Page 25 of Revived (Lucky Ones #1)

Chapter seventeen

Elena Rossi

I t’s been a week since the incident with my stalker.

In that week I’ve learned absolutely nothing.

Mac swears he’s on it, but the fact that even he’s stumped doesn’t exactly leave me with the warm and fuzzies.

Today’s my first day leaving the house without a shadow.

Everyone was busy today and I have to be at the gym.

You’d think that meant everyone was settling back down after what happened that night.

You’d be wrong, but you would think that.

No, instead of one of the guys following me, there’s a shiny new guard who posts up outside of the gym.

He doesn’t talk to anyone, and no one aside from me knows why he’s actually there.

Sully said it’d ease his mind so he can focus while at work, and with the dangers of his job, I wasn’t trying to have his focus split between me and an emergency.

Pulling into the parking lot of the gym, I park beside the guard’s SUV.

He nods at me subtly before going back to surveying the area. Today’s going to be a long one.

I’ve worked so hard today that every muscle in my body screams for rest, but when my phone starts ringing off the hook at just past seven, I find the inner strength to run over and check it.

I don’t recognize the number, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.

I have coaches and gyms calling me from all over the country.

I swipe to answer without much thought and bring the phone to my ear .

“Hello?” I answer, half expecting to hear some old man on the other line, but when that voice rumbles through the line, I almost vomit on the spot.

“Little gymnast. I’ve missed you this week. Those pesky guys made it impossible for us to continue our game.”

My heart lurches into my throat, but even if I could respond he doesn’t give me a chance.

“You know I’ve always hated when you hung out with them. It makes you look like a desperate whore, Elena. You’re so much better than that. Not to mention it makes me look horrible.”

He couldn’t be serious right now. Finally I find a way to choke out, “How are you still alive?”

His laugh is loud and manic. It slides along my skin like one hundred little needles scratching on a chalkboard. “Oh, Elle. Surely you didn’t think I’d let myself get caught by one of them. ”

“Well, last I checked I managed to get away from you as a seventeen year old girl. So yeah, I was fairly certain that one of the best hackers in the world was able to track you down no problem.” I snap. This mystery man has controlled me for far too long, and I’m over it.

He makes a tsk of disapproval at my outburst. “Silly woman, I thought you knew better than to provoke me. Tell that guard of yours that I said hi. See you soon. Elena.” The phone beeps three times, signaling that he’s hung up.

Fuck. What the Hell am I supposed to do now?

Maybe I should call one of the guys? No, they’ll just panic.

Mac’s doing all he can, even if it doesn’t seem like anything is being done.

I know he’s trying to figure this out. It was just a phone call, I can handle this by myself.

Maybe I should call this whole thing off with Sully.

I mean, he was dormant for years until right when Sully and I stopped fighting each other.

Just as I think it, a hand lands on my shoulder, causing me to practically jump out of my skin.

“Woah. It’s just me. You were staring off into space. I was just checking on you.” Addy backs up cautiously.

“I’m sorry. I’ve just been jumpy since the person that showed up at my house.

Do you want to walk out together? I’m done for the day.

” I plaster on a fake smile that must look real enough because Addy just nods and begins rambling about this guy she’s been texting.

I’m tuning her out, but like a good friend, I make sure to throw a “no way” in there every once in a while.

I’m really not trying to be a shitty friend or person.

I’m just trying to figure out what I’m going to do between the stalker and sacrificing my happiness for safety.

By the time we get to our cars and say our goodbyes, I know exactly what to do.

I’m too far gone to leave Sully. I’m not sure either of us would survive it at this point.

No, I’m completely devoted and committed to him.

I do, however, know the one person on this Earth that I trust to help me handle it alongside the ones already working on it.

I dial the number and wait as the call rings through my car.

“Principessa?” My Papa’s deep voice rattles through my car.

“Papa.” I choke out, unable to stop my voice from cracking or tears from streaming down my face.

“Elena? What’s wrong?” The alarm in his voice makes me cry harder than I just was. I know I can’t tell him what’s been going on, but I can give him what I’m feeling right now.

“I miss you so much.” I choke out between sobs.

It’s true, I do miss my dad. It’s been just us for so long that even though I lean on my friends when things happen. I also know that when push comes to shove, a girl needs her Papa, and the push has definitely shoved .

“Principessa, I miss you too. More than you could ever know.” He tries his best to soothe me from states away.

“I’m sorry. I know I’m an adult now, and what kind of grown woman calls her Papa to cry when things feel too heavy? I just didn’t know who to call.”

“You can always call me, bambina. Do you need me to make a trip to you?”

“No, that’s okay. I know that’d be a lot of moving parts, just for me being silly.” My heart clenches at the reminder of YSA calling me ‘Silly woman’ just an hour or so ago .

“Yes…” His voice trails off. “Well, on a completely unrelated note, as luck would have it, I have a meeting tomorrow in Pine Springs. Would you mind if I stayed just a couple of days with you at your house? I’ll keep security to just two.”

My heart soars at the thought of my Papa coming to stay with me for a few days. I want to tell him no. To tell him I’m okay and there’s nothing to worry about, but I’m not that strong right now.

“Let me know when you land, and I’ll be at the house.”

I know he’s panicking a little more since I didn’t fight him on it, but thankfully he doesn’t push. “I’ll be there in a couple of hours, bambina.”

“Before you go, there’s something you should know.” Nervousness floods through me. “So, Sullivan and I are kind of together… you know… like officially.”

