“Those only started when one chip was removed. The episodes I’m talking about are the ones she used to have when she fought the commands of that chip. The harder she fought the more the operator would increase the stimuli to the point where the chip would go on the fritz, and she would have seizures. After each one I could see it in her eyes, we were losing her. Then she…”
“Attacked me and all those other men, before the attack on Ellie.”
Elaine searched for any signs of insincerity, because he was very calm when he said that. “Yeah.”
“Where were you when she was on a serial murder spree? You were supposed to watch her right?”
Elaine glared at him, “What are you getting at?”
“Nothing, just curious.” He sipped from his bottle again.
Elaine rolled her lips into her mouth and stared at the twins. They were back to dancing in a hug. She rubbed the back of her neck as Daniel’s question bounced around in her head. Where was she? She was busy getting naked with Derek, that’s where she was. She’d known guilt then, and it was a feeling that would never leave her no matter how hard she tried.
She felt Daniel’s hand on her back, rubbing in circles. It was comforting, warm, and a little arousing. Not good.
“Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m sure you had a good reason to not be there.”
She shook her head, “I’m not sure it qualifies as a good reason. A selfish one probably. I made another selfish decision that led to you getting hurt,” she stared into his eyes then, “And for that I’m truly sorry.”
His hand still on her back, “What are you saying?”
Without breaking the hold of their gazes, she said, “She knew she was getting worse as the weeks went by. She was tired of fighting the control of the chips, and she just wanted to give in. She had everything prepared, even Ellie adopting DJ. But I’m not very good at losing, so I begged her to hold on long enough, until I could find a solution. She asked me if she went over the deep end… if she was so insane, she became dangerous… I was to kill her. She made me promise and even though I did, I just couldn’t.”
Her vision blurred, and Elaine blinked the tears away. Only Ellsa and Katya could bring her to tears. “My one friend in the world, a woman I considered my sister and she wanted me to kill her. There was no way I was doing that.”
He broke eye contact then and looked down with a heavy sigh. After a few beats he looked up at her, his eyes intense, “What do you feel guiltier about? The innocent people who died because you broke your promise or Ellsa doing something she would never have, if she were in her right mind?”
In the form of an answer she said, “I used to kill people for a living.”
He chuckled, “You’re pretty cold. I’m sitting right here you know?”
“Alive and well too. I’m glad you’re okay.”
He nodded, “Paloma said something that made me think. I’m Ellie’s best friend and the only survivor. And you said it too. In her lucid moment, she called for help and kept me alive. And besides, this girl is Tasha, nothing like the Ellsa I knew. She’s very different, it’s been fun getting to know her.”
Elaine was glad for that, “What about Kris? Is she still not back to being BFFs with Ellie?”
“Ellie didn’t tell you?”
“She doesn’t talk about it, ever.”
He shrugged, “If they were truly friends, Kris would have kept an open mind.”
“What about you? Are you still in love with Ellie?”
He smiled raggedly, his eyes even twinkled. Twinkled! Why are you noticing all these things, Elaine? “Best friend kind of love. Nothing more.”
She nodded, “Good to know.”
“So, who are you dating?”
“What?” she gave a startled laugh.
He chuckled, “What? It’s an honest question.”
Still laughing she said, “I was seeing someone, but not anymore. It’s just me and my daughter, Katya.” She waited to see what he would say to that. She was expecting something along the lines of ‘an assassin with a kid?’
“Daughter? She must be as beautiful as you are.”
“Wow,” she laughed covering her face or a moment, “Are you flirting with me?”
He licked his lower lip, and his eyes darkened, “What was your first clue?” the tips of his fingers roaming her back sending signals down under.
Dear Lord, what was he doing?
A loud crash drew their attention to the dance floor. Ellie and Tasha and a waitress were on their hands and knees, and they were picking glass up.
“I think it’s time to leave. I’ll get the girls,” Daniel announced standing up.
She watched as he gathered each in one arm, and for some reason they decided to wrap their arms around his neck and hang off him like it was some game. It was amazing he didn’t balk at their weight. He carried them out of the club, and she followed behind. He deposited them in Ellie’s car in the back seat then faced her.
“Who was the designated driver?”
Elaine pointed to the back seat, “Ellie, but I’ll have to now. I’ll drive slowly it will probably take an hour to get home, but as long as we do, safe and sound.”
He nodded, “I’ll follow you.”
She nodded, getting into the driver seat. She pulled out of the parking space and started the slow drive home. Forty-five minutes later she pulled into the driveway. She took her cell phone out of her purse and called Damien asking him to bring Dale out so that they could carry their drunk wives into their houses. It helped drive her point out when they started singing the words ‘blame it on the alcohol’ in dragged out slurs. She only knew which song it was because it had been playing before she switched the car off. They were the longest forty-five minutes of her life listening to them drunk sing, and she was glad to be rid of them.
Her door opened, and a white hand stuck inside palm open. She put her hand in his and let Daniel guide her out of the car. From across the street her door opened, and Damien and Dale came jogging out.
“Ha? One of them moved again?” Daniel asked.
“No. That’s my place.”
His brow raised, “Really?”
“Yup.” She waited to see what he would say next, but he just nodded.
“Dale, Damien, you’re wives aren’t very hilarious drunks,” he said as he greeted each with a man-hug and a slap on the back.
“I’ve never seen Tasha drunk so this is a first,” Damien said opening the door. He’d just leaned inside when Tasha launched herself into his arms, and he fell back onto the ground with her in his arms.
“Daaamiii,” Tasha drunkenly cooed, kissing him all over his face.
Damien laughed from under her, “This is funny. I wish I had my camera.”
Dale reached into the car and dragged Ellie closer to him, “Please don’t puke on my shoes again.” Ellie just mumbled flopping ungracefully against Dale as he lifted her into his arms. “We’ll have to postpone the doctor’s appointment, but I’m glad she let loose.”
“Wait, I thought—”
“Daniel, I’ll walk you to your car.” Elaine quickly spoke, cutting him off. He nodded with understanding.
“I’ll see you later guys.” He chuckled shaking his head at Damien, still on the ground with Tasha on top of him, “Good luck.” With her hand still in his, he led her to the street where his car was parked just in front of Tasha’s house.
He leaned against his BMW then pulled her until she was settled tightly between his thick thighs. The way he was looking at her, she could tell he wasn’t done flirting. “So, my place or yours, though I would prefer mine.”
Elaine blinked a few times, “Direct, aren’t you?”
He moved his arms so that one cuddled her, his warm hand pressing against her chilling back, and the other dropped to her leg, his hand seated low on her thigh dangerously close to the curve of her ass. He just stared at her, and his eyes told her everything she needed to know. They were attracted to each other, so why the hell not?
“You have to get me back home before seven. I want to be here when my daughter wakes up.”
He brushed his lips against hers sending ripples of desire down her body, “Whatever the lady wants.”
He straightened, moving them back a step so that he could open the door and usher her in. When the door closed and she had a few seconds to herself, she asked herself what she was doing. Then Daniel got into the car, turned on the engine and right before he pulled out, he pulled her hand from her lap onto his own, very high up and she got her answer. Derek had made his choice and it was time she stopped waiting for him.