Not when it comes to you, sweetheart.
“Let me make something very clear,” Ellena continued on with what appeared to be a forced calm. “I don’t need you to tell me what is and isn’t good for me. I also don’t need you to protect me from a threat that doesn’t exist.”
A part of him even felt like he should apologize, but for what?
Upsetting her?
Caring enough to want to keep her out of harm’s way?
For everything.
Later, when this was all over and Gabe knew with complete certainty that she was safe, hewouldapologize. What mattered now, however, was making her understand the seriousness of the situation.
A man like Adrian Walker wouldn’t have taken the time to seek him out as some sort of sick joke. And though Gabe still didn’t know the man’s motives behind warning him of the danger Elle was in, the incident with the bike and the car wreck only added a terrifying validity to Walker’s story.
“Look, Gabe.” Ellena sighed, her voice having softened slightly. “I appreciate your making the trip here. I really do. I also appreciate you staying with me at the hospital the last few days, and I’m grateful for the ride home. But as you can see, I really am okay. So, I’m going to go upstairs and take a much-needed shower. After that, I’ll probably grab a bite to eat, or I might go ahead and lay down for a bit. Maybe both. Either way, I’ll be perfectly fine by myself, so thanks again. Feel free to see yourself out.”
The beautiful, stubborn woman turned and started for the stairs again.
“I’m not leaving you here alone, sweetheart.”
“No.” Elle spun back around, the fury in her blue eyes burning even brighter than before. “You donotget to call me that. Not anymore.”
“Sorry.” Gabe quickly threw his hands palms-up. “Habit.”
A drop of sadness mixed with her anger, and her eyes glistened with what he prayed weren’t unshed tears.
“One you’ve had more than enough time to break.”
Gabe didn’t respond right away, mainly because she was right. He’d put this void between them a long damn time ago. Didn’t matter that his decision to leave had stemmed from his need to keep her safe.
“I don’t know who this source of yours is,” she continued on, “but I can assure you, there is absolutely no reason for anyone…good, bad, or indifferent…to want to physically harm me. The car accident was just that, Gabe. An accident. So please believe me when I say I appreciate the offer, but I don’t need you to protect me.”
The woman had no idea…I’ll always protect you, baby. Even if it means hurting us both in the process.
“Do you remember what happened to cause the wreck yet?” he challenged. When she remained silent, he said, “I’m guessing you don’t, which means you can’t possibly know for sure that it wasn’t intentional.”
Responding to neither his question nor his remark, Ellena’s sad gaze stayed on his a second longer as she whispered, “Goodbye, Gabriel.” Turning away, she made her way up the L-shaped staircase.
That time, Gabe didn’t say a word. He just stood in the entryway and watched as she walked away.
Part of him wanted her to keep fighting with him but only because that meant she was still talking to him. He thought about spouting off some sort of smartass comment to prod her into coming back down, even if it was simply to continue the argument.
Instead, he let her go, taking the time to enjoy the view of her perfect, heart-shaped ass as she went.
Gabe knew it was wrong, butfuck. Her body had always made his mouth water, and the thin hospital scrubs the nurse had given her to wear home hugged every delicious curve with each step.
Ellena didn’t bother looking back before disappearing around the corner at the top of the stairs. He was still standing there, trying to ignore the disappointment in his chest when his phone began to ring.
He pulled it from his pocket and looked at the screen before answering. “Hey, boss. I was just about to call you.”
“How’s it going?” Jake asked.
“It’s…going.” Gabe glanced back toward the top of the stairs.
“How’s Ellena?”
Beautiful and feisty as ever.“Good. Mild concussion and a banged-up shoulder, but otherwise okay. They discharged her a little while ago, and we’re at her place now.”
