Predator and the prey

Chapter 26.

Elliana's POV

Thankfully we made it out of California and now are in a small town just 2 hours outside the city. Ronnie stops at a cellphone place and goes inside leaving me in the car with the doors locked, seeing as how I'd rather not go inside looking like I've been beaten half to death still.

Ronnie comes back out sometime later and gets into the car handing me the black bag with a red check on it.

" as promised from your brother. I'm a man of my promises even though certain circumstances tested those promises but this one is rather easy." He says leaning back in the driver seat watching me open the box

I pull out the familiar white box of an iPhone and look at Ronnie with surprise.

" Ronnie this things expensive you didn't have to do that..." I tell him opening the white box and pulling out the black iPhone.

" you deserve only the best, now then I know there's a rest stop with showers about an hour out from here, it's pretty nice if you'd like to stop and clean up a bit..." he says softly his voice still deep and raspy as always

" that would be great, but I don't have anything to bath with.." I tell him looking down and setting up my new phone immediately adding in Dani's number

" I got you covered already kitten. And we can grab more stuff wherever we are headed." He says placing his hand on my cheek softly and I give in resting my head against his hand closing my eyes

I want to kiss him and jump on him. I want to be pressed against his warm strong body, but I have a feeling anything more than what he's doing will bring back nasty flashbacks of what's happened recently.

We begin driving in the direction of the rest stop and Ronnie informed me instead there's a hotel not farther from the rest stop so we can get a room and sleep a little while before continuing our journey. My mind and body does need a proper rest so this isn't a bad idea.

———

We made it to the hotel which was rather nice, we walked inside and Ronnie booked us a suite on the 6th floor. He ran out to the car to grab our bags then comes back to my side as we head towards the elevators. Once inside I hit the 6th floor button and the elevator gives a hard jolt making a small squeal leave my lips.

" don't like elevators kitten?" He asks chuckling slightly

" I don't mind them honestly, but when they do sketchy shit yeah I get a little freaked out." I say cracking a small smile

We make it our official the elevator and down the hall to the room. He sets our stuff down and opens the sliding glass door to the balcony. White walls surround us and a wood vinyl flooring beneath my feet. A big king size bed and dark navy blue comforter and baby blue sheets to pull the room together. I stand on the balcony with him as rain drops start to fall from the sky.

" so are you maybe ready to talk about what happened..?" He said turning to me resting his arms on the rail

" not exactly.... I'm still trying to process what happened myself... I'm sorry..." I say to him softly turning my head down

He places his hand on my arm and I flinch slightly and sigh to myself for even flinching... he's not Andy nor one of Andy's bandits I don't understand why once again my body is betraying me

" look baby girl, don't apologize okay? I get it you were put through a lot in just a short time, for now I'll order some late dinner and you go take a nice hot shower and try to relax.." he says a small smile forming on his lips and my heart skips a beat just like it did before

I may be scared for a little while but that doesn't mean my feelings for Ronnie changed. I nod my head with a small smile and go back into the hotel room and into the bathroom. I open the glass shower door and turn the water on hot and let it get warm. As I undress I finally look at all the damage Andy did to me and can't help but break down. Black and purple bruises mark my legs and arms, my wrists are a dark purple/ red as well as my ankles from being tied up. There's dark bruising along my neck and don't even get me started on the cuts that are on my stomach and chest.

The tears leave my eyes rapidly as I grip the bathroom counter trying to get ahold of myself. I can't believe this happened, I can't believe I let this happen but at the same time there really wasn't much I could do because if I did I'd probably be dead right now. I wipe my tears and sniffle a little and shake my head taking a deep breath. I clear my throat and step into the shower letting the warm water caress my body like hot fudge on a vanilla sundae.

" here kitten, you might want this stuff." Ronnie says sliding a plastic ziplock bag of all my toiletries I used at his home.

" thank you Ronnie... for... for everything.." I say looking deep into his dark brown eyes and he nods his head biting his lip then setting down some clothes for me and a towel and leaving the bathroom

I do what I need to do and step out of the shower wrapping my hair into the towel and drying off with the other. I brush my teeth then slide on the pair of underwear and oversized t shirt he laid out for me. I let my hair out of the towel and let the curls fall naturally and step out of the bathroom cutting the light off.

" you hungry kitten food just got here?" He asked sitting down at the small table that had two plates with coverings on them

" I know we just ate a few hours ago but I'm starving, not eating barely anything for I don't know how long has created a pit of burning fire in my stomach, that I feel can't be filled." I say to him giggling softly and taking a seat across from him

He removes the sterling silver lids to reveal a lovely pork roast, with white rice and some veggies, it honestly smells and looks Devine.

" this hotel can cook can't they?" I say jokingly beginning to eat and humming with every bite

" it is delicious I'll give Them that, anyways, is there anywhere you'd Like to go?" He asks as he eats looking up at me his eyes are softer more light now

" uhm, not really California was really my home when I moved out of my fathers..." I say to him almost finished with my food

" how about Vegas? Easy to hide there amongst all the people and we're not far either." He says taking a sip of the red wine the hotel also provided

" it sounds nice but can we find somewhere quiet like the place you had before? I love the city but I feel it's just too much at the current moment." I tell him slamming back the red wine trying to get rid of this antagonizing head ache

" anything for you kitten, I just want you to be happy.." he smiles a real actual genuine smile, not a half smile not a small one not a smirk no a full tooth grin and I must say it was absolutely beautiful

We finish up dinner and we lay down listening to the faint talking on the TV all the lights are off and the thunder is rolling loudly through the sky. I lay facing him and he lays on his back, shirtless in only his boxers and my how I wish I could bring myself to be close to him but I just can't. I feel myself getting sappy again so I stand from the bed sighing .

" I'm sorry I just need a few minutes to get myself together.." I tell him and he sits up furrowing his brows

" are you sure? You're not gonna jump off the balcony are you?" He asks raising one of his eyes brows and I sigh giving him a small smile

" no ronnie I'm not gonna throw myself off the balcony I just need some time. Excuse me." I tell him turning away and heading out to the patio

I rest my arms on the railing and let the tears fall, they aren't as rapid this time and my body doesn't shake and quiver but I just feel like I must get this out. What Andy and his men did to me will stay with me forever someone just can't forget that but during this time I can only give myself grace and patience while working through what happened. I was mutilated, ripped apart, my soul torn completely out of my body and burned infront of me. I sigh and shiver slightly from the chilly breeze from the rain.

I look up and out into the parking lot and see a shadow of someone standing there, my heart beats out of my chest and my body gets the shakes again.

" r-Ron.... Ron... r-Ronnie!!!!!!!!" I try getting out at first but my anxiety peaked before I could finally scream out