Tough Love

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-One

It has been a few weeks since the whole Russian businessman/bank op incident. Things have been ok, I guess. Eli and I are closer, I think. He's laid off asking me too many questions, because my nightmares have been pretty bad and I've been quite on edge. I know he wants to ask why I've been more on edge, but he's refrained from doing so. I am thankful for this because I really don't want to lie to him. I can't answer that question and not lie to him. Paul has been in and out of the office, asking me lots of questions, trying to find out anything he can. He just creeps me out, but I'm trying not to let that show. I know he'll love that; me freaking out because of him. I have to be honest, it's wearing my nerves very thin and I don't know how much longer I can keep up the facade.

He keeps talking about Cain and bringing up the whole incident. I think he's trying to read my expressions to find out what happened. Obviously the Captain and Eli haven't said anything to him about it. Probably so Cain's record is kept clean from the harassment part of it. I don't think he meant to do it; I think it was just the drugs that caused it to happen.

Eli has been working late a few nights a week, and we've kind of settled into a routine of me going home and making dinner before he gets there. It's a Thursday evening and we're just sitting down to eat when Eli's cell rings. He smiles as he picks up.

Eli's POV

“Hey ma. I'm good, thanks. How are you and dad?”

“We're good. I was wondering when we get to meet this girl you've been spending all your time with...?”

“I don't know, ma. I don't think it's a good idea just yet...”

“Elijah, you father and I would really like to meet her.”

I groan, this is not going to go as planned. I can't even speak Spanish because Dani will understand me. “Ma, this is not a good idea...”

“You trying to keep her to yourself? She must be special if you're hiding her away like this...”

“You have no idea, trust me.”

“It'll just be your father and myself. That's not so difficult, is it?”

“I'll ask. But be prepared for the answer to be no, ok? I just don't think it's a good time, that's all.”

“Ask, you might be surprised by the answer. Thank you, Elijah. Either tomorrow night or Saturday night works well. Your father isn't working those nights.”

“Ok, Ma. I'll ask and let you know.”

Dani's POV

He sighs as he hangs up and I just watch him. I'm worried about his weary expression, so I whisper, “Is everything ok, sir? Do you need to go?”

“No, no. Everything is fine. It's just my Ma being pushy again.”

“I'm sure it's just because she cares.”

“Oh, I know that. Sometimes it's just a little too much. She likes to interfere.”

“Oh.”

“There's no easy way to ask, so I'm just going to say it. She want us to go to dinner with her and my dad. It'll just be the four of us and you don't have to if you don't want to. If you think you're not ready for it then I'll just say we can't go. It's no big deal, honestly.”

At that moment I'm filled with fear, but I also remember how much this man has done for me. I have to at least make an effort, don't I? I have to show him I'm trying. I don't want him to get angry with me for not at least attempting to have a go at recovering. I sigh and say, “If I freak out, you'll help me, right? You'll let your parents know that I'm not being rude or anything, won't you?”