Page 96 of Wrecked By You

“Is that them? Does he mean Ella and Chloe?”

“Yes.”

“God.”

I lurched toward the door again, only to find myself back in my seat.

Again.

“Let me out.”

“Cool it. Let’s wait until they get here. Last thing I need is you stumbling around in the dark and getting yourself shot or worse. Sit tight.”

I glowered at him, my legs jiggling as I cocked my ears for the sound of a car engine. There. Faint, but getting louder. My minder shifted his position and peered out the front window. I followed suit. Headlights. Getting closer. Closer.

I took advantage of his momentary distraction and threw myself out of the van, taking off at a blistering pace toward the oncoming vehicle.

“Ella!” I yelled into the night. “Ella!”

The van slewed to a stop and the side door opened. And then she was there and I had her in my arms, and I held her and kissed her hair and muttered words that made no sense, relief a raging torrent inside me.

Was she real? Or was this all a dream, and I’d wake up to find my life a living nightmare?

“Johannes. Oh God. Oh God. I thought you were dead.” She pulled back and cupped my face, brushing her thumbs over my bruised cheeks. “He said you were dead. He killed you.”

“I’m here.” I ran my hands over her, checking for injuries. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

“Look what he did to you.” She skimmed over my cuts and bruises, then burst into tears. “I believed him when he said you were dead. I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”

“Ella.” I drew her to me, caressing her body, attempting to prove to myself that she was flesh and blood, and mine. She trembled. I held her close, squeezing her tight. “I’m here. I’m alive. I’m going nowhere. It’s a few cuts and scrapes. That’s all.” I captured her lips with mine, drinking in the taste of her, the smell of her, the way her curves molded to my body. I knotted my fingers in her hair, anchoring myself in case my legs failed me and peppered her face with kisses. “I’m the one who’s sorry. So fucking sorry.”

“What for?”

“For failing you.”

“No. Oh, Johannes, no. All of this is my fault. I should have trusted you.”

“I should have trusted you.” I kissed her again. “Chloe?”

“She’s fine. She’s okay.”

She took my hand and led me over to the vehicle. Inside, Chloe was fast asleep, curled up on one of the seats, both hands tucked underneath her head, her dark hair fanning out around her pretty face.

My heart constricted. I’d never thought of myself as the paternal sort, but something about this kid tugged at me. Maybe it was just because she looked like Ella, or she’d been through so much and come out the other side unscathed. At least that was what I hoped. I guessed we wouldn’t know that for some time, but with Ella’s love, and my protection and unlimited funds to secure any help she might need, she’d thrive. I’d make sure of it.

Brax clapped me on the shoulder. “Get in. We gotta roll.”

“Airport?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

I helped Ella into the van, where she sat beside Chloe, stroking her hair with the tenderness only a mother could offer. I sat on the bench opposite, exhaustion swamping me, but I couldn’t take my eyes off them, almost as if I was scared that if I dozed off, even for a second, they wouldn’t be here when I woke.

The van set off into the night, and I put in a call to Nolen. Despite the late hour, he answered.

“Tell me you’ve got them.”

“They’re here. They’re safe.”