29. Ellie

29

Ellie

My heart pounds as I watch Ethan advance cautiously into the warehouse, his figure barely discernible in the dim light. The cold concrete floor chills me through my hospital socks, the hospital gown barely covers me, and the air smells of dust and decay. I can feel the ropes biting into my wrists, but I’m more focused on the man holding the gun and the eerie silence around us.

My hands have been working the ropes binding my wrists since I was brought here. Kiara wasn’t careful enough when she tied them, and now I’ve almost loosened the last knot.

My heart shatters as I see Ethan drop to the ground.

Did he get hit?

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Daniel crouched behind a box, a nine millimeter pistol aimed at one of my captors.

Panic and grief overwhelm me. I finally wrench my hands free of the binds, my wrists red and sore.

"Ethan!!" I scream, my voice raw.

He groans, rolling onto his side. Relief floods me when I realize he isn’t hurt. The bullet must have missed him. He’s back on his feet in an instant, launching himself at the man with the gun. They grapple fiercely, their bodies colliding with a thud. Ethan knocks the gun from the man’s hand, sending it skittering across the floor.

The man throws a punch, but Ethan blocks it, delivering a powerful blow to his gut. The man doubles over, gasping for breath. Ethan doesn’t let up, slamming his elbow into the man’s back, sending him sprawling.

“Stay down!” Ethan commands, his voice icy.

Before the man can recover, Kiara and Jaclyn emerge from the shadows, their faces twisted with malice.

“Ethan!” Kiara shrieks, rushing toward him.

Jaclyn strides toward me, a sneer on her face. “You always were a pathetic little princess, Elena,” she taunts, her voice dripping with venom. “How does it feel to be utterly powerless?”

I meet her gaze, fire igniting in my chest. “I’m not powerless,” I say, my voice steady.

“Yes, you are. Your brother isn’t going to rescue you this time. You’re all done for.”

Daniel comes out of the shadows, his gun pointed at Jaclyn and Kiara.

“Looks like you’re wrong, Jaclyn.”

“No!” she shrieks.

“I told you that we should have left, you dumb bitch!” Kiara hisses at Jaclyn. “You just had to get your revenge on Elena and wouldn’t give me my cut until you did.”“She needs to pay! You agreed with me!” Jaclyn snaps.

“Revenge for what?” I ask in disbelief.

“For stealing Ethan from me! You… you knew I had a crush on him and that I was going to make a move. Ryan told you and you still went on a date with him.”

“What are you talking about?” I gasp. “I didn’t know you ever had a thing for him.”

“You lying bitch!”

Jaclyn lunges toward me and I easily move out of the way. She crashes into a wall of boxes.

“It’s my money!” Kiara screams as she lunges for the duffel bag.

“Take it,” Daniel laughs coldly as he throws the bag toward her. “We don’t care about the money.”

“You’re all pathetic,” Jaclyn sneers. “Fat, pathetic Elena. Ethan’s not going to want you now that you’re a broke bitch. He’s always liked my pussy better.”

Gross.

Jaclyn’s eyes widen just as I slap her across the face with all the strength I can muster. She stumbles back, shock registering on her features. I don’t give her time to recover. I launch myself at her, my fists connecting with her jaw and ribs. She fights back, but I dodge her blows, adrenaline fueling my movements.Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kiara charging at Ethan, but he deftly sidesteps her, sending her crashing into a stack of crates. Jaclyn manages to land a punch on my cheek, but I shake it off, grabbing her arm and twisting it behind her back. She cries out in pain, but I’m relentless. I shove her to the ground, pinning her there.

Kiara gets back up, rage twisting her features. She grabs a metal pipe from the floor, swinging it wildly at Ethan. He ducks, grabbing her wrist and twisting it until she drops the pipe with a clatter. With a swift, precise movement, he sweeps her legs out from under her, sending her crashing to the ground.

I turn my attention back to Jaclyn, who is struggling beneath me. “Stay down!” I command, my voice fierce.

She glares up at me, hatred burning in her eyes. “This isn’t over, Elena.”

