Fuck. That doesn’t give me very much time. I had hoped to be there when she arrived, but Reli’s being discharged soon.
“Boss, we can talk to the doctor. She’ll be able to hold off on discharging her. We can have a couple of guys stand guard outside her door while you’re gone.”
She has met most of my team since she’s been in the hospital. She’s not yet met my brothers; she told me she wasn’t ready for my family and I respect her wishes. My team was curious about her and wanted to meet her. Lance and I noticed right away that she was okay around the men; she was chatty and engaging, she smiled. But when Cady and Martina walked in, she went deathly pale and stopped talking. So I’ve made sure that none of the women are to be alone with her.
Once I noticed how she reacted to my team, I made sure to keep an eye on her when the hospital staff was around and fuck me, she was the same way. Silent, scared, and pale. No wonder she’s so tired all the time; when she’s awake she’s focused on everything and everyone around her. She’s conditioned to know where the threat is coming from. It’s why I’ve demanded that she be discharged; I want to get her home into her own room so that she’ll be able to start recuperating.
“Call them. We’ll leave as soon as they arrive.”
He nods and moves away to make the call; I walk back into Reli’s room. “I’m going to have to go out for a while. Lance is calling a couple of my men over to watch you while I’m gone. Do you need anything?”
She shakes her head, not looking at me, and I’m wondering what’s happened.
Things between us were okay, she was getting comfortable and talking freely; now she’s clammed up again.
“Is everything okay?”
She blinks, still not looking up at me. “Huh, yeah. Fine; why?”
She’s lying but there’s nothing that I can do about it. Hopefully, there will come a point where she feels able to tell me the truth, to be honest with me.
“Is there anything you need?” I ask again, hoping she’ll relax somewhat.
“No, thank you.” She closes her eyes and releases a deep, heavy sigh.
I sit down beside her; she’s awake still, her breathing hasn’t evened out yet. She’s pretending so that she doesn’t have to talk. I leave her be, hoping that she’ll be able to get through whatever’s running through her head.
Twenty minutes later, Greg and Zeke are at the door with Lance. Zeke’s doing everything he can to bring Talia down, he’s got his laptop in hand and I know that while I’m gone, he’s still going to be digging into her life. He strolls into the room with a smile on his face.
“Morning, Yoreli, Boss.”
“Good morning, Zeke,” Reli replies softly.
I get to my feet. “Reli, I’ll be back as soon as I can. Once I’m back, we’ll get you out of here and home.”
Her eyes widen. “You’re coming back?”
I frown; why wouldn’t I be? What made her think I wasn't? Before I’m able to answer her, the doctor walks in.
“Ms Maine, I want to do a check up before you leave. It shouldn’t take us long,” the doctor says and Zeke walks out of the room.
I place a kiss against her head. “Of course I'm coming back. I have something I need to do, otherwise I wouldn’t leave. I’ll be as quick as I can,” I whisper to her, and she gives me a watery smile. “You’re safe here; Zeke and Greg are going to be watching.”
“Thank you,” she replies softly and I give her another kiss, this time on her cheek and smile when she leans into my touch.
“Let’s go,” I tell Lance as soon as I leave Reli’s room. I want to get this over and done with quickly.
When we arrive at the Maine’s house, I’m pleasantly surprised to see not only my father, but also my brothers here. Talia has also arrived.
“That woman is a fucking bitch,” Matthew announces as soon as I get out of my car. “We arrived ten minutes before she did and managed to bug the house. She was out of the car and running through the house as soon as she pulled up out front. Screaming Yoreli’s name and making threats.”
My entire body bristles at her making threats. “What did she say?”
Matthew glances to Dad and then to the ground.
“Someone fucking tell me what she said,” I say through gritted teeth.
Cage sighs. “She called someone, and told them that Yoreli had gone. She’s sworn that she’s going to get her back. Whoever she was on the phone to must have been pissed. But, bro.” He shakes his head. “That fucking bitch has plans to sell Yoreli.”