Louise
“Are you okay?” Elias asks.
“I’m fine.”
Elias looks at me, his gaze dropping to my neck. His Adam's apple bobs up and down. “You already have red marks on your neck.”
“A little ointment will fix it right up. I’m not that fragile.”
“I shouldn't have left,” he mutters.
“You had business to take care of.”
“I could have sent someone else.”
“Stop blaming yourself. You couldn't possibly know what would happen while you were gone,” I say gently.
“I feel like an i***t. I promised Martin I'd take care of Natalie and Daisy. I thought putting up with her was taking care of her. I thought giving her money, letting her come to the club, not kicking her out—I thought that was keeping my promise,” Elias murmurs. “But today taught me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Tolerating someone doesn't