“Yes, it is,” I reply, tightening my grip on her arm.

I deliver a final blow to her head with my fist which surprisingly, knocks her unconscious.

Ethan has subdued Kiara, who is lying on the ground, groaning in pain. He looks at me, his eyes filled with concern and relief. “Are you okay?”

I nod, my breath coming in short gasps. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

In the distance, we hear the wail of police sirens growing closer.

“Did you call the police?” I ask Ethan.

“I did,” Daniel interjects as he sits up warily. “I texted Dietrich before we got out of the truck. Something felt off.”

Ethan rushes over to me, pulling me into a tight embrace. “I thought I lost you,” he murmurs, his voice trembling.

“You didn’t,” I whisper, clinging to him. “We’re going to get through this.”

“Those videos.”

“Ethan, Dietrich told me a bit after we were admitted to the hospital that your bloodwork showed that you were drugged and… I believe that you didn’t do it.”

The police burst into the warehouse, their flashlights cutting through the darkness. Officers swarm in, quickly assessing the situation and taking Kiara, Jaclyn, and the gunman into custody.

An officer approaches us, his expression serious. “Are you guys okay?”

“We’re fine,” Ethan says, his arm still around me. “Daniel, you good?”

“Yeah, something hit me and knocked me out I think.”

The officer nods. “We’ll need to take your statements. But first, let’s get you all checked out by the paramedics.”

As we’re led outside, the cool night air hits my face, and I take a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. The ordeal isn’t over, but we’ve survived. And now, we can start to piece our lives back together.

As the paramedics check us over, Ethan holds my hand, his grip reassuring.

The police are busy securing the warehouse, the flashing lights of their cars illuminating the scene. I glance over at Ethan, who is talking to one of the officers, his expression serious. Despite everything, he looks strong, determined. And I know that together, we can face whatever comes next.

As I stand there, the adrenaline slowly fading, I feel a sense of hope. We’ve been through hell, but we’ve come out the other side. And now, we can start to rebuild.

Daniel is fine, too. I’m not sure how we all walked away physically unharmed from this.

Kiara, Jaclyn, and the man are all taken into custody.

Ethan comes over, wrapping his arms around me. “Let’s go home,” he says softly.

I nod, leaning into him. “Yes, let’s.”

***

The night is calm, a stark contrast to the chaos that has just transpired. We’re sitting outside on Ethan’s back patio, the soft glow of the garden lights casting a warm, comforting light around us. The air is cool, filled with the scent of blooming jasmine, a stark reminder that life goes on even after the most terrifying of events. I’m cradling a mug of hot tea, trying to steady my nerves, while Ethan and Daniel sit on either side of me.

Ethan’s hand is on my back, rubbing small circles that are soothing but I can’t shake the thought of how close we came to losing everything. He keeps glancing at me, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you sure you’re okay, Elena?” he asks for the tenth time.

I nod, managing a small smile. “I’m okay, Ethan. Really. Just... processing everything.”

Daniel looks at both of us, his protective big-brother mode fully activated. “I can’t believe all this happened,” he says, shaking his head. “I’m just glad we’re all here, safe.”

“Me too. I was so worried about you and the…” Ethan says, stopping quickly.

Daniel shoots us both a weird look.

“Daniel, I’m pregnant. Surprise, you’re going to be an uncle.”

My brother’s face lights up with pure joy. “Are you serious?” he exclaims, jumping up from his seat. “That’s amazing news, Elena! I’m so happy for you both!”

Daniel wraps us both in a bear hug, his happiness infectious. “This is the best news ever! I’m so glad all the crazy is over now. You two deserve some peace and happiness.”

Ethan laughs, the sound filled with a mixture of joy and disbelief. “Yeah, we really do.”

After a few more minutes of celebration, Daniel heads inside to grab us some celebratory drinks, leaving Ethan and me alone on the patio. The night feels even quieter now, the stars twinkling above us like tiny beacons of hope.

Ethan turns to me, his eyes filled with emotion. “Elena, I love you so much. When I thought I’d lost you again, I was terrified. I don’t think I can go through that again.”

