Chapter 82 Elysia had a heart full of thoughts she yearned to share with Blossom, and the idea of separating from her was the last thing she wanted. *Tonight, you’ll have to rough it with us in our little rented place,” she said with a playful pout. “Rough it? This place is amazing–it must cost a fortune, Blossom replied, glancing around with wide, appreciative eyes. The topic had caught Elliot off guard. He had chosen this spot, a luxurious two–bedroom vacation rental with a hefty price tag that ran into the thousands for just one night. But he had told Elysia it was a mere two hundred a night. Elliot quickly interjected, “Well, it is usually super expensive, but the landlord took a real shine to us and gave us a massive discount, so it’s just a couple hundred for the night.” Blossom chimed in immediately, “You guys must have the luck of the Irish! If it were me, I’d let you stay for free–you all look like little cherubs. Staying here is bound to sprinkle some good fortune on the place, ha!” Elliot’s mouth twitched in a forced smile. “Yeah… Birds of a feather flock together, he mused. Mom’s best friend didn’t seem to be the sharpest tool in the shed. “Mom, you and Blossom should get some rest. We’re beat too, Elliot said, ushering the conversation toward a close. “Sure thing, let’s go to bed,” Elysia agreed. “Goodnight, Mom. Goodnight, Godmother,” the three kids called out before retreating to their room and closing the door behind them. As soon as they were alone, Elliot booted up his laptop with a serious expression. Evan peeked over, concern etched on his face. “What’s wrong?” Emmett also huddled close, his big eyes brimming with curiosity. “I wiped the restaurant’s surveillance footage today to make sure Tarquin couldn’t track you down. And I snagged a copy for us. Mom got hurt today, and I need to see if Tarquin was behind it,” Elliot explained as he clicked away. Evan’s eyes widened in alarm. “Mom got hurt? Where? How?” “I saw Mom talking to that jerk Tarquin when I stepped out, but I didn’t see him lay a finger on her. You think he hit her?” Evan’s breathing became erratic, his shock palpable. 09 46 Had he known Mom was hurt, he wouldn’t have let Tarquin off so easily, “Did someone hit Mom? Who hurt her? Is she in pain again?” Emmett’s voice quivered with urgency. Elliot remained the calmest of the trio. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. We’ll check the surveillance first.” The three of them crowded around the laptop, their heads touching as they focused on the screen. It didn’t take long to find the footage of Gage striking Elysia. Evan’s temper flared instantly as he yelled, “He dared to hit Mom! I can’t believe he hit her! Bro, who is this bald creep?” Emmett, watching the video of Elysia being choked, began to cry from anger, “He’s a big bully! A mean, big bully! He’s picking on Mom!” The little guy shook with fury. Elliot’s lips were a tight line, his eyes dark with rage. He didn’t speak immediately, instead, his fingers flew over the keyboard, and soon Gage’s details filled the screen. His profile was littered with scandalous headlines. Gage, the notorious second son of the Slater family, was a piece of work. Ugly, lecherous, and incompetent, he relied on his connection as the uncle of the famed starlet Nola Slater to tie with the influential Bradford family, to throw his weight around in Jindale City. He was known for pressuring beautiful women into unsavory encounters, and if they resisted, he’d resort to vile tactics to coerce them. He hadn’t done a single good deed in his life, but he was well–versed in all manner of vices. Evan was fuming with indignation.