Page 49 of Vicious Titan

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Victoria

“Are you sure you still want to go?” I ask Elliot, sliding off the bed.

“Yes, I’m positive,” he responds, but I’m not convinced this is the best idea. Richard is still lurking in the shadows, and even without that threat, Elliot is still understandably emotional.

“I had to wake you up three times last night. Are you certain it’s a good idea to jump in so suddenly?”

“If you don’t want to go, just tell me.” Elliot takes a serious tone that I don’t like because it reminds me of when he was tormenting me, putting on a happy show for everyone else.

“I want to. I just wanted to double check that you’re okay.”

“Of course I am. It’ll be fun, right?”

Fun. Not the word that comes to mind when I think of the upcoming lunch date. “Sure.”

“It’ll be fantastic if you wear a dress.”

I ignore his comment and head into the bathroom. Turning on the faucet, steam rises up from the water as I step underneath it, praying that the day goes off without a hitch. Both Olivia and Elliot deserve that much after everything they’ve been through, but I already know it won’t be that simple. Nothing ever is.

* * *

Step one complete. We have been shown to our table, Elliot sits to my right, Olivia seated on the other side of him. Asher pulls Quinn’s chair out for her as she takes the seat on my left, completely shocking the crap out of me. I’ve never seen him act that way with anyone, and I’m so glad it’s with Quinn because she has easily become my best friend. I hate the circumstances that brought her into our lives, but I’m so thankful she’s here.

Asher sits beside her, filling all the chairs at the round table situated in the corner of the café. It’s a quaint little place with homecooked comfort food, perfect for our occasion because we need comfort right about now.

Reaching over, I grab Elliot’s hand, clasping it in mine. I would be lying if I said it was to ease him. I need something to steady me. I’ve never been nervous around Olivia, but it’s so different now. Not only because of what happened but because I’m dating her son.

Elliot was right though. Having Quinn and Asher join us takes off some of the pressure.

“Did you meet each other at school?” Olivia asks Quinn.

“Yep,” Quinn says, looking over to Elliot. “Elliot was the worst tour guide ever. I didn’t learn where anything was and it ended with me pushing Asher into the lake.”

“You’re welcome.” Elliot winks at Quinn, earning a glare from Asher.

“I can’t believe I missed it.” I laugh, relaxing as Quinn describes the plunge into the lake in detail. Everyone around the table is amused, even Asher has a smile on his face. Everything is going well, everyone enjoying themselves. It’s so wonderful, my heart is filled to the brim with joy as I watch Elliot and Olivia fall into conversation with ease. That was something I wasn’t sure I’d see anytime soon.

Before we know it, we’re done and heading out of the café. Olivia walks with us, having parked a few spots down from Elliot’s car.

She hesitantly pulls him into a hug, and he hugs her back. “Stop by your grandpa’s house later if you have a chance. I’ll be there all day.”

Smiling at me, she pulls me into a warm embrace as she whispers, “Thank you.”

I didn’t do anything. I just tagged along. With any luck, it’s the first of many times.

“Hope to see both of you later,” Olivia says.

“We’ll be there,” Elliot replies, to which Olivia beams as she steps away. She tells us that she loves us and grabs her keys out of her purse as I look to Elliot. He’s not fully relaxed, but it’s a start.

“You don’t mind swinging by my grandpa’s house later, do you?”

“No, not at all.” Because it’s a clear indication that Elliot is on the way to healing. Just as he’s pulling open the passenger door of the NSX, a car horn sounds. I look over to see a silver car, and I know that car. Time slows as I watch the familiar car head straight towards us, only it’s not aiming for Elliot and me. It’s pointed straight at Olivia and where she’s walking to her car, fumbling in her purse. A scream leaves my lips as I warn Olivia, but it’s too late. Her head whips to the side as the front bumper connects with her knees, sending her up onto the hood before crashing into the windshield and finally tumbling to the ground.

The only other thing I remember, the one thing I will never forget, is the bloodcurdling scream that leaves Elliot’s mouth as he rushes over to her. Stooping down on the ground, he shrieks, “Mom.” The car takes off, zooming away as I watch it fly by.

Heidi.

That was the same car stopped at the traffic light yesterday—the one with the car behind it blaring their horn when I pulled over to talk to Olivia—and it’s also the same car that Heidi had been driving when she came to Elliot’s house.

It wasn’t Richard who wanted to end Olivia’s life. Or maybe it was.

Fumbling with my phone, I quickly dial emergency services, and everything else is a blur. Except for Elliot’s panicked pleas for his mom to not leave him as he kneels in her blood on the cement all around her.