I take his hand, squeezing it gently. “I’m not going anywhere. I love you too. We’ve been through so much together, and we’ve come out stronger on the other side.”

He looks at me, a fierce determination in his eyes. “I can’t imagine my life without you. I don’t want to.”

Before I can respond, he stands up and then drops to one knee in front of me. My heart skips a beat as I realize what’s happening.

“Ethan...” I whisper, my voice catching in my throat.

“I don’t have a ring,” he says, his voice filled with emotion, “but I can’t wait another moment to ask you this. Elena, will you marry me? Will you spend the rest of your life with me, loving me, making a family with me?”

Tears blur my vision as I nod fervently. “Yes, Ethan. Yes, I will marry you.”

He stands up, pulling me into his arms and kissing me deeply. The world fades away, leaving just the two of us in this perfect moment.

When we finally break apart, I rest my forehead against his, our breaths mingling in the cool night air. “We’re going to be okay, Ethan,” I whisper. “We’re going to be more than okay.”

He smiles, a brilliant, unguarded smile that makes my heart swell with love. “Yes, we are.”

Daniel comes back out, holding three glasses of sparkling cider, non alcoholic celebration, of course He stops short when he sees us, a knowing grin spreading across his face. “Did I miss something?”

Ethan and I share a look, and then I turn to Daniel, my face beaming. “We’re getting married.”

His grin widens as he hands us the glasses. “To new beginnings,” he says, raising his glass in a toast. “To family, love, and happiness.”

We clink our glasses together, the sound a sweet harmony in the night. As we sip the cider, I feel a deep sense of peace settle over me. We’ve faced so much darkness, but now, standing here with the two most important men in my life, I know that the future is bright.

Ethan wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me close. “Here’s to our future, Elena. Together.”

“Together,” I echo.

My phone begins ringing and I look down to see Grams is calling. I glance up at my brother who gestures for me to answer it.

"Grams?"

"Elena," her voice trembles, sounding frail and shaken, "I'm at the shop. It looks like there was a fire. Are you okay? Is everyone okay?"

"We’re okay, Grams. Just stay put. Daniel and I are leaving right now."

I hang up and turn to Daniel, who’s been listening intently. “We need to go to the shop. Grams is there.”

Daniel nods, his face serious. “Let’s go. I’ll drive.”

We quickly load into Daniel’s truck, the engine roaring to life as we speed toward the boutique. My mind races with worry about Grams and the shop, our family’s legacy, which has already endured so much.

When we arrive, we rush inside, finding Grams in the attic. She’s standing at the spot where Armand’s body was discovered, her shoulders shaking with sobs.

Whiskers and all of the kittens are rubbing against her.

I’m so grateful Keeley and I had gotten them all out of the building during the fire.

“Grams,” I call softly, rushing to her side.

She turns, tears streaming down her face. “Oh, Elena,” she cries, clutching my hand. “I never wanted any of this to come to light.”

I wrap my arms around her, holding her close. “It’s okay, Grams. We’ll figure this out together.”

Daniel steps forward, his expression gentle but curious. “Grams, what happened?”

She takes a deep, shuddering breath, her eyes distant as she starts to speak. “My first love, Armand, he was an evil man. He tried to kill me when he found out I was pregnant. I had to run away, go into hiding. But five years later, he found me and kidnapped our daughter.”

I feel a chill run down my spine as her story unfolds, each word painting a darker picture of the past.

“He kidnapped our daughter and then came back for me, almost ten years later. He told me that he’d sent men telling them that I’d kidnapped his daughter and wanted her back, and that I had taken some priceless family heirlooms. He described the bags to them. I guess he thought I was too stupid to hide them. When all the men came back with Lorelai but without the money, he was furious. He was a wanted man, so he couldn’t leave Paris. However, he was desperate and wanted the money I had taken from him. He had to do it himself next time.

