I didn’t lose everything until you walked away.
Didn’t she understand? Not only had he failed to protect her from his world, he’d brought that shit into their home. How did she not get that?
Because you never told her.
Shit. That damn voice—and Ellena—were right. He hadn’t wanted to talk about what happened back then. Didn’t want to talk about it now. But as he continued walking through the surrounding brush and trees, Gabe came to the dreaded conclusion that he had to.
They needed to talk about it. She needed to understand.
With his keys in his hand and his heart on his sleeve, Gabe made his way around to the front of the Cabin. He unlocked the door and stepped inside.
The place was quiet. The bedroom door still shut. Nerves settled in the pit of his stomach as he slowly walked toward it.
He’d been neck-deep in the worst war had to offer. Had gone toe-to-toe with some of the most evil, dangerous humans on the face of the earth. Yet he was terrified of the conversation he was about to have with the woman who’d owned his heart for what felt like forever.
If the guys could see me now.
Reminding himself he’d survived a lot worse shit than this, he tapped his knuckles against the thick wood. “It’s me.”
“Come in.”
Her soft voice had him reaching for the doorknob. Gabe drew in a long, deep breath, releasing it slowly before letting himself inside. Ellena was sitting crisscross on the bed with the computer Nate brought resting on the mattress in front of her.
“Everything’s clear outside.”
She stared back at him with a guarded expression. “Good.”
“Listen, Elle.” He reached back, his fingertips digging into the tense muscles on the back of his neck. “What you said before…about my never wanting to talk to you about what happened…”
“Yes?”
Gabe sighed. “You were right. I didn’t want to talk about it. Still don’t, if I’m being completely honest. But I know we need to, so…”
“Okay.” Ellena closed the computer and set it on the nightstand with her folders. Leaning back against the headboard, she crossed her arms in front of her. “So talk.”
Chapter 11
“I was an ass.”
Ellena stared up at Gabe, his anxious demeanor a far cry from the fearless warrior she knew him to be. He may have finally decided to talk, but after years of waiting for this moment, she wasn’t about to make this easy on him.
“Was?”
“Okay, fine.” He blew out a breath. “Iaman ass.”
Though Ellena didn’t verbally agree, she did raise one of her brows in atell me something I don’t already knowlook.
Gabe shook his head, adding, “But I need you to understand why.”
“I know why, Gabriel.” She’d always known. “You were scared.”
“No, that’s not…” He looked away, his dark brows turning inward before his eyes found hers once more. “You’re right. I was scared. But only because I didn’t want to be the reason you got hurt again. I couldn’t stand to be the reason you lost anything more than you already had.”
Barely holding back a growl, Ellena uncrossed her arms and legs and shot up from the bed. “Enough with that martyr bullshit!”
“Damn it, Elle. I’m not trying to play the martyr, here.”
“Really?” She put her hands on her hips and looked at him from across the bed. “Christ, Gabe. Just admit it, already.”
