But Matt quickly found his pulse and gave her a nod, assuring her the pain meds were doing their job.
Releasing a shaky breath, she leaned in and kissed her husband’s rugged cheek. Resting her forehead against his temple, she made sure he knew, “Yes, Gabriel. I’m yours. Always yours.”
Epilogue
Two months later…
Gabe gave his wife a quick kiss at the small of her back before easing himself out of her warm, wet entrance. He plopped down onto the mattress beside her.
“I think you killed me,” Ellena mumbled against her pillow.
He chuckled. “Pretty sure I died right along with you, sweetheart.”
“Well…” Ellena pushed herself up on one shoulder to face him. “Youarenamed after an archangel.”
God, she was beautiful after making love.
After making love. First thing in the morning. In the shower.
Always…
“Trust me, baby.” Gabe’s voice came out rough. Sated. “The only angelic thing about me is my name.”
With a giggle, Ellena leaned over and pressed her lips to his. “I’ve always loved your name.”
He tucked some hair behind her ear, his thumb brushing across her flushed cheek. “I’ve always loved you.”
Round, blue eyes lit up with her smile, and Gabe couldn’t help but to kiss each of her matching dimples. But then his gut tightened with nerves as he finally said what he’d wanted to since he’d woken up in that damn hospital.
“I never should’ve left you, Ellena.” His stare locked with hers. “I know I don’t deserve it, but… If you’ll give me another chance, giveusa chance, I swear I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
“Gabe.”
“I mean it, Elle.” Gabe pushed himself up, so his back rested against the headboard. “I know we have a lot of shit to work out. The biggest being the fact that you live and work in California while I’m here in Texas. But if you’d give this place a chance, I really think you’d love it here.”
“Okay.”
“Or I can talk with Jake. See about moving to San Diego and dropping back to only working part…” He stopped talking, his brain finally processing with what she’d just said. At least, hehopedhe’d heard her right.
“Wait. Did you just say ‘okay’?”
More relaxed than he’d seen her in days, she smiled wide and nodded. Scooting herself up next him, she said, “I lost you for three years, Gabe. Then I almost lost you forever.” She brought her hand to his chest, her fingertips tracing the scar there. “What we went through with Radcliff was beyond horrible. But it also made me realize we can do anything…surviveanything…as long as we’re together.”
After the incident with Radcliff, Ellena’s boss had granted her an extended leave. Since then, she’d been staying with him. First in the hospital and afterward here, in his apartment.
As usual, Ryker had taken care of the clean-up, somehow managing to head off any political fallout. Gabe still didn’t know how—didn’t want to know, for that matter—but as far as the public knew, Henry Radcliff, his chief of staff, and two of his personal security members were killed when his plane crashed due to mechanical malfunction.
Upon Ellena’s insistence, Ryker also made sure the story about Radcliff’s ‘mistake’ with the coordinates all those years ago was leaked, as well as his implication in the deaths of Mark Ellis and the small-time reporter Ellis had been in contact with.
They’d even had Adrian Walker over for dinner. Another thing Ellena had insisted. Some days Gabe still had a hard time believing that shit, but the man had risked his life to protect Ellena. Twice.
As far as Gabe and the others were concerned, the guy was no longer an enemy. That didn’t mean Bravo—or Ghost’s Delta team—were quite ready to call Walker a friend. More like someone they no longer wanted to torture slowly. Or kill.
In regard to what had happened to Ellena and Walker—and Gabe—Ellena had requested that part of the story be left out. He and Walker had wholeheartedly agreed, as had Ryker.
None of them wanted the extra attention a story like that would bring. Especially Elle. The only thing she wanted was to put it behind her and get on with her life.
A life that, thankfully, included him.
