Page 97 of Wrecked By You
Ella looked up and I mouthed, “Nolen.” She nodded, then returned her attention to Chloe, not having broken stride on her rhythmic stroking of her daughter’s hair.
“Thank God. Where are you now?”
“With Brax’s team. We’re headed back to the airport.”
“Perfect. The jet’s on standby, waiting for you.”
“The company jet?”
“Yeah. I sent it as soon as you left for Oklahoma. There’s security on board, too. Just in case.”
My shoulders sagged in gratitude. One of the company’s private jets would be far comfier for Ella and Chloe than the military plane I’d arrived on. I wanted to wrap them both in cotton and silk, and thanks to Nolen, I now could.
“Thank you, man. I owe you.”
“Bullshit. Call me when you’re settled back in LA.”
“I will.” I ended the call and slid my phone into my pocket, returning my gaze to Ella. I’d never felt this kind of surge before, a need to protect, to nurture, to care for, but fuck me, it raced through my body, filling every crevice and dark corner. I’d kill for Ella. Die for her. Burn the world to the ground if it kept her safe.
She’d changed me, irrevocably. But the transformation wouldn’t be complete until I’d confessed every secret, told her the truth about me, and listened to her truth, too.
But right now, all I wanted was to take them home and keep them there forever.
Chapter32
Johannes
Laying ghosts to rest is
an enlightening experience.
Dusk fellas the sun sank lower over the horizon. Since we’d arrived home midmorning, Ella hadn’t left Chloe’s side for a second. On the flight back to LA, she’d told me that during her time in Oklahoma, she hadn’t eaten, and since we got home, all she’d managed was to nibble on a sandwich.
Nor had she spoken much, other than to softly sing lullabies as she cradled her daughter in her arms. Whatever had happened to Chloe in the three days since she’d been taken from Vegas back to her home in Oklahoma, the poor little mite must not have slept much. My earlier hope that the experience hadn’t damaged her ebbed a little, given how she clung to Ella and sucked on her thumb.
I hadn’t spent a huge amount of time with Chloe, but I’dneverseen her suck her thumb.
Ella caught sight of me hovering in the doorway. She smiled a little and held out her hand, beckoning me over. I crept into the room so as not to wake Chloe.
“How is she?” I whispered.
“Tired and confused, but she’s safe. That’s all I care about.”
“And you?” I perched on the edge of the bed. “How are you doing?”
A fresh swathe of tears glistened in her eyes, but she held them back, blinking to disperse them. I wished she wouldn’t. I wished she’d let it all out like she had at the moment of her release.
I wished she’d talk to me.
“I’m not sure what I feel, to be honest.”
I tucked her hair behind her ear. “It’ll come.”
“That’s what worries me.” She ran her teeth over her bottom lip.
“You need to eat something.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. My stomach is in knots. Did you call Ginny?”