I grind my teeth. “You’re fucked up.” It’s not a question.
She blinks slowly, her pretty eyes heavy.
My eyes roam over the rest of her face and make it to her cheek. Is that a handprint? I step closer, pinning her back into the railing, and reach up to touch her cheek, but she drops her face. “Who the fuck hit you?” I demand.
“Your sister,” she answers, lifting her chin to meet my eyes.
I can’t tell if that’s a lie or not, but my sister wouldn’t hit hard enough to leave that red of a mark. “Elli—”
“Please leave,” she begs.
My eyes search hers and they start to fill with tears. “I’m tired of seeing you.” Her bottom lip begins to tremble. “I’m tired of hating myself because of you. I’m just so tired…” She closes her eyes tightly and fresh tears come pouring down her face. They open and land on mine, pinning me where I stand. “I’m tired of being the whore that no one can love.”
“Elli—”
“My father taught me that life isn’t fair.” She places her hand on my chest, pushing me back, and I allow it. “I’m marrying Chance and I’m going to be a devoted Lady, Sin. Because I’m tired of being your whore. It isn’t worth it.” With that, she walks around me and out of her bedroom.
With shaky hands, I pull my cell out. Something happened. That’s not the same Elli I left unconscious in our bed just a week ago after I spent all weekend with her. No. She was right where I needed her to be. On the edge. She’s jumped off headfirst and I won’t be able to get her back.
I pull up the cameras I have set up in her room. I see her getting ready, standing in front of the mirror. Her door opens and my blood runs cold as Linc enters. I turn up the volume. I watch, my eyes glued to the screen and my hands tightening on my phone to the point I might break it while he threatens her…
With me.
She opens her mouth for him because of me.
He fucking uses her because of me.
I’m shaking when he leaves her and she runs to the bathroom getting sick. I see my sister enter and I don’t even bother watching. She lied like I knew she had. I watched him hit her twice. One when she refused to give him what he wanted and the second time when she was on her knees sucking his cock. My sister might have done it as well, but she never mentioned Lincoln in her room, and I know why.
Pocketing my cell, I run down the stairs. “Elli?” I shout her name. The ballroom is now full of guests mingling around. She didn’t even take the time to redo her makeup. She just washed it off completely and left her hair down. “Elli, I need to talk to you.” I step forward.
“That’s not happening.” Linc steps into me.
I fist my hands; I want to rip his fucking head off, but I can’t. Too many eyes on us, watching. This was a test. I know that now and I can’t fail. I’ll lose her for good. Forever. My entire body is fucking vibrating I’m so furious. Hot fire touching my skin, and I’m practically panting.
“I’ll handle this.” Chance places his hands on Lincoln’s chest and he steps back.
“Take it outside,” Linc orders Chance. I get one last look of Elli standing in a sea full of people and I realize just how unsafe she is. No one here will protect her. Not like I will.
“Come on,” Chance growls and I let him drag me out of the room, through the house, and out the double doors onto the front porch before I get myself killed. If that happens, there’s no telling what they will do to her. “What the fuck, man?” he demands softly, his eyes scanning the property. “You trying to fuck shit up?”
I pull out my cell and go to the footage, turning up the volume and hold it out to him. My heart is hammering in my chest. I start to pace, my hands gripping my hair. I should have known the moment I realized she had taken drugs. It’s her escape. Her way of coping with performing actions that she knows are wrong.
“Fuck.” He runs a hand through his hair, watching wide-eyed. His jaw sharpening when he hears what Linc tells her. After he’s done and it gets to the end, he hands it back to me. I pocket the phone with shaking hands. Chance’s arms fall to his sides. “I’m sorry, man—”
I punch him in the face, knocking him back.
“Jesus, Sin—”
I grab his tuxedo and yank him to me, his chest bumping into mine. “Anyone, and I mean any-fucking-one touches her again and I don’t give a fuck where we are or who’s watching, they’re dead.”
“I didn’t know he was going to do that,” he snaps in my face, a steady flow of blood running from his busted nose.
“And after I kill him, you’ll be next,” I promise, shoving Chance away from me. “Now get your ass back in there, and don’t leave her fucking side.” I point at the house.