Smiling for the first time in days, a huge weight lifted from his shoulders as he continued guiding them out the tunnel and into their future.
* * *
Gabe held the door at the end of the tunnel open, and Ellena realized she’d lost the entire day. Walking out into the night air, their only light came from the moon and the guys’ guns.
In front of them was a large, grassy hill surrounded by trees, and when they reached the top, she saw Truck, Fletch, and Hollywood waiting for them.
After several handshakes and hugs, the other men began talking about what their next step was. Ignoring the conversation, Gabe stopped and turned her to face him, the move putting her back to what was left of their private hell.
Good riddance.
Leaning down, he kissed her. Not softly like she’d expected, but as if he’d been starving for her. Ellena’s face and mouth hurt, but she didn’t care.
He’s alive. Thank you, God. He’s alive!
Too soon, he pulled away. “Let me look at you.” He pushed some hair from her face, running his shaking hands over her. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”
Ellena knew she wouldn’t truly be okay until they were back in the States, safe and sound. But she didn’t tell him that. Instead, she smiled and said, “I’m okay.”
Shifting to her left a step, he allowed the moonlight to fully shine over her face. Carefully Gabe ran his fingertips over her swollen cheek and split lip. He touched the cut on her neck that had now stopped bleeding and traced what she assumed were bruises left by Radcliff’s hands when he’d strangled her.
“I’ve never wanted to kill a man more in my life.” His eyes found hers again. “I wish he was still alive so I could kill him all over again.”
“I’m okay, now.” She reached up and touched his cheek, her eyes falling on the cut on his forehead, just under his hairline.
“What about you?”
“Nothing a few stitches won’t cure.” He kissed her forehead. “So I guess we’re both okay.”
“Yeah.” Ellena breathed her first full breath in what felt like forever. “Let’s try to focus on that, yeah?”
Smiling down at her, Gabe whispered, “What do you say I take you home?”
She pretended to think about it. “Depends. Do you mean your home or mine?”
“Wherever you are, baby.” His voice turned thick. “That’s where I want to be.”
Her heart melted. “Ditto, big guy.”
Grinning, Gabe leaned down to kiss her again, but stopped suddenly. Looking at something behind her, his eyes grew wide as saucers.
“Gun!”
Ellena didn’t have time to react before he grabbed hold of her shoulders and shoved her to the ground. Gabe grunted low as he covered her body with his.
Lying beneath him, Ellena heard severalwhat-the-fucksfollowed by a barrage of gunfire. A strange warmth began to spread over her chest, and when the last shot had been spent, she pushed against Gabe in order to see what they’d been shooting at.
There, not far from the tunnel’s entrance, Radcliff’s body was sprawled out on the grass. This time, there was no doubt the bastard was dead.
Her heart gave a hard thump. “Holy crap. That was so close.” Ellena glanced over to Gabe, who was still lying on his back beside her. He wasn’t moving.
“Got the bastard that time,” someone spouted off behind her.
“Gabe?” Ellena tried shaking him into consciousness. When he didn’t move, she pushed even harder, this time shouting his name. “Gabriel!”
Hearing her panicked voice, Nate and Matt rushed over to her. The others followed.
“Oh shit!” Matt dropped to his knees next to her. “He take a hit?
