Page 69 of Merciless King
My eye stops on an ad for an online adult extension course in creative writing that I can do from home. I used to love writing, filling endless notebooks with stories and poems. To be honest, I wanted to be a famous best-selling author, but my parents suggested I pursue something a bit more predictable and stable. That’s how I settled on journalism.
I click the creative writing course, reading through the syllabus with growing interest. I can picture myself crafting stories again, pouring my heart onto the page, rediscovering that part of myself that I thought was lost forever. I’ve often made up stories to tell Elysse. Perhaps I could write children’s books. My heart races as I select the registration button. Emotion wells as I take a step toward a new me. For so long, I've let myself be defined by others. My parents. Gabriel. And if I’m not careful, the same could happen with Elio. Enrolling in this course feels like a declaration of independence.
I cross my fingers that Gabriel hasn’t cut off my access to the bank yet as I complete the registration process. It's a small step, but it feels monumental. My breath holds as I wait for the payment to go through. Shockingly, it does.
I sit back, smiling and feeling victorious.
“You look satisfied with yourself.”
I look up to see Elio entering. I’m giddy with excitement, but that falters as I see the expression on his face belies the lighthearted statement. He’s tense. His eyes are dark, making me think of the time he was determined to murder Gabriel.
I glance at the clock, noting it’s early for him to be home. "Did something happen with your meeting?”
He shakes his head as he walks toward me. “My meeting is later. Tony stopped by with the divorce papers.”
This should be a joyous moment, but it’s clearly not. “He didn’t sign them?”
Elio hands me the paper, and I scan the scrawled message, my eyes widening in horror as I read Gabriel's threatening words. My hands start to shake, the paper crinkling in my grip.
“No… he can’t take her. He’s never wanted her, not really.”
Elio nods grimly. "Tony says that since you never pressed charges or documented the abuse, Gabriel might be able to make a case that your living with me is a danger to Elysse. Especially with the evidence he has against me."
The room is spinning. It’s happening. The shoe is dropping. Just when everything is going right, Gabriel has to take it away again. Just like he always has.
The thought of Gabriel getting custody of Elysse is too horrifying to comprehend. Tears sting my eyes, and I press a hand to my mouth, trying to stifle the sob that rises in my throat.
Elio pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly as I tremble against him. "I won't let him take her.” He leans back. “I was on my way to deal with it the way I should have last week. Against my better judgement, I’m here because I know you don’t want that, but fucking hell, Piper… I won’t let him live if he’s going to continue this bullshit.”
I take a shuddering breath to steady myself. If I’m going to be strong, I can’t let my fear consume me, paralyze me. "He’s doing this to hurt me. He knows Elysse is the key to making me do what he wants. He's using her as a pawn to get back at me for leaving."
Elio nods, his eyes hardening.
My hands curl into fists at my sides. "I won't let him use Elysse against me. Not anymore."
Elio takes my hand, his fingers lacing through mine. “Then I’ll go.”
It takes me a minute to understand what he’s saying. I shake my head. “You can’t just solve problems with violence. That's what he does.”
The minute the words are out of my mouth, I regret them. The look on Elio’s face, pain and disappointment, heightens my guilt.
“I’m nothing like him,” he says with a clenched jaw.
“Elio, I didn’t mean?—”
“I’d never put my hands on you or Elysse or anyone in my family to hurt them.”
“I know.” I reach out to him, but he’s offended by my insinuation and steps back.
“But I will protect what’s mine. Any man would, Piper. Any man who says they wouldn’t kill to protect their family is a liar.”
“I’m just tired of the violence?—”
“I can make it stop, Piper. If you think he can be negotiated with, you’re delusional.”
I feel bad for making the comparison because Gabriel and Elio are different men. I don’t know Elio’s experience with violence, but when I consider how easy it is for him to talk about Gabriel’s death, I have to believe he’s killed before.
I’m also not too thrilled to have him call me delusional. “Just because I want a peaceful resolution doesn’t make me delusional. Is that how you solve all problems?”