Those left behind stared at each other, probably boggled by the story about Ellsa. Damien was still a little paralyzed over it all, but he couldn’t help feel jittery. He was never going to feel relaxed until Vladimir was in the ground and Tom completely out of their lives. He didn’t lie to himself about what Mike and Elaine meant by finally taking care of it. After Elaine killed that man in a room full of witnesses like it was just another day at the office, there was no misinterpretation taking care of it.
“Please tell me no one believed that bullshit! If I really think about it, I’ll be able to tell you the movie that story was poached from.” Kris rolled her eyes, her hands pressed to her hips, “Do they take us for children?”
Damien closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. Ellie really fucked up inviting her best friends for the big reveal. He was too exhausted and running low on patients to argue with them and since VS couldn’t be arrested he really didn’t care what they did. Which reminded him—Vladimir’s men. Would Elaine and Mike get to Vladimir before they got here? He didn’t want Dale and Ellie hurt over a psychopath’s obsession with VS.
“Whether or not you choose to believe it I really don’t give a fuck if you do. But I doubt Elaine would lie about that after she snapped a man’s neck in front of a room full of FBI agents, then sit in the living room of one of those agents to spin a tale.”
Kris snorted, of course still a nonbeliever.
Damien turned to his cousin, “I need to borrow a handgun. We should probably talk about tonight and preparing just in case…”
“Don’t worry about that. I don’t think I’ll be sleeping tonight and Ellie and I have a few things to discuss. I’ll take first watch, why don’t you go rest. You look dead on your feet.”
Damien was stunned by the offer, “You sure?”
“Positive. See you in the morning.”
“Thanks, man,” Damien walked away and once he was out of the room Kris began to rant, loudly. Damien kept walking. He hoped to heaven that she wouldn’t be there in the morning when Tasha—Ellsa… it was less confusing if he kept referring to her as VS. He didn’t want her around when VS finally woke up.
He stepped into the room and paused at the door for a moment, staring at the bed. DJ was on his back, VS was on her side, DJ tucked into her, one arm under his head as a pillow and the other lay across his belly. Even in her sleep she was a mother. And even if she woke up without her memory, he trusted she would never forget that feeling even if she didn’t remember their son. He got into bed with them, curling his body around hers. He shifted her so that his arm cushioned her head and intertwined their fingers together so that both their arms lay over their son. He closed his eyes and prayed the morning would bring hope, and freedom.