The ringing stopped after three beats and that is when I heard the deep rough voice.Even from a few metres away, I could hear Stone roaring from the other end of the line.

I purposely tuned out of listening to what he was saying. I did not want to know.

"Calm down." Brennan tried to raise his voice to overpower the noise of the angry male on the other end of the line but it did not seem to be working.

That was when Brennan resulted to walking over and holding out the phone out to me.

Brennan mouthed "Talk to him."

I put the phone to my ear but then pulled it back because the volume of the gravelly voice was too loud.

"Do not tell me to fucking calm down. I have no idea where she fucking is or if she is okay." Stone bellowed, his voice thick with panic and anguish.

I finally spoke into the phone "Stone."

The line went silent for several moments. All I heard was a deep sounding rumble then a sigh of relief.

"It is Ella." I said lamely like he did not already know that it was me.

Silence stretched and then he finally breathed out one word.

"Ella." His voice deepened as he said my name.

I looked at Lana's concerned eyes as she watched me squirm. I then looked to Brennan who appeared worried too. Then I focused on the ground.

"What happened?" Stone demanded to know as his tone changed to one of a demanding dictator "I wake up and you are fucking gone. You just left and never said goodbye. You never told me where you were going."

My mouth opened but then closed again.

"Why would you do that?" He gnarled, still sounding frenzied as he asked questions.

"I am really sorry. I didn't—"

Stone's tone was stern and entirely demanding as he spoke "I have being going insane. I wake up and you are not there and—"

Cutting him off, I whispered into the phone "I could not face you."

The line went silent.

His voice went hoarse as he mentioned "I thought we had figured everything out."

Shaking my head like he could see me, I uttered "I meant what I said last night. You are better off without me."

I had nothing to offer him. I was miserable. I could barely look after myself the past few days. Let alone give effort to someone else.

I knew I was in the wrong. I knew that it was horrible to cuddle into him one minute and leave the next but I could not help it. Lines between what I wanted and what I should do were blurred.

I was being pulled into so many directions that I felt dizzy and sick. All I wanted to do was isolate myself, curl up into a ball and cry

A growl was his reply "Then what was last night? After that conversation?"