Chapter 62

Third Person

The ride back home is done in complete and utter silence, Ella currently off staring out the window of the vehicle while Dylan’s eyes trained on her every now and then even as he moves to text his brothers of their little mishap.

Dylan: Hey! Just a heads up, we’re heading home early, something’s happened during our trip to the Gala.

Hitting the send key, Dylan moves to wait for one of them to respond back. His eyes never leaving Ella’s. Worry rising at what could possibly be going through her mind right about now.

“Ella?” calls Dylan, causing Ella to jump slightly within her seat.

“Yes” squeaks Ella, her eyes tentatively towards her brother.

“It’ll be okay, I promise you. We won’t ever let him get to you. Reece, Caleb and I will do everything within our power to stop him from ever touching you again” explains Dylan, just as his phone buzzes with an incoming text causing him to notice that it came from Reece.

Reece: What? What happened?

Frowning, Dylan moves to text back.

Dylan: Nicholas, that’s who. I found him hanging all over Stellina without a single care in the world, almost like I wasn’t there watching him.

Feeling his rage still simmering beneath the surface, does he move to send back his reply, his hand now moving to pull Ella closer to him, the need to feel her pressed against him soothing. His phone continuing to buzz with incoming text messages, his eyes briefly reading them as they slowly trickled through.

Caleb: WHAT? That son of a bitch was there tonight? How did he manage that?

Reece: Regardless of how he got there, the matter of it all was he had Ella. If Dylan hadn’t caught him who knows what he might have done to her.

Caleb: But… She’s okay, right? Figuratively speaking of course?

Reece: Dylan?

Dylan: (sighs) Yes. Figuratively speaking she’s safe. She’s just shaken. We’re on our way back now. But be warned that Ella’s going to need us. Badly if I dare say it. He scared her good.

Releasing a sigh, does Dylan move to slide his phone into his pocket, his focus back on Ella even as he continued to hold her. Ella still tense even as the house slowly comes into view.

Glancing towards the direction of home, Dylan can’t help but feel like he had failed his baby sister tonight. Having been tasked with keeping her close, did he managed to let Nicholas get close to her, a tiny factor he did not foresee when planning the Gala.

Fuck, groans Dylan silently. I totally fucked up tonight. Not only did I not plan, but I also didn’t stop to think that he would show up either at tonight’s event as well and because of that I put everything at risk.

Shaking his head slightly, Dylan tries to get his shit together before arriving at the house. Not wanting to scare Ella any more than she already was when Ella needed them more than ever now and his problems didn’t fit when it came down to Ella.

~5 Minutes Later~

When reaching the front of the house Hayden slowly moved to park the car. Hayden quickly exiting the vehicle before moving to open the door for them.

“Here we are, home sweet home.”

Stepping aside, Hayden moves to hold the door open as Ella carefully moves to exit followed by Dylan. Ella, the first one to take in her surroundings, her eyes scanning the grounds as if scared he would magically show up. Reece and Caleb both moving to greet them once at the door.

“Welcome home Stellina” smiles Caleb, hoping to help ease some of her tension and help ease her mind just a little.

“Thank… Thank you” murmurs Ella as she slowly moves to approach them. Dylan close behind her as Hayden moves to finish parking the car before moving to look for Grant and Kris.

“Ella…” calls Reece gently.

“Yeah?”

“It’ll be okay. I promise you” assures Reece lovingly.

“I know. Dylan said the same thing too. But… it’s just…” pausing in her words does Ella move to speak again. “I just need some space. Please. I just need some time to get my mind back together before anything else happens so if you’ll excuse me, I’m heading upstairs to change.”

“Of course, Stellina” replies Caleb, each of them moving to watch as Ella slowly moved to head inside and up towards her bedroom. Each of them sharing a knowing look on their faces as they move to enter the house. Reece closing the door once inside.

\~~~~~~~~~~
Ella

When entering my bedroom, I knew it wouldn’t be long until the guys carefully decided to come in and check up on me once more. For after all, I was shaking like a leaf upon my return home and even if I didn’t want to admit it out loud, I needed them.

Shoving the thoughts away for now, I slowly move to head for my big walk-in closet. The need to get my beautiful dress off me now coursing through my mind. A dress I boughten for Dylan’s big night but barely got to wear it all thanks to Nicholas.

“Oh well,” I sigh, now slipping off the dress. “There’s always next time”

Taking the dress, I move to hang it up on a hanger before carefully placing it with the many other dresses that I owned all thanks to my brothers. My eyes briefly watching the dress again before finally opting for a pair of silk pajamas from my drawer.

The shorts and cami both in a baby blue color with white lace trim. A present from Reece and the guys as a gesture of their love for me. Another reason to spoil me just because they could.

Feeling a smile begin to form at just thinking about my brothers made everything within my life bearable.  Deciding on snuggling within my warm plush bed, I move to put my phone safely on the charger near my desk before moving to head for the bed. My eyes slowly closing upon touching the bed as I gradually allow myself to fall into a peaceful slumber.

Oblivious to the touch of warm strong arms as they slowly move to wrap themselves around me gently. My body now curled around my mystery person as rock hard abs move to greet my back, steady breathing hitting my ear as they slowly move into a peaceful slumber in which eases my own mind into a peaceful slumber as well.

\~~~~~~~~~~
Reece

When watching Ella move to walk away from us, I instantly knew better than to keep her any longer than she was willing to handle. Her need to get away from us and hide was her safety net. My eyes lingering on her body a little while longer until finally I moved to focus back on Dylan and Caleb.

“So, what happened exactly? You mentioned something about Nicholas and him touching her. Did anything else happen that we should now about?"

“No… At least, nothing that I didn’t already mention to the both of you. I mean, one minute she’s with me, asking for the powder room, and the next, she’s being held by that son of a bitch” growls Dylan, still clearly upset for letting Ella down tonight.

“Look, I know you still feel terrible about what exactly happened tonight. But Ella needs us. And we need to remain strong for her” I say, needing Dylan to fully understand that it wasn’t just about him but her too.

“I know. He just took me by surprise, that’s all.”

Nodding my head, I gently lay a hand against his shoulder as a way of showing my support.

“I know Dylan. Look, take tonight to yourself and unwind. Collect your thoughts and your emotions and when you’re finally ready come and find her. She’ll be waiting for you like she’s always done.” I admit softly, wanting him to know that Ella was safe and patiently waiting for us.

“Thanks. But after tonight, it might not be a good idea for me to be present. Maybe tomorrow I can be” admits Dylan honestly.

“Then you better hurry, because tomorrow I plan on taking her with me on a practice run. Because my race is fast approaching and for that she’s all mine” chuckles Caleb, excited to spend that quality time with Ella again.

“Just make sure your careful with her when you do. We don’t need her frightened among the many other things that scare her” I tell him, deciding on calling it a night while using it as an excuse to check up on Ella too. Having given her enough time to change and get comfortable upon her bed.

“And what about you?” asks Caleb with a curious gaze to his face.

“Me? Why spend the night with our little Stellina of course. So, with that I bid you all goodnight boys” is all I manage to say as I slowly move to climb the stairs to the bedrooms. Already anticipating the view of Ella as I move to enter her room.

Ella now on the verge of sleep as she now laid peacefully upon her bed. Completely unaware of my presence as I moved to enter the room. Having already been dressed in simple pajama bottoms I carefully move to climb into bed next to her. My arms gently wrapping themselves around her middle as I move to bring her closer to mine.

A soft smile rising as she curls herself around me as I do.

“Sleep well Princess. You deserve it” I whisper, hoping that my presence was enough to bring her calm, peaceful dreams until morning.