Among the Echoes(51)

"Where is she?" he asks with concern etched across his face.

"Do you always answer the door with a gun?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Where the f*ck is she? Or you might never get to knock on another door again," he snaps taking a step closer.

"Sleeping."

He instantly relaxes and small smile tips the corner of his mouth. "Good night, huh?"

"Fuck you. What’s her ex-boyfriends name?"

His eyebrows pop up in surprise before falling flat again. "I took care of him."

"If he is still breathing, you did not take f*cking care of him. Now tell me his God damn name!" I roar.

"Jesus Christ, Slate. Calm the f*ck down. First of all, you are going to do more harm than good if you try to become some celebrity vigilante. Just focus on her. She doesn’t need you out there trying to make this guy pay. She needs you to help her rebuild."

"Don’t f*ck around with me, Dave. I’ll never be able to sleep again knowing he is out there. Not after what he did to her."

"Then don’t sleep, but you can rest easy knowing she can."

"I swear to God, you people talk in code. What the f*ck does that mean?"

"That woman never sleeps. Yet it appears, with you, it’s not an issue."

"She have nightmares?" I ask, trying to seek out the logical explanation for her sleep issues.

"No. But I’m not ever going to tell you her business. You want answers? You ask Riley."

"Or you could just tell me so I don’t have to make her relive that bullshit."

He stares at me, obviously weighing a decision. But the sudden scream that comes from inside my apartment halts the conversation.

"Slate!" Riley cries, forcing us both into action.

Side by side, Dave and I sprint the few steps down the hall towards her. Just before we get to the door, he pushes me to the side, narrowly making it inside before I do.

My eyes fly around the apartment, searching for any possible trouble, but only Riley is standing in the middle of the room, sobbing with a sheet pulled tight around her naked body. Dave is the first to reach her, but she breezes past him, slamming into my arms.

"Oh, God. You left the doors open. I just…" She stops talking but continues to cry into my chest.

"Talk to me, beautiful. Are you okay?" I ask, rubbing her back. Her arms are locked around my waist and her body trembles against me. "Riley, you have to tell me what’s going on."

She doesn’t respond, and I turn to Dave, who is standing with his mouth hanging open. I give him a confused glance, and his eyes just go wide in return. He shakes his head and looks down, only to look back up with a huge smile.

"She doesn’t like open doors," he tells me before turning his attention to Riley. "It’s okay, babe. We were just out in the hall talking. Slate just wanted to let me know you were staying at his place tonight. You know, so I wouldn’t worry." He winks at me.

She turns her head to face him. "I’m sorry. I just got scared."

"No biggy. Nothing to worry about." He shrugs, and her whole body relaxes in my arms. "So are you staying here or coming home?" he asks as he turns toward the door.

"She’s staying," I quickly respond, and she tilts her head back to look at me.

"I am?" She tries to ask with attitude, but her voice is still on edge.

"I already told you not a single night again, and especially not after that. So yeah, you’re staying."

"You’re bossy," she complains, dropping her forehead to my chest.

"Yeah, we covered that too."

She turns her attention back to Dave, who is still smiling. "I’m going to stay with Slate."

"All right, babe. I’ll see you in the morning." He waves over his shoulder as he closes the door behind him.

I pull her in for an all-too-brief kiss. "Go get in bed. I’ll meet you there."

"I’ll wait," she answers while chewing on her bottom lip.

I walk to the kitchen and retrieve a notepad and pen. As I head back toward her, I rake my eyes over the sheet she has pulled tight around her body. The tips of her nipples are barely showing through the thin, cotton material. Riley’s body is amazing, and I have a sudden and desperate need to touch her.

"I want to be inside you again." I brush the back of my thumb over her breast as I stop in front of her. Her eyes instantly heat, telling me that I’m not alone in that desire. "I rushed it the first time. I think we need to give it another shot." I wink, and she finally gives me a smile that I recognize as the strong woman I see in flashes between the fears. And it’s simply amazing. "But first, we need to talk." And just like that, her smile completely disappears. "Oh stop. It’s nothing bad. It will help, I swear."