Chapter One Hundred and Forty - Ellis Returns

Adian was still lying down on the bed with his eyes closed, when I returned from freshening myself, after my short nap.

I glared at him, even if he cannot see me. I quickly left the bedroom. It was only when I entered the kitchen to meet Mel's mischievous smirk, Gerard's raised eyebrows and Basil's chuckles, that I remembered, I was still in my PJs.

"Sorry" I muttered, passing my hands over my attire, "I fell asleep and now I'm hungry" I sat at the kitchen counter, looking at Mel add finishing touches to her special meal, that's still a mystery to me.

Basil came and dropped a beer in front of me before taking a seat opposite me, observing me with a thoughtful expression.

I'm not a beer lover, but I won't refuse it, at least not today, when I feel let down by my husband, who I confidently admitted to trusting.

"Heard your admirer contacted you today" Basil comments, taking a sip of his beer, putting it on the counter, waiting for me to respond.

I lifted the bottle and starting sipping, while I consider how to respond to what Basil said, because Mr. Shaw's aggressiveness is very confusing and unnerving to me.

"You were there, do you think that I encouraged Mr. Shaw in any way at yesterday's meeting?" Remembering that he was there, I had to know if I subconsciously led Mr. Shaw on.

Frowning, Basil shakes his head, "of course not. Is that what you think?" Basil gives me an incredulous look. "Hailey, whatever's happening is only in that psycho's head." Basil assures me.

"I'm having him followed as we speak," Gerard, whose still helping Mel at the sink informs us and I look at him shocked, because, even though I might be scared, from my past experience, that no reason to treat everyone like my last attacker.

"What? Why?" I asked, getting agitated, with everything that's been happening lately. "You didn't have to do that." I said, but the look in Gerard's says another story.

Basil turns to Gerard, "yeah man, why are you having him followed?" Basil quizzes him.

Placing, clean dishes in front of us, "I listen in to his conversation with Hailey and it's like he wants to meet her one in one, but there's something off with him." Gerard leans on his elbows in front of Basil and I, before he continues to speak. "It's as if he's demanding that he be associated with her or maybe linked to her." Gerard says and Basil nods thoughtfully, taking a gulp of his beer, but didn't comment, allowing Gerard to continue but I was tired of this and tired to Mr. Shaw.

As i was about to stand up, Gerard continues, "After meeting him today, I realized that he was definitely on something and the way he spoke out loud, it's as if he wanted everyone around to believe that there is something going on between himself and Hailey" and I frown at Gerard's observation.

"Me thinks the military in you is on overdrive," I chuckle, to make it sound like a joke, as I joined Mel, where she stood dishing out her completed masterpiece.

I finished help Mel pack dinner for Gerard and his family, which is a custom I intend to carry out, although he still objects.

While we were putting a Lasagne, Roasted Garlic Patatoes and a Fetta salad, which smells and looks, absolutely amazing.

A phone ping behind us, but we continued what we were doing, because it is later than usual for Gerard to be taking dinner to his family.

"Hailey is Adian asleep?" Basil asks and I spun around to say that I don't know and that I don't care, but their expressions stopped me.

"What's wrong?" I glance between Basil and Gerard, not ready to jump to conclusions.

Taking the phone from Gerard's hand, Basil opens a series of photos for me to view and in every one of them, Mr. Shaw is seen in the company of Ellis, Emmy's stepfather. I clutch my chest, as my heart sank in fear. Fear of this evil human being who has been haunting my nights and my days for the past two years.

"Emmy's stepfather," I whispered as Gerard looks at Basil, before turning back to me.

"You know the man with the scar?" Gerard describes the scar that was clearly visible in the photos taken and I nod my head confirming that I knew the beast, Mr. Shaw was speaking to. The man, who along with his beastly friend, tried to gang rape me for alerting the authorities about the abuse Emmy suffered at his hands.

As the memories of that awful night returned, I sank unto the kitchen floor, panic setting in. Hugging my knees to my chest, I started rocking back and forth, counting from twenty, backwards.

I was so lost in fear, that I didn't know what was happening around me, or feel Mel hugging me, muttering soothing sounds, or that Basil and Gerard had left the kitchen.

As my breathing returned to normal, with tear stained cheeks, I met Mel's concerned expression and I smiled weakly, whispering, "I'm sorry" I told her, tired of always being in need of comfort from everyone, because I am weak and always crumbling at things that I should have overcome by now.

I moved to stand and Mel helped me up, "Hailey, are you feeling better?" Mel asks and I nod, lying to her, because I am so very afraid, but not just for me, but for Emmy.

Looking around the kitchen, I realized the guys are gone, "where are the guys?" I asked, only to see Adian rushing in towards me, with Basil and Gerard following him.

Without uttering a word or asking a question, Adian lifted me in his arms and started walking out of the kitchen, but I am wasn't ready to be alone with him.

I started wriggling my feet, "I'm hungry." I lied again, trying to get him to put me down and maybe Adian read the animosity in my eyes, because he quickly confesses his whereabouts last night.

"I was with Jerry the entire evening and spent the night at his home, after returning from an illegal fight club." Adian says, "you can call my aunt and confirmed it." He adds and I give him a small smile, because I don't need to call anyone to confirm where he was. I believe him!