Walter, your grandfather, found Armand attacking me. I was in and out of consciousness. I remember Gramps taking the fight into the next room and then I passed out. Walter told me that Armand would never bother me again, that he got the memo and would never return. He... he killed Armand to protect me. I didn’t know until many years later, when you, Elena, were playing up here and knocked some bricks loose. That’s when I saw the body.”

I remember that day vividly now, the shock and confusion. “I thought it was just a prank, Gramps hiding mannequins to scare us.”

“That’s where I got the idea of telling you that lie when I was on the cruise. I hoped you’d remember it, believe it, and stop digging. I didn’t want you to find the truth.”

“What about Lorelai?”

“I never found our daughter. I don’t know if she’s still alive. Armand died without telling me where she was. I should go to the police and turn myself in. I hid a murder for so many years. It’s the right thing to do.”

“No, Grams,” I say firmly, squeezing her hands. “It’s okay. They don’t have to know that Gramps killed him. Gramps was protecting you.”

Daniel steps closer, nodding in agreement. “Elena’s right. We can’t risk losing you too.”

Grams looks at us, her eyes filled with anguish and love. “I don’t want to lie, but I also don’t want to leave you all behind.”

I hug her tightly. “We’ll figure it out together, Grams. We’ll make sure the truth comes out, but in a way that doesn’t hurt our family any more than it already has.”

“If you’ve been to Paris, why do our parents think you’re scared of flying and that you’ve never left the country?” Daniel asks.

“I made up a few stories. I was so embarrassed about falling for Armand I started telling people that I’d never left the country. When he was killed I stuck to that, kept saying I was scared of flying and water so that no one would ever suspect me if it came to light that Armand was missing.”

“So you had this entirely amazing life in Paris, rubbing elbows with some of the fashion industry’s most influential people and you couldn’t even tell anyone?” I ask.

Grams smiles softly. “I didn’t need to name drop or tell the amazing stories I had. My time with those designers, my friends, taught me so many things that I passed on to you and that’s all that matters.”

At least now we know who did it and why.

I won’t allow my grandfather’s name to be tarnished because he was protecting his wife.

***

“Well, it seems we have some answers,” Deitrich tells us as he walks into the boutique the next afternoon.

“Answers that put people in jail?” I ask with a smile.

“For a long time,” he nods.

“They confessed?” Ethan interjects.

“The two of them threw each other under the bus fairly quickly. It seems that Jaclyn was mostly the mastermind behind everything. Kiara was only interested in the money. She and Jaclyn became friends when Kiara was dating Ethan, but Jaclyn told Kiara that Ethan didn’t need to know about their friendship because he’d keep them apart.

Jaclyn is obsessed with her grudge against Elena. She wanted to throw people off her trail and that’s why she put the pictures of Ethan and Kiara up in the boutique. She’s also the one that was spreading all of the rumors to the media.”

“That makes sense. I couldn’t understand why Kiara was continuing with everything.”

“Jaclyn has a lot of mental issues. She’s been in and out of facilities ever since she turned nineteen, but her family kept it quiet. She lied to Kiara and told her that she had some of the money from the boutique, that she’d found it but that Ethan and Daniel had stolen some of it from her. It was Jaclyn’s idea to send the text about the ransom.”

“Why did Kiara go along with it?”

“Because she really believed Jaclyn had found the money and that this is how she was going to get it back.”

“And you have proof of all of it?”

“We have admissions and proof. Luke and Ryan were pretty helpful with a lot of the information. They sent us in the right direction anyway. The search warrants for both of their phones helped even more.”

“What about the guy that was at the warehouse?”

“A friend of Jaclyn’s who she promised a lot of money to if he helped her out.”

“How did I ever think Jaclyn was my friend?” I ask.

“Listen Elena,” Deitrich says with a shake of his head. “Don’t beat yourself up over it. She’s really good at manipulation and lying. She’s a master at it. You couldn’t have known.”

I exhale and blow out a breath.

“I’m just glad it’s all over and that they’ll see jail time,” Ethan says.

I nod.

He’s right. I have to focus on the positives.

Jaclyn and Kiara will serve their time and never bother me again. That’s all that matters.