The Claim

The Meeting

The days seemed to be passing by on a loop. Every day men were coming back to the estate with injuries caused by shootouts against Elijah's men. Eloise now knew what Jensen's plan had been and even though she knew he had declared war on Elijah, she never thought things would be as bad as they were, with lives lost and destroyed, all because of her.

Eloise was in Jensen's office with him, giving him a list of all the supplies she and Dr. Beaver were going to need if this was going to continue, when Jensen received a phone call that not even he was expecting. The look in his eyes and the expression on his face told her that this wasn't good.

- "What is it?" - She asked once he finished the call.

- "I'm expected in Dallas tomorrow for a meeting."

- "What aren't you telling me Jensen?"

- "Ellie..."

- "Just tell me."

- "Apparently, word got back to the other families in the state and they are now wanting a meeting with me and Elijah to try and resolve this."

- "Okay. What does that entail, exactly?"

- "Well, knowing Elijah, he'll most likely ask for the Claim to be lifted."

- "Do you think they will agree with him?" - Eloise asked, worried.

- "No. I don't think so. Especially since a few of them have already seen us together. The thing I don't know is how Elijah will react to it and what he might ask in exchange for leaving you alone."

- "You think he might use this as a way to get that business deal you refused?"

- "Either that or something else. I don't know and that's what has me somewhat worried. Ellie, no matter what, I won't unClaim you. That's not happening, no matter what he asks in return. You'll be safe, I promise."

- "Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if it wouldn't be easier to just give him what he wants."

- "Don't say that. You know what Elijah is capable of, you know his reputation."

- "I do, but every day more and more men are coming back injured, all because of me."

- "Ellie, you can ask any of my men if they would rather give you up to Elijah than have you stay safe, and the answer would be the same from all of them. They respect you and consider you one of them. They would rather die than see you at the hands of Elijah. You're family to them and they will all willingly give their lives for you. Not because of some Claim, but because you're family."

- "I get that, and you have no idea how much that means to me, but that doesn't change the fact that they are still getting hurt because of me and my stupid mouth."

- "Sweetheart, things will be okay. Hopefully, by the end of this meeting, I can end this war and no one else needs to get hurt. Well, except Elijah."

- "We'll see."

Eloise left the office, shaking her head, and wondering if this meeting was really gonna solve all their problems with Elijah, or just create new ones with the rest of the families. She knew this was something unusual, all the Dons together in one place, but she had had to see it coming. Afterall, they had turned Austin into a battlefield and that was bad for business. All Eloise could do was hope and pray that, by the end of this meeting, the war was over and no one else would die because of her.

The next morning, Eloise was standing in the foyer waiting for Jensen. She watched his men walk to the cars, guns in full display, and clearly ready to take down anyone who attempted anything against their boss. Eloise took a deep breath and wondered if this was going to be her life from now on.