Among the Echoes (Wrecked and Ruined #2.5)(71)

"Damn right!" he snaps, but he finally sits down on the corner of the bed.

I settle behind him, wrapping my arms around his chest and burying my face between his shoulder blades. "Leo went to Rodriguez, who was all too willing to help as long as it ended with Wilkes’s head."

"You knew where Leo was going when he left?" He sighs, grabbing my legs and pulling them around his waist from behind.

"I did. We staged the big exit. But if it helps at all, they were real tears as he walked out the door. I was worried Rodriguez wouldn’t even humor Leo’s plea for help and would kill him on the spot."

"The window in the security room?" he asks, and I can actually feel the pieces snapping into place for him.

"I was worried I would miss the call when Wilkes got there, so I left it open as much as possible."

"So just let me get this straight. Leo leaked his identity and the fact that he worked for me then left to hopefully get help from Rodriguez? What the hell would have happened if Rodriguez had actually killed Leo? He led Wilkes right to our door and then took off."

"We used the same twelve-hour rule we used in the program. If he was missing for more than twelve hours, I was to tell you everything, pack up, and leave. But luckily, Rodriguez immediately agreed."

"Jesus Christ, Erica. I don’t even know what to say. It was stupid and irresponsible, but it worked. So as much I want to lose my f*cking mind right now, I can’t even be mad at you. I will say your ability to lie to me does not bode well for our future together."

"Yeah, well. At least we have a future together now," I respond dryly.

He sucks in a deep breath and pushes us both to the bed, turning to face me, assuming our talking position. "I always thought you were such a terrible liar." He humorlessly laughs to himself.

"Don’t worry. I usually am. I just knew it was the only way out."

"God. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in my life as when I saw him drag you into the room. All I could think about was how I had failed you, and because of that, I was going to lose you."

"You didn’t fail me, Slate. You made me safe."

He laughs, shaking his head. "I didn’t do anything. I was absolutely helpless tonight. It was the worst feeling in the entire f*cking world."

"No. You did do something. You saved me. Maybe it wasn’t tonight, but you gave me something to fight for, Slate. I used to be great in chaotic situations. I was always strong and levelheaded, but I lost that years ago. Do you think that frightened woman you first met hauling in groceries would have been able to stand there in Wilkes’s arms without breaking down completely? I don’t care if it was a carefully mapped-out plan. I would have lost control and been worthless when the memories overtook me. You gave me back the pieces that were stolen from me. You gave me back myself."

"You did that all on your own, beautiful," he says, leaning forward to kiss me.

"You’re wrong, but I love you anyway."





Two weeks later…

"Indianapolis," Slate says, walking onto the balcony of our hotel only to freeze when he sees me.

Neither of us wanted to go back to his apartment, even after it was thoroughly cleaned. I may not have panicked the night Wilkes was killed, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t if I were living there again. I’m sitting out in the sun with my nose stuck in a book. It’s not my normal romance read; instead, it’s a medical journal. My license to practice medicine has long since lapsed over the last few years. Now I’m playing catch-up so I can hopefully start treating patients again as soon as possible.

"Um, you’re blonde," he stutters out.

"I am." I smile up at him.

I went down to the hotel spa this morning and had my hair dyed back to its natural color for the first time in almost four years. The moment they turned me to face the mirror, I burst into tears. I spent a really long time pretending to be someone else, both physically and emotionally. But seeing myself with blonde hair and blue eyes while sitting in a public place hit me harder than I’d ever expected. I left with red-rimmed eyes and I was so embarrassed that I know I’ll never be able to show my face in there again.

I run my hands through my hair, uncomfortably waiting for his reaction.

"Jesus, you are beautiful, Erica," he says softly, and I know he isn’t lying just for the sake of a compliment. He stands motionlessly, staring down at me.

"You like it? I was worried you had a thing for brunettes."

He leans over, sucking in a shaky breath and kissing me hard while pushing a hand through my hair. He doesn’t take it any deeper. He just holds me against his mouth, savoring the connection.

"I just have a thing for you. You should have warned me about this though. We have things to talk about and all I want to do now is take you inside and watch this sexy blonde riding my cock." Yeah. He likes it.

He finally takes a step back before adjusting his pants and clearing his throat.

"Later. I promise. Now what’s this about Indianapolis?" I ask.

"Pack your bags, baby. We’re moving."

I jump to my feet, spilling my coffee all over the ground. "Really?"

"Yep. I just signed on the space for the gym. It’s not Ohio, but they have a great center that is dying to have you on staff. The director said you could start working with patients immediately as long as you are willing to have another doctor oversee you until you’re caught up on all your licensing stuff."