Chapter 24, Milo

I thought I knew what chaos was, but it's nothing compared to Ellis' mind right after the hospital called.

He drove us all the way to the hospital, and almost crashed the car three times. Esmeralda had to hold on to me for dear life to keep from crying. Hopefully, we were there before we could blink, and he didn't even wait for us to get out and immediately sprinted inside. Right now, a nurse is coming our way, while my brother is anxiously fidgeting with his fingers.

Esmeralda is chewing on her nails, when a red haired nurse in scrubs stops before us, Ellis chirps. "Cleo York. Is she okay ? I want to know what the fuck happened to her ?"

I put a hand on his shoulder to try to calm him down, and make a note to myself that I will be doing the talking, because he definitely isn't in his right mind, at the moment.

The nurse only nods, and looks at the notebook she's holding in her hands, "Miss York is finally stable, she'll get through it. She actually just woke up a few minutes ago, and you can see her."

Everyone releases a relieved breath we didn't know we were holding. Thank fucking God. Esmeralda's best friend and I aren't the closest, we've only seen each other a few times, but both my girl and my brother care for her, so I guess that means she's family too.

"What exactly happened to her ?" I ask.

The nurse finally throws us an understanding look laced with pity, "She didn't want to say anything. From the bruises and cuts on her face and body, it looks like someone did it to her. She refused to take a Rape-Kit."

Esmeralda gasps, and a small whimper comes out of her mouth. I tighten my hold on her hand. Someone better have not hurt Cleo, because if Ellis finds them, I don't think they'll be alive to talk about their altercation with him afterwards. I know my older brother enough to know how dangerous he can become. I look over to him, his jaw is clenched, his fist are balled tightly, and his eyes are bloodshot. This is not good.

"Thank you." I speak tightly.

The woman directs us to Cleo's room, leading the way. When we're arrived, she knocks once and opens the door.

Goddamn, if I didn't gasp myself when I see Esmeralda's best friend. She is laying in the hospital bed, wearing scrubs, so the only visible injuries are on her face and arms. She had bruises on both of her eyes, there are deep cuts on her cheeks, and her nose looks like it was broken then rearranged with the way it's bleeding. Her arms are heavily bruised. We can't even see her features clearly. She looks genuinely surprised and scared when she sees us walking in, but when her gaze settles on Ellis, I could swear that fireworks light in her brown eyes with emotions I can't place.

Esmeralda starts crying, and advances towards the bed, almost launching herself at Cleo, her arms carefully thrown around her.

"Oh my God, Cleo." She whimpers, burrowing her face in her stomach, "I thought I would lose you."

Cleo doesn't even take her gaze away from Ellis, "I'm fine." Even her voice is hoarse, as if she's screamed a lot.

I notice Ellis' jaw and fists are still clenched, but there's a danger in his eyes as he takes her in, it's almost scary. He starts slowly walking towards the bed as well, and Cleo swallows hard.

My brother immediately stops in his tracks when he's right next to the bed, and Esmeralda straightens, looking between the both of them.

His tone is laced with murder, when he says, "Who did this to you ?"

The blonde haired woman swallows hard again, looking down at her hands, folded in her lap, "I fell down the stairs." We obviously all know it's a lie, because there's no way a fall in the stairs could do this much damage. The real question is, why would she lie about something like that ?

"That's bullshit, Cleo and you know it." Ellis snorts his voice a tad higher.

"Tell us, Cleo. You know you can tell us." Esmeralda intervenes softly.

The woman shakes her head, wincing from the pain it brings her, I can see her hesitate, then give in, "I'm tired, and I think I need a nap."

"Cleo-"

My brother's tone is still murderously calm when he interrupts me, "Is it that son of a bitch ? Did he do this to you ?"

Who's that son of a bitch ? I don't think my girlfriend has ever mentioned anything about her best friend being in a relationship, especially not after Ellis - or whatever he represented to her.

"Who's that ?" Esmeralda asks, turning towards Ellis, a confused expression on.

We all look at the golden haired woman.

Cleo bursts in crying, and that's confirmation enough for my brother.

His eyes widen, as if he didn't think it would really be the truth, then he starts yelling, "Where does he live ?! Give me his address. Where does he fucking live ?!" Esme's best friend flinches hard. Ellis is literally losing his mind right now.

I prepare myself to take him out of the room, but Esmeralda stands up furiously, and slaps him across the face. What the fuck ? If I wasn't so stunned, and if the situation wasn't this serious, I would admit that this is very hot.

"Shut the fuck up, Ellis. Pull yourself together, because Cleo fucking needs you !" Then, in a smaller voice, "If you become a screaming mess, it will only dissuade her to talk about the truth, and I know what I am talking about. So be there for her, and the person responsible for this will wait for their punishment." My throat tightens at that. Esmeralda has gone through so much, and the thing I would hate is for her to go through it again with someone she loves.

The talk seems to snap Ellis out of it, because his eyes soften ever so slightly, and he unballs his fists, then looks over to Cleo, who's still crying, face in her hands. Esmeralda steps beside me as we watch them.

He slowly walks towards her, and sits down on the chair next to her bed. With a gentleness I've never seen him act with, he takes her hands in his and off her face. She stops crying, startled,when she notices who's there. Without a word, he places a kiss on both of her knuckles.

"He's never going to hurt you again. You have my word on that."

Cleo is still looking at him, with everything she isn't dancing in her eyes. Vulnerability, fear, weakness. My own heart skips a beat when she nods slowly and my brother leans in to place a kiss on her forehead.

Esmeralda gives me a look as if to ask me if I'm seeing this as well. I nod, then wrap my arm around her shoulders and let her snuggle against me.

"You're safe now. I promise I won't let anyone hurt you again, sweetheart."