Never Far Away (The Never #2)(72)

“Where are you going?”

“I’ve got to call Kalli,” she said as she darted out of the room. Even though they were in the middle of a very serious conversation, it was hard not to notice that she was still naked. The sight of her walking back into the room with nothing on made him smile. She got back into bed and cuddled up to him again.

“Kyle is Scott.” Porter gave her a confused look.

“Who the hell is Scott?”

“Kalli has been seeing a new guy, Scott, for a few weeks now, and it turns out it is Kyle. That’s how he knew I was there last night and how he’s been keeping tabs on me.” Ella shuddered against him. “I can’t believe she’s been spending so much time with him, letting him in her apartment, letting him kiss her, all because of me.”

“Hey,” he said as he placed a finger under her chin and lifted it to look up at him. “No guilt and no blame. He did all of this, not us.” She gave him a half smile and he knew she felt bad for having anything to do with the mess they all seemed to be in.

She dialed a number and he listened to her call Megan and explain everything again to her, and then again to Kalli, who had in fact stayed with Patrick and Megan. He could tell Megan was trying to convince Ella to go to the police and he agreed with her. The police needed to know that Kyle was back in town and responsible for the assault against her in her apartment and the night before at the club.

When she hung up, Porter brought her hand to his lips and brushed his mouth over her knuckles.

“Baby, we have to go to the police.”

“But what if he finds out?” She asked with a worried expression on her face. “I can’t risk anything happening to you. I just got you back.”

“First of all, you never lost me. Second of all, he will find out – when the police arrest him and put him in jail.” Porter looked over at the clock on her bedside table; it was a little after two in the morning. “I think we should go to the police tonight, Babe, the sooner the better.” She let out a loud breath and looked up at him.

“You’ll go with me?” He had to laugh at her.

“Babe, you’d be lucky to get rid of me until this whole thing is over. You’re going to be getting really tired of me soon.”

“I doubt it,” she said with a small frown. “Ok, I’ll go right now, but I’m wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt.” Porter smiled, glad she was agreeing to go.

“Good girl.”





Chapter Sixteen


Ella


Ella was exhausted; utterly, completely, and ridiculously exhausted. Having been at the police station for nearly eight hours, it was now after ten in the morning. They had been questioned by every single officer in the Portland Metro area, or so it felt. All the officers who questioned her asked her the same questions and made her relive every horrible thing that Kyle had done.

She felt empty when she left and really stupid. In fact, stupid was the exact word to describe how she felt. She’d spent years of her life with a man who was capable of pure evil. She’d slept with him, been intimate with him, let him into her life and the lives of her family, and he’d hurt her in way that she could have never seen coming or imagined. No one at the police station went out of their way to make her feel badly or responsible, but it was hard not to question one's judgment when the person you thought you might spend the rest of your life with had, in the end, very little respect for your life at all.

When they were done questioning her, the police suggested that Ella not stay at her apartment until he was apprehended. They also suggested she hire private security for Poppy, which she agreed with. There was no way she was going to endanger the safety of Megan or any of the girls that worked there. Other than that, the police said she needed to be careful, report anything suspicious, and try not to go anywhere alone. She didn’t think the last suggestion would be a problem. Porter had gone into caveman mode but, honestly, she didn’t mind.

They were driving to her parent’s house, who Porter had filled in on everything while they were at the police station. For now, it was a place she could rest until they figured out what steps to take next. She sat in the middle of the bench seat of his truck, his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him, her eyes closed, very close to sleep.

“Babe,” she heard his voice calling to her. “We’re at your parent’s house. Wake up, Baby.” She opened her eyes, sat up, and started making her way to the front door. Her mom opened the door before they could even get to the top step of the porch. Susan tried to fuss over her, with good intentions of course, but Ella just wanted to sleep. Porter led her down the hall to what used to be her bedroom, but had been converted into a guest room long ago.

He helped her pull her sweatshirt over her head and pulled back the covers so she could climb in to the big, king-sized bed. She sunk into the heavenly mattress and almost immediately felt her eyes close. She felt Porter place his lips on her temple and then he whispered something about being back soon. She shot up, panicked.

“Where are you going?” She asked, all of a sudden she was awake and alert, not wanting him to leave her all by herself. He sat down on the bed next to her and pushed a piece of wayward hair back behind her ear.

“Babe, you’re wrecked. Just go to sleep. Your parents are here. I’m going to go to your house and get some of your things. I’ll be back in no time.”