Broken Dreams(28)

“Fuck you.”

Roger was getting pissed with Henry’s refusal to obey. “If you don’t come back, I will personally hunt you down and torture your woman in front of you until you give in. I may even have a little fun with her in front of you. Show her what a real man can do for her.”

Red rage tore through Henry. “I will never allow you to lay a hand on her! Ever! I will slit your throat and watch you bleed out before you could ever lay a hand on her! Do you hear what I’m saying?!”

“Are you threatening me? You know where threats get you.”

“I don’t make threats. I make promises! I swear to you, I will kill you and enjoy every second of it! I’m calling the shots now!” Henry was pacing wildly, wearing a path in the plush carpet.

“Liam, I advise you to get on that plane or you will pay the consequences!”



***



I watched Henry pace like a wild man, yanking at his hair as he raged on the phone at a deafening level. I wondered who he was talking to that would make him so full of anger and hatred.

“No. I refuse!” Henry paused for a moment. “Piss off! I’m not taking orders from you! I already told you that months ago! I am through with your program, and I am not returning. I’m going to do what I see fit. If that means taking out half of the goddamned world, then so be it. You’re a sick son of a bitch, and I hope…I hope you become undead because you can count on me to put a bullet in your motherfucking head!”

He hit the END CALL button on the screen and threw his phone up against the wall. It shattered, like everything else did around us.

“ARRRG!” he growled, which paralyzed me with fear. I had never seen him like that. I had seen him angry, but he usually stayed in check. This Henry was unhinged and scared the shit out of me.

He realized I was standing there, witnessing his rage. “Elaina.” He started walking toward me. “I’m sorry you saw and heard all of that.” He looked ashamed after he noticed that I was standoffish and frightened.

“What was that about?”

“Uh, shit. Let’s get you dressed and get some stuff for the others first. Then we’ll sit and chat in private before we talk with them. I owe you that much.” I nodded and we went to his dresser and his closet.

I pulled out a couple tees and found a couple more pairs of workout pants. Thankfully, Henry was at the gym a lot; otherwise, Claire and I wouldn’t have a wardrobe. At least we could roll the waistband down some to take up some of the length and tighten it up a bit. It was a far cry from Claire’s usual feminine attire, but it’s better than the nasty clothes she had already borrowed.

“Henry, I’m not sure what to do about panties.” I blushed a bit. I’m not sure why. I had never really been shy in front of him before. He’d seen me naked, on more occasions than I could count.

“You can wear my boxers,” he said with a smirk.

“Uh, no thanks.” I wasn’t in the mood to get that personal with him.

“Suit yourself. Go commando.” He shrugged.

I put Claire’s outfit outside the bathroom door, then I shut the door to the bedroom. Henry walked up behind me, pulling the towel off of my hair. “Hmm, my black-haired beauty,” he whispered. I blushed again. He started to tug at my towel and I stopped him. Confusion from my rejection flashed across his face.

“It’s just not the right time.” He had an odd way of shutting out what had happened. It was a bit bizarre.

“Yes. I understand. But I still think you look beautiful.” He smiled at me. I couldn’t help but smile back, though I still pulled away.

“I need to get dressed.” I was barely audible.

“Go ahead.” I frowned, then he realized how I was feeling. “I’m sorry. I can imagine you are probably uncomfortable around me at the moment. I’ll leave and take the others these clothes.” Before I could change my mind, he headed out of the bedroom. He stopped at the doorway before he closed it. “I’ll come back in a minute so we can have a chat.”

“Okay,” I said. I sat down on the bed for a moment and dried my hair with the towel. I dressed in a flash, worrying that Henry would come back sooner than I expected. I wished I had a different bra. That strapless one was killing me. And as for panties, I wasn’t a commando kind of girl, but I was out of options, unless I was going to wear Henry’s boxers. Not happening.

I wasn’t happy wearing his big clunky boots, either, but it was better than those heels I had on earlier. I had to stop thinking about the wedding. I saw part of my dress sticking out from Henry’s closet, and it made me pause.