His laugh is light and it takes me by surprise. “I know, Principessa. Just like I know there are other things you haven’t told me yet. Don’t fret my sweet daughter. We’ll talk about it all when I get there. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

We say our goodbyes and get off of the phone.

I have just enough time to clean up the house before he gets here.

No one has stepped foot in my house– to my knowledge– in over a week.

The last time someone was in here was when detectives were sweeping my house for cameras and mics, which they found, just for the record.

It takes me a little over an hour to get my house back to smelling and looking exactly like I like it.

Gone is the stale air, and in its place is the fresh smell of clean laundry and cleaning products.

The spare bedrooms are all set up for him and his two allotted security guards, Elio and Gabe, if I had to take a wild guess.

My Papa overhauled forty percent of his organization years ago when he found out that Lee’s abduction and trafficking was an inside job.

Elio and Gabe are almost more loyal to my Papa than I am.

They’re both in their early to mid thirties, and my Papa has taken to them like they’re his children. They’re also immaculate at their jobs.

I decide to send Sully a text before he gets off shift and can’t find me. We’ve both been busy all day, so we haven’t had time to talk.

Elle: Hey Monster… So my Papa will be here in an hour. We’re staying at my house for the next couple of days while he’s here… Oh, by the way… He also knows about us. Anyway, I hope you’re having a good shift.

Before I can set my phone down, it’s ringing with a facetime call. I bite back my laugh and answer. Sully’s brooding face fills the screen.

“Hey, Monster.” I smile at him. I’m attempting to disarm him, but the way his eyebrow lifts in question tells me that I’m not getting off that easily.

“Where are you, Elena?” He has purple smudges under his eyes, which tells me he’s barely slept. I wish he could rest before he falls flat on his face, but he’s still got ten or so more hours before he can come home .

“I’m at my house, Sullivan .” I attempt to mock his deep voice when I say his name, because he’s being grouchy.

He runs his hand down his face before blowing out a frustrated breath. “Why? Why do you insist on stressing me the fuck out while I’m on shift?”

“I don’t insist on doing that. Ever think that you just get stressed too easily? You should really get that in check before you’re twenty-six with your first heart attack.” I quip, trying to lighten the mood.

“Yeah, yeah. Why is your Da in town anyway?”

“Because we missed each other? Don’t worry. He’s only bringing two guards.” I reassure him, I know how he gets about Jersey coming to Virginia.

“I don’t care about that, Elle. Are you okay? Is he?” His tone is laced with worry.

“Yes, everyone is okay. A girl is allowed to miss her Papa, ya know?”

“I know. It actually makes me feel a little better that he’ll be with you tonight.”

“Yes, because I’m such a damsel that couldn’t possibly defend herself.” I smirk and roll my eyes. I’m no damsel. Even if he likes to treat me like I am sometimes. I can’t even blame him much. He’s lost so much in his life, he’s just as scared of losing me as I am of losing him.

“I’m not laughing, Boo. I’m serious. It’s getting dark, and you’re there all by yourself. It worries me.” His voice softens with vulnerability.

“I’m okay. The doors are locked and bolted, and my Papa actually just texted me and said he’s leaving the airport just outside of town. He’ll be here in fifteen minutes.” I tell him as I skim the text from my dad that just popped up .

“How long is he staying anyway? I’m going to leave the station in the morning and go home to an empty bed with just my hand to keep me company.” He grumbles. Now he’s just pouting.

I laugh at his pouty expression, “Sul, we’re adults with our own houses. He knows we’re together. Just come over when you get off. I’m taking a couple of mental health days, so I’ll still be asleep when you get here, but you know where my bed is.” My voice drops to a sultry tone.

“So you’re telling me to come over and help myself to breakfast?” His lips tip in the most filthy smirk. His seafoam eyes shimmering with mischief.

“I’m telling you that you won’t hear a complaint out of me if that’s what you choose to do.”

He groans, “You’re killing me, Elle. My mouth on your pretty pussy is the closest I’ll ever get to heaven.”

Heat flashes through me, settling in my core. “That’s interesting, because my lips wrapped around your big, thick c–.”

The alarms blare throughout the firehouse, causing us both to groan in frustration.

“I’ve got to go, baby girl. We’re not done with this. Keep your phone on you. I’ll text you when I get back.”

“Be safe, Sullivan. I love you.”

“I love you too, Elena.” He tells me right before hanging up. I don’t take offense to the abrupt ending. When the alarms call, he has to drop everything, and I get that.

I hear my Papa before he can knock on my door. His deep baritone voice echoes through the door, and just like that, emotion clogs my throat again. He’s really here.

Before he even gets the chance to knock, I pull the door open and throw myself into his arms. They wrap securely around me as the floodgates open and I sob openly into his chest. I haven’t hugged him in so long I almost forgot the way his cologne clings to his shirt.

The same cologne he’s worn my entire life.

He smells like safety and home, and like the good Papa he is, he holds onto me until I pull myself together and step back to look at him.

Theo Rossi is fifty-four years old. He’s about six foot two– if I had to guess– and his short jet black hair is combed neatly. He smiles at me, showing the only sign of his age in his crow’s feet. His whiskey brown eyes take me in, his brow wrinkled in concern.

“Let’s go inside, principessa. We have lots to catch up on.”

“Like how I’ve seen Carlo around town for the past few weeks randomly? Why do you have one of your men following me, Papa?” I ask. I wasn’t going to call him out on it, but I also want to make sure that this is sanctioned by him.

“Well, I guess he needs to be more discreet than he’s been. Come on, Bambina. We have a lot to discuss.”