Chapter 65

—Ellie—

“I swear it,” he murmured. I cut through the rope when I heard the creak of the door. I dropped the knife in Tristan’s now free hand.

“Eleanor, get the fuck away from the asshole!” Drake growled, gripping me by the shoulders and pulling me to my feet.

I whirled around on him, getting in his face. “Don’t tell me what to do. I have a right to be here.”

Drake was breathing harshly, his chest heaving. I took a step back, closer to Tristan again. My uncle and my father stepped in. I shielded Tristan mostly from their view but that wouldn’t last long.

“You shouldn’t be here, dove. This isn’t something for a woman,” Dad said gently. He still believed in my innocence, but my uncle and Drake regarded me more cautiously.

“Where’s Mateo?” My uncle asked. I wrapped my arms around my body and slid my hands beneath my cardigan, my fingers curling around the gun strapped to the holster there.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered a