34. Bloody Box

"Fuck! this is on me, Ella, now Gemma might be in trouble." He cursed and speed up his car.

I ignored him and called Grady. "Grady, you're on speaker. Brice is driving, we're on our way to Gemma,"

"Gemma is safe, Percy is there right now, go back to Brice's place we'll be there soon as we got the package and see what the fuck is in that thing anyway."

"Are you sure? we're almost there," Brice replied, slowly changing to a lower gear.

"I'm sure, I don't want the stalker following both of you back to your penthouse. We'll get Gemma to stay at ours, Percy said she's still a bit shocked."

Brice looked like he was deep in thoughts then give a nod, and told me that we're going back to his place. I kept on talking to Grady while Brice took the next roundabout and speed back to his place.

"That's it, you're never going back to your place, ever." He muttered the second we reached his place.

"Brice, I still need some of my stuff," I replied, thinking about the work that has to be done and some clothes that I need since I didn't bring much to his place in the first place.

"We'll get someone to pack it up for you and send it here. Look, it's just until we get whoever is behind this." He looked strained and stressed. I can't help but hug him, trying to make him feel better, telling him that it's not his fault and that it's expected.

"We planned this, we should be glad that this happens sooner, and both Grady and Percy are on top of this."

"I should call Clara and rethink about tomorrow." He had already pulled out his phone, I realized that it's pointless to stop him so I let him be.

"Yeah sure, but I think we should do it anyway even if it's just to get your stalker riled up and eventually make mistakes."

Brice nodded, but he still call Clara so I decided to take a quick hot shower before dealing with Grady and Percy. The drive from my parents had been tiring, then the stress with the box, Gemma, Brice's stalker, all were spiraling me to the deep end. The weight was too much and I need to wash them away. Wishfully thinking that we'll get through whatever was in front of us, unscathed.

"Ella?" Brice must've heard the shower when he stripped naked, put his glasses on the bathroom counter, and joined me under the pouring hot water. His hands wrapped around my body while his lips touch the back of my neck.

"I love you." I turned to face him, my arms instinctively wrapped around his neck pulling him down for a chaste kiss.

"I love you too, baby. We're going to be okay. Everything will go as planned." It was like a chant, like he needed himself to hear it to believe it.

"I know, I just needed this. I can't wait until it's all over and we will have the happy endings just like the characters in all of your books."

His eyes were glassy and he pulled me in his arms, cradling my wet hair, and deepening our kiss. "I will make sure you get your happy ending, I will re-write and fix the plot to your liking. You deserved this, my love." He whispered in his raspy emotional voice while he engulfed my body in his.

The shower ended when the water was starting to get cold, then he wrapped my body in the big fluffy towel, drying our bodies and letting me get dressed as he does the same. "Why don't you rest for a while, while I order dinner and wait for your brothers to arrive?" he lay me to rest in his bed and tucked me under the lush dark grey comforter.

I must've fallen asleep, didn't know how long I'd slept when I was awakened by soft murmurs from outside his bedroom. Feeling the instant cold air, I changed my shorts to my thick leggings and put on my thick oversized hoodie. I didn't feel so good, and Brice was the first one to notice.

"Ella? are you feeling sick?" he put the back of his hand to my forehead and tells me to take a seat on the sofa while he gets me some Tylenol. Grady and Percy did the same, making me roll my eyes while I rest back on the sofa.

"Just a fever, I'll be okay, I'm just tired. It's about time you guys get here." I slapped Percy's hand away from my forehead.

"Jeez, someone is grumpy," Grady didn't look offended but he did look worried and it warms my heart that my two brothers still treat me like I'm their little sister no matter how big I've gotten.

"Here drink this, I'll make you a cup of tea. Why don't you fill Ella with our discussion." Brice gave me the medicine and bottled water to flush it down.

"She doesn't have to hear this, it's okay we'll take care of everything."

"Grady..." Brice try to warn him, and I was smiling on the inside. My honey bun bun knew that I would want to know about what happened earlier and that I won't stop asking until someone provide me with the information.

"Argh," Grady groaned and I smirked while drinking more of the bottled water.

"Okay, Gemma is safe, her boss was there not long after Percy arrived. Strange guy, Gemma sure knows how to pick her boss." Again I was rolling my eyes at Grady, but he ignored me and kept on talking, "...and she's at his place after a long argument with Percy, but we put a couple of guys on surveillance for Gemma, so she's safe. We're not taking any chances, don't matter how nice her boss is to her. You need to clue me on that issue after we're done with yours. Gemma is like a sister to us already..." Grady kept on talking, babbling about Gemma while I patiently waited for him to explain about Brice's stalker.

I finally had it and cut his words, "The bloody box, Grady, what's in it?"

"Oh, that...dead mice, probably store-bought. You know the one reptile keeper buy for their snakes and such. The sick psycho smears its blood on the box. We are having the box examined, but until we find our stalker, you're not going anywhere alone. I prefer having you here, and now that you're sick I think it's better if you rest."

Brice continues on Grady's explanation. "Grady and I already talk about Clara's announcement tomorrow and our pictures and a statement from her as my agent will suffice and she said the silence from our side, will be better as if we are attempting a low profile on our engagement and it's perfect for the stalker situation."

"We're hoping whoever it is will flip once they saw the news and your face. Though the person knows you already with the bloody box fiesta but seeing us officially will hit the spot, in all the right places." Brice ended his explanation, while Percy smile smugly and Grady rest back at ease in his seat.

"Okay, so you stay low for a couple of days. Rest, little sis, we got this. Brice, you're on watch duty. Come on Grady, we have stuff to do."

"Els, let us know if you're still feeling feverish. We'll get a doctor, just don't leave unless it's an emergency." Grady gets up from the sofa and gives me a hug.

"Okay, you're burning up, you should rest. Don't forget to eat. Brice, take care of our little sister or we will hunt you down and wish you never met her."

"Grady...just go already," I muttered as I feel that they start to suffocate me with their presence. Then sighed when the front door closed behind my brothers and Brice made sure to lock it.

I went to the kitchen suddenly feeling hungry and as if he can read my mind, Brice followed me to the kitchen.

"I got this, baby. Why don't you sit, I ordered dinner already, let me heat it up for you."

The lasagna was mushy enough for my digestion and after my late dinner, Brice let me snuggle beside him with a thick blanket and watch some bad television until I fall asleep in his embrace.

Tomorrow, I hope everything would be okay. I hope things get settled sooner than later.