For the first time since she started working at Delfine's, Eloise was worried about going to work. Sitting in the back seat of the black town car, she kept taking deep breaths. Jensen had offered to take her to work but she declined. It was already going to be weird enough having two bodyguards with her without having the local mob boss as well.

She arrived at the diner fifteen minutes before her shift started and took ten just to calm her nerves. Eloise heard Misha, who was now assigned to protect her alongside David, ask her if she was okay. Nodding, she took one last deep breath and got out of the car, making her way to the front door of the diner, closely followed by David.

Eloise had barely stepped foot inside of the diner and she could already feel the awkwardness around the room. No one was greeting her, or even looking her in the eyes, and that included her boss. "This is going to be a long ass shift.", she thought, praying that this was as far as it went.

The next few days, Eloise started noticing some changes. People refused to sit in her section, her boss being abnormally friendly with her, a lot of whispers aimed in her direction, and even Ariana had adopted a more professional posture around her. Put it all together and, as much as Eloise denied it, it was all starting to get to her.

Until it all came crashing down one afternoon. Eloise had just arrived at the diner when her boss called her to his office. Sitting in a chair across from her boss, she could tell that this was a conversation the man wasn't looking forward to.

- "Ellie, I'm sorry but I'm gonna have to let you go." - her boss said, apologetically.

- "May I ask why?"

- "Ellie, listen, you're a good waitress, great even. But… Look, ever since you were Claimed I've been losing clients. I had people tell me that as long as you're still working here, they're not coming back. You know that my family depends on this diner, I can't afford to lose clients. I'm sorry, but I have to choose my family over everything else."

- "I understand, Mr. Robinson. I wish there was another way, but I understand."

- "I'll pay you for the rest of the month and you can put me as a reference. Again, Ellie, I'm really sorry."

Eloise thanked him and walked out, grabbing the few belongings she always left at the diner from behind the counter. She watched Ariana walk over to her and thought that maybe she was there to say goodbye, but instead Ariana just walked past her, not saying a single word to her. "So this is how it's going to be like.", Eloise thought, wanting nothing more than to scream at all those people. Instead, she walked out of the diner with her head held high.

Misha was the first to ask what was wrong, seeing the look of defeat in her face, as she walked back to the car. Eloise told him and asked if he could take her home. Misha opened the door for her and watched as she let out a few tears, already guessing why she had been fired.

Eloise was laying in her bed, trying to figure out what to do next. She knew no one in town was going to hire her because of the Claim, and she couldn't just try to find a job in the next town over because she didn't know if that town was still under Jensen's protection or another Mob Boss. Plus, she also didn't know if it was just the people in Austin that knew of the Claim or if it went further than that. Eloise needed to figure out what she was going to do next, and fast.

Deciding she needed some fresh air, she walks out of her room and tells Misha she's going for a walk, being quickly followed by Misha out the door. Only, when she got outside, Jensen was arriving to check on her.

- "Hey. What are you doing here?"

- "Misha called and told me what happened at the diner. Are you okay?"

- "I'm fine. I mean, it hurts, you know? Seeing people with whom you've become friendly with, turn their backs on you. But, I'll be okay. I just need to figure out what to do next."

- "Ellie, I'm sorry. This is on me. If you'd like, I can talk to your boss and have him give you your job back."

- "No, don't. He was right. Me being Claimed was costing him business and he has a family to take care of. I don't want to be the reason why he can't provide for them."

- "You sure?"

- "Yes, I'm sure. I'll figure it out, don't worry. I always have."

Just as Jensen is about to answer, a car comes speeding down the street. Eloise didn't have time to think about what was happening. It all happened so fast. One minute she's standing on the bottom step of her building's stairs talking to Jensen, the next she's hearing Misha screaming "Gun!" and Jensen pulling her down behind a car covering her, while bullets flew above them.

When it was finally over, Jensen helped her up and kept asking her if she was okay. Eloise was fine, and a quick look around told her that so was everyone else.

- "What the hell was that?"

- "A drive-by. Most likely from Elijah. If they know where you live, you're no longer safe here, Ellie."

- "I thought that was why you had Misha and David with me, so I was safe from Elijah."

- "Yes, it is. But that was before Elijah knew for sure where you lived. Sweetheart, I can guarantee you that this isn't going to be an isolated incident. You're no longer safe here."

- "And where am I supposed to go? I don't have anywhere else to go, Jensen, and I'm not leaving Austin." - Eloise was pissed.

- "You're going to stay with me from now on. I know it's not perfect, but at least you'll be safe. Ellie, I promised you I would never let anyone hurt you and I keep my promises." - Jensen told her, in a calm voice.

- "I don't have much of a choice, now do I?"

Eloise stormed back inside, mad that she was going to have to leave her apartment because some dickhead wasn't used to having a woman stand up for herself. She swore that, if she could, she would kick his ass for all of what was happening in her life.

She made quick work packing, grateful that she didn't own a lot of stuff due to all those years on the run from her father. She never thought she would have to be running again, and yet there she was. Granted, she was only leaving her apartment, but it still felt like running. Coming back out of her building, Misha took her bag from her and she got in the car, sitting next to Jensen.

The ride to Jensen's house felt longer than the first time she had made it. Looking out the window, she couldn't help but think that this was ridiculous. She was half tempted to just walk up to Elijah and let him do whatever it was that he wanted to do just so this would end. However, knowing what his reputation was, was enough to stop her from actually doing it.

Eloise knew she was going to be safer with Jensen, but she wished that she could've stayed in her little apartment. She knew things were just going to get worse before they got better, and right about now she was wishing that she could go back in time and never set foot in Austin.