Most Eligible Baby Daddy(29)

"You know it's true, Elle. Even your own mother gave you away. And she  didn't just put you into care like a normal person would, she didn't  give you over to child services. No. She sold you to some pimps who  would make a sex slave out of you. If that's not hate, then I don't know  what is, Elle. Hate. That's what the world has in store for you. Not  love. So get your head out of the clouds and stop trying to be something  you're not. You're a sick little bitch. A worthless little whore. No  one has ever loved you, and no one ever will. Even your new boyfriend  has dumped you already."

It was only then that Elle remembered Grace and Kelly were standing by her side.

"I think you've had enough coffee, mister," Grace said.

"I agree," Kelly said.

"Now get out of here before I kick you out."

Gris laughed. He wasn't afraid of them. Elle knew he'd spoken to the  police already. That's why he was so cocky. She'd seen him do things  like that before. He was very adept at influencing, or blackmailing,  people to do his bidding. Nevertheless, he got up from his seat. He'd  said what he'd come to say.

Elle waited until the door slammed behind him before collapsing to the floor.

"Elle," Kelly yelled. "Are you all right?"

Elle was on the tiled floor of the diner. She wasn't sure how she'd gotten there.

"Come on, child," Gracie said. "You had a little spin. You fainted. Let's get you home to bed."





Chapter 33

Forrester

FORRESTER OPENED HIS EYES. He wasn't on the bed in the cell, he was on  the cold, concrete floor. It was night. He looked up at the small window  across the corridor. Stars twinkled in the icy sky.

"I was wondering when you'd wake up, fucko."

It was Gris's voice. Forrester didn't answer it. He tried to move but he couldn't. His entire body burned with pain.

"Don't get up," Gris taunted. "You can't. We beat the shit out of you while you were unconscious."

Painfully, Forrester turned his head to look at Gris. Gris was pointing a camcorder at him.

"What are you doing?" Forrester said.

"Just getting some insurance. I have to persuade that little piece of  ass you've been enjoying that she really should forget about you and  come home with me."

"You mean, she still hasn't given up on me?" Forrester said, disbelief in his voice.

Gris laughed at him. "Aww, you poor baby. You think that means she loves you?"                       
       
           



       

"Fuck off," Forrester said to him.

"Well, it will all be in vain," Gris said. "She might have waited for  you this long. To be honest, I'm surprised. I thought she'd have come  running back to me by now."

"She's not the girl you think she is, Gris."

"Maybe not," Gris said, putting away the camera. "But she will be. I  know her. I know how to work her. I'll grind her down, break down her  confidence and self-esteem, until she believes she's the worthless piece  of shit I know she is."

"Why? Why would you do that?"

"What do you care, fucko? You'll be rid of her. Her and me, we'll be gone. You'll never have to think about her again."

"I won't forget her."

"Well, let me give you a little bit of incentive to move on with your life. I want to make sure you forget all about her."

"I'll never forget about her."

"She was a whore, Forrester. Before you knew her, before even I knew  her, she was a whore. She was the property of Los Lobos. They owned her,  and they did whatever they wanted with her."

Forrester said nothing. Gris was nodding. Forrester knew what he was  thinking. He thought that this information would make him forget about  Elle. He thought it would make him move on, that it would make him not  want her anymore.

He was wrong.

That wasn't the way Forrester's heart worked. He'd have done anything  for Elle, and knowing about her past only made him love her even more  intensely. The hardships she'd been through, the struggles she'd had to  overcome, that only made him love her even more. He'd die for her, and  more importantly, he'd kill for her. She was his girl now. He'd told her  that, and he'd meant it. They'd made love, and not even just that, but  they'd done it without a condom. They were linked now. Tied together.  Forever. There was literally nothing that Gris could say or do that  would make Forrester love Elle less. He was locked onto her the way a  wolf locks on its mate.

But he didn't have to let Gris know that.

In fact, it would be better for him if he let Gris believe that his plan  was working. If Gris thought Forrester wasn't coming after him, it  would make him more likely to slip up and make a mistake.

"What's the problem, fucko? You got nothing to say? Cat got your tongue?"

"Fuck you, Gris."

"Oh, you seem upset. Was it something I said?"

Forrester tried to get up but the pain in his body kept him firmly on the ground.

"Fuck it," he said. "Fuck it all. Have a good life, Gris. I hope I never see you again."

Forrester lay there on the ground and shut his eyes. He tried to look as  if he'd given up. He had to make Gris believe he wasn't going to follow  him. He didn't say another word. He knew what he had to do. He had to  get up. He had to get out of that cell. He had to win Elle back, before  Gris did something terrible to her.





Chapter 34

Elle

ELLE SWORE SHE WAS ALL right, but Kelly and Grace insisted on driving her home.

"I don't know what I'd do if anything were to happen to you tonight," Grace said.

"Me too," Kelly said. "As far as we know, Gris doesn't know about your  apartment. Once you're in there safely, I'll feel better."

"I really don't want you two making a fuss about me," Elle protested.

"It's not a fuss. That jerk practically threatened to kidnap you. We should have called the police already," Kelly said.

They'd already been over it, and Grace had agreed with Elle. There was  no point calling the police if Gris had already gotten to them. The best  thing was to lay low, stay out of Gris's way, and hope he found  something else to put his attention on when he realized Elle wasn't  interested in going back with him.

Grace pulled up outside the little apartment.

"Are you sure you don't want me to spend the night?" Kelly said.

"I'm positive, Kelly. You've done enough. Both of you. I'm able to look after myself."

They nodded, although Kelly seemed to have her doubts. Elle hurried from  the car, in through the door of her apartment, and shut it tightly  behind her. She locked it and went upstairs. The apartment was warm.  Dennis had made sure of that, and Elle silently thanked him.                       
       
           



       

She sat down on her bed and stared at the empty fireplace. There were  some logs of wood and she threw them onto the hearth. Then she poured a  little of the lighter fluid that sat next to the logs onto them, and  threw in a match. After a few minutes of coaxing the flames, she had a  nice fire going. She needed the comfort of it.

She'd vowed to herself that she'd be strong, that she wouldn't let Gris  get to her, but his words cut like a knife. He knew exactly what to say.  Her past was like a black mark on her soul, or so she felt. No matter  how hard she tried, she didn't seem to be able to rid herself of its  stain. What if Gris was right? What if she was unlovable? What if  Forrester really had changed his mind about her?

She shook her head. Her diary was sitting on the bed next to her and she grabbed it. There was that quote again.

*

It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not.

*

She didn't want to be hated, but she definitely didn't want to be loved  for something she wasn't. Deep down she knew, if someone was ever going  to love her, he would have to love her for all the things she was. All  the things that made her her. All the imperfections, and scars, and  difficult things she'd been through. Those were the things that made her  Elle. Those were the things that she was most proud of, not ashamed of.

What was it that Gris had said about the police? That he had them  wrapped around his finger? That's where he'd slipped up. She had to  believe that. She might not be the perfect girl, she might not have had  the perfect life and the perfect upbringing, but she deserved to be  loved. She knew that. She had to believe it. And she had to believe that  Forrester hadn't run out on her. He hadn't abandoned her. Gris had  arranged something with the sheriff. That was why she hadn't seen  Forrester.

She looked out the window. For once, it wasn't snowing. She put back on  her coat and marched down the stairs. If Forrester was still around, she  was going to find out. If he needed her help, she was going to figure  out a way to help him. She wasn't the kind of person to give up on  someone she loved, no matter how terrified she was of running into Gris.