One that I couldn't stand and who Sean couldn't either.
Sighing, I got up and walked to the small overnight bag that I'd left here two weeks ago and dug inside, unearthing a pair of my work pants, a white wife beater, and a white shirt.
Dressed for work, I opened my door as quietly as I could, thankful that nobody realized what I was doing. Because if they had, they definitely would've stopped me.
Ellen's dejected face was the first thing I saw as she headed for the door, and I stopped her by calling her name quietly.
"Ellen."
She froze, looking at me with tears in her eyes, and smiled sadly.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think you could take me to work?"
She eyed my clothes, then nodded as one single tear slipped down her cheek.
"Yes, I think I can manage that before I go."
"Go?" I asked as I came up to her side.
She didn't reply, she just opened the door and headed outside to her car.
She pulled open the door on her side, then popped the trunk.
"There's not much room in the back," she said as she did. "It's full of clothes and stuff."
I stowed my stuff in the trunk, but didn't comment about the boxes I could see packed in the back.
Instead, I walked around to the passenger door and dropped inside before giving her directions to my work.
She started driving, and the silence started to grow.
I let my mind wander, not wanting to care about this woman, but finding it increasingly harder not to do so.
I'd started making grocery lists in my head. When I got to dog food, I froze.
"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit," I groaned. "Could we please go by Sean's place? I left Butterfinger all by herself, and she needs to go out or she'll pee all over the place, and then Sean will have a reason to get rid of her."
Ellen's mouth twitched.
"Yeah, I can do that."
We pulled into the driveway, and Ellen came to a stop next to Sean's truck.
I grinned.
"I'll take Sean's truck," I said. "Since we're here now and all. You don't have to wait."
Ellen smiled.
"Sean wouldn't let me drive his truck, you know."
My brows rose in surprise. I drove his truck whenever the hell I felt like it, and he didn't give a shit.
"Because he didn't want you to, or because you didn't want to?" I questioned.
Her look was unreadable.
"You got in there way deeper than I ever did," she said softly. "And likely that was because I was already guarding my heart because of Jessie. Whatever the reason, I'm glad he found you. You two seem great together, and he deserves something fantastic."
With that, she put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway, leaving me there to contemplate the hatred that was quickly dissipating toward her.
Shaking my head, I jogged up to the house, where I could already hear Butterfinger barking, and tapped in the key code on the garage door, causing it to open.
I'd just placed my hand on the door knob and pushed it open when something hit me from behind. Something hard. Something so hard that I saw stars in the backs of my eyes.
I crumpled to the ground, and Butterfinger came barreling out the door so fast and stealthily that the attacker who was in the process of hitting me again never saw her coming.
The man cursed.
Chapter 21
Boobs are my favorite part of the day.
-Sean's secret thoughts
Sean
"What do you mean she left?" I growled. "You were supposed to keep all the women there at the clubhouse."
"I didn't know she left. I was using the bathroom. Came back in to find Ellen gone. Didn't think to even look for Naomi until thirty minutes later when she didn't come down for the game the girls wanted to play with her."
"Did you check my place?"
Jessie grunted. "On the way there now. Though the cops might beat me there."
"How long has she been gone?" I asked. "Who took her?"
"Ellen."
One word had the power to make anger ignite in my blood.
"And who the fuck told Ellen she could leave?"
Jessie didn't say anything for a really long moment, and I knew without confirmation that he was the one who caused her to leave.
"She and I had a fight. She left when I was in the bathroom."
"Jesus Christ," I hissed. "Find out where she is and call me back."
I turned back around, realizing that I now had the attention of all the men at my side.
"What's wrong?" Ghost rasped.
He was edgy and twitching. And he was acting fucking wired, like something was about to happen that might very well change his life.