Arlo

I doubt I will ever be able to shake the image of leaving and witnessing her hurting herself in that manner and seeing all of the blood she was losing in her hand. It was something I will never get out of my head. I am aware that most people would not find punching the wall concerning, but it is concerning when someone has a history of self-harm. I went out to check on Ashley after she told me about their conversation because I was worried about her. I know that when someone tries to tell her that she is deserving of love, she shuts down. After experiencing domestic violence abuse and growing up in the system, I am aware that hearing those things is extremely difficult for her.

"Hey man, how is Kendall?" Jax asks me. "Her hand is broken. I have to meet up with her tomorrow morning so I can help get her into a specialist to get her hand cast. Depending on how quickly it heals, she will be in the cast for roughly three months. I tell him as I make my way to our outdoor bar.

After arriving at the bar, I open a bottle of beer and take a seat by the swimming pool. And I see Jax and my cousin Elias walking over to me along with Amanda. Amanda begins, sitting in the chair beside me, "So.What happened? Jax told Elias and me that you had to take Kendall to the hospital." Amanda asks. I start talking and explain the situation to them. "So, Ashley and Kendall were talking about something that upset her, and she took off outside. I asked Ashley what happened, and she told me. I rushed outside to check on her, and I found her outside punching the wall. Her hand was so bloody and swollen. It seemed as though she was unable to hear me when I called her name four times." I said, shaking my head.

"Oh, she seems like she has no self-esteem or any self-love. Can I ask why that is?" Amanda asks me, and it upsets me a little. I just don't know how to answer it because it's not my place. "Well, I can't answer that because it's not my place to say," I say to her.

"Well, it's time to teach self-love and help her build up self-esteem. I want to come with you tomorrow when you take her to see the doctor. But when you take her, you're going to stay in the car, and I will go in with her. She needs some time away from your overbearing self and to give her girl time." Amanda says to me, and I go to disagree, but Elias interrupts me. "Or you just take her, and Arlo can stay with us guys and hang out and get some work done since he is neglecting his job." He says, and this makes me even more irritated. "I'm not leaving her with you, Amanda. I will take her and then drop her back off at her house and then go to the warehouse." I say to them, and they don't argue with me on it.

"No son, you're going to let Amanda take her. I need you for a meeting in Italy. You, Jax, and Elias need to pack; we leave in two hours." I hear my father say from behind me. I turn and look at him and get ready to fight him about it, but he stops me. "Nope, you're not going to fight me about this. Now get ready," he says and walks away. I groan and get up, finishing my drink, and then I put the empty bottle on the counter and head inside to pack. I grab my phone from my pocket and text Kendall. I doubt she will see it now, but I know she will see it when she gets up.

ME: Hey Tesoro, My cousin Amanda will be there at 11 to take you to your appointment for your cast. I will have it set up for you before you get up. I have to go out of town with my dad for a couple of days. Please don't fight with me on this or with Amanda. Have fun; stay safe.

I hit send and don't bother to wait for a response. I go take a quick shower before I start packing. After washing my body and my hair, I get out of the shower and wrap a towel around my body. I head to my room and get dressed. I check my phone and see that Kendall did see my message.

Tesoro: Yes, father, since I can't take care of myself. Have fun.

Is what she replies to me. This causes me to laugh. Yep, she is getting mad at me about telling her what to do, but honestly, I don't care; she needs someone to look after her. I know she isn't used to it, but she will get over it. I'm not going anywhere, and sooner or later she will notice that I meant what I said. I am not going anywhere, and I am going to show how it feels to be loved and how to love herself.

After I get everything packed, I head downstairs to meet with my dad. I see the guys are there waiting also, and Jax is on the phone. He must be talking to Ashley. "Alright, flower, I will call you when I land. Stay safe, and please don't go out without Corey or Alex. Yes, I know you hate having them there, but it's for your and Eliza's safety. I love you both; give my girl love for me." I hear Jax say, I turn to talk to Elias; I feel like I'm intruding on a private conversation. "Arlo, do you know what this meeting is about?" Elias asks me, and I shake my head, knowing my father will inform us once we get on the jet.

I turn towards the stairs once I hear footsteps and see it's my dad and mom. She walks over to me and hugs me. "I love you, my son. Stay safe, and please try not to piss anyone off when you are there." She says and kisses my cheek and does the same to the guys. She loves those two like her own. They tell her goodbye and walk out the door. I turn and see Amanda saying goodbye to her dad as well. He leaves out the door after their goodbyes, and I walk over to her. "Please take care of her and stay with her as much as possible; we will be back hopefully by Thursday," I tell her, and she shakes her head and lets me know that Kendall will be safe while we are gone. With that, I leave and head to the car. I get into the car and see my dad sitting in the passenger seat. "So, what is the meeting about, and why is it so important we have to go to Italy?" I ask my father as Axel puts the car in drive.

He looks at me and has a pissed-off look. "It's not a meeting; someone over there stole our shipment, and we are taking it back." He says and turns back to the front and pulls out his phone. Who over there is stupid enough to steal from us? I think to myself and look at the guys. I know they are thinking the same thing as I am.

We arrive at the private airstrip, and we get out and head to the jet. The workers we have here grab our bags from the back and load them up on the jet. We load the jet and wait about fifteen minutes until we take off. Once we are in the air, I get comfortable and wait for my father to go over the details.