Among the Echoes (Wrecked and Ruined #2.5)(67)

"When all of this is over, where do you see us going?"

"Like physically moving or our relationship in general?"

"Both."

"I don’t really know, because a lot of that depends on what you want to do. I can tell you that, no matter when or how it ends, I’m in this forever with you, Erica."

She squeezes me tight and sighs. "Sometimes, when I can’t sleep, I imagine what it will be like to not live in fear anymore. I think of all these silly scenarios where you and I do the most normal things together. Things like going to a garden center to pick out flowers for the beds in front of our house."

"What kind of house is it?" I ask, rolling to my side to face her.

"Two-story, plantation style, with a big wraparound porch. I want a porch swing." She smiles, and I can tell she’s envisioning it.

"What else do you want?"

"I’d like to go back to work. Although I’m not sure I’m cracked up for emergency medicine anymore. I’m too jumpy these days. But I was thinking… I know you fund several rehabilitation centers for abused women. I figured I’d be really great as part of the medical staff somewhere like that. Maybe my past could actually be beneficial to some of the patients who come in."

"I know a guy who could probably get you a job." I wink.

"That’s what I was kind of banking on," she replies with a smirk. "What about you, Slate? What do you want to do now that you are officially unemployed?"

"Well, my plan was always to go back to Ohio and open a boxing gym for underprivileged kids. My mom almost went broke trying to keep me in the ring. Finally, my coach recognized that I had some talent and put me on a scholarship. I wouldn’t have been able to afford to stick with the sport otherwise."

"So do you want to be like a trainer or just run the gym?"

"Nah. My place is in the ring. I’d hire someone to run the everyday operations. I really think I’d enjoy working with the kids."

"Do you want kids of your own?"

"Yeah, I definitely want kids…eventually. What about you?"

"I think I want just one, but I’m not ruling out more," she says nervously.

"I’m cool with only one." I tuck a stray hair behind her ear as she rushes out a breath.

"Oh thank God. I could totally see you wanting, like, five kids. I don’t think I can do the big-family thing."

I begin laughing as she giggles beside me.

"You want to get married?" I ask, lifting an eyebrow at her.

"That better not be your proposal." She laughs again.

"No. I fully intend to get you a disgustingly gaudy ring and force you wear it everywhere when I finally propose."

"Oh, God. Please don’t," she says, as horrified as if I’d just threatened to kill her puppy.

"Yep. Totally happening. I can’t even tell you how excited I am to pick it out. It’s going to be ridiculous."

"Slate, swear you won’t do that!"

"I’m sorry. I can’t do that, Erica. It’s another one of my duties as your man," I joke.

"What? To buy me an ugly engagement ring?"

"Hey! Who said it was going to be ugly?" I grab my chest, feigning injury as she begins rolling in laughter beside me.

Yeah, even if it is temporary, my Erica is definitely back for the evening.

We talk for hours while lying on the hard ground. The blanket does nothing to soften it for us, but you won’t hear me complaining. I love every second of it. We keep things light, as I suspect we have both had enough of the heavy to last a lifetime. Finally, Erica begins to yawn.

"You ready to go in?"

"No."

"You’re about to fall asleep, beautiful."

"As soon as we go back inside, real life starts again. Can’t we just say out here forever?"

"One of these days, I’m going to make the inside of those walls better than the outside. We’ll have a home where the real life inside will be your sanctuary instead of your prison."

Her eyes glisten with tears as she nods. "I like the sound of that."

"Me too." I kiss the top of her head.

"Thank you," she whispers, but I don’t respond. It would feel wrong to say anything, because I should be the one thanking her.





"Mmm. Where you going?" I try to grab Erica as she slides out of the bed.

"Shh. Go back to sleep. I’m just getting some water," she whispers as she hurries out of the room.

Without another thought, I immediately fall back to sleep.

"Slate!" Erica screams, causing me to fly up off the bed.

Before my eyes even have a chance to adjust to the darkness, the hard metal butt of a gun slams down on the bridge of my nose. Pain explodes inside my head, but with Erica’s screams still ringing in my ears, I don’t let it control me. I still can’t see my attackers, but that doesn’t stop me from returning every blow they hit me with. My arms fly, wielding punch after punch, but what I can’t figure out is how they remain standing.

Suddenly, I’m tackled from behind and forced to the ground. Even as I struggle against them, my arms are pulled behind my back and sealed in plastic zip ties. I continue to fight until light illuminates the room and an older man comes casually strolling in, dragging Erica by her hair. Rage and adrenaline overwhelm my body at the sight of him manhandling her like nothing more than a rag doll.