Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“Slater,” I say again.
He makes another pained sound, and the looks up and over at me. The pained expression on his face nearly brings me to my knees. So much pain, so much that his empty eyes are finally showing. “I’m so fuckin’ sorry,” he rasps out. “Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to see you, so broken, so damaged, and knowing that it was my fault. Do you know how hard it has been, to wonder every single second of every single fuckin’ day, what’s happening to you.”
My voice trembles when I say, “You’ve lived long enough with your pain, don’t you think that’s punishment enough for every burden you’re carrying. Let it go, Slater. Don’t let it eat you alive. I know...I know because I have to tell myself this every single day.”
He turns, and his big hand comes over and curls around mine. “You have suffered so much more than me, I deserve to feel this for the rest of my life.”
“No,” I say softly. “No, you don’t.”
“I’m so fuckin’ sorry.”
He tugs, just lightly, and I let myself go, falling into his arms. And the moment my face hits his chest, and those big arms circle around me, I feel...safe. Instantly safe. Like I’ve never been so damned protected in my life. It’s such a familiar comfort, that I never want to pull away. I’ve been struggling for so long, to find something to take that ache in my chest away, to make every breath easier, to just find some piece of myself that I know, that I trust, and right now, in Slater’s arms, I feel it.
I feel something that, it seems like, I’ve almost forgotten.
I feel home.
I feel safe.
I feel loved.
I feel protected.
I feel like Ellie.
Whoever the hell that is.
I turn my face and breathe him in, and his arms close around me even tighter, clutching me as close as he can get me, hanging onto me like he’s been waiting forever for this moment. I guess, he has. He buries his face into my hair and inhales, and then, through the intense moment, he murmurs, “I’ve been waitin’ so fuckin’ long for this moment, Ellie. I know you don’t remember anything, but you have no idea how this feels for me. It’s everything and more.”
“I don’t remember,” I murmur into his shirt. “But...I feel safe with you, Slater. Like I know...like I know this is home.”
He makes a pained, almost relieved sound and hangs onto me so tight I can hardly breathe, but I don’t mind, I could stay here forever, safe and protected in his arms, and let the world pass me by without a second thought.
He pulls back after another few minutes, and looks down at me. “I promise you, even if it costs me my life, I will never, ever, ever let that fucking asshole touch you again. Do you understand me?”
I nod, swallowing and looking up at him through the tears I’ve been fighting back. “I understand you.”
“Come on, you need sleep. Been a fuckin’ long night, and you must be tired.”
My heart expands for this man.
He makes me feel so...so...safe.
“Thank you,” I tell him. “For everything you did for me tonight.”
He stares down at me. “I’d die for you, Ellie. Don’t you ever forget that.”
And now, I think I truly believe it.
~*~*~*~
THEN – SLATER
“Lincoln Knight, what’s his debt,” I ask the man standing in front of me, studying me.
He looks into my eyes, as if trying to figure out if I’m setting him up, or if I’m serious.
“What do you know about Lincoln Knight? Because he owes me a fuckin’ lot of money, and I’m goin’ to get that money back, he can hide all he likes.”
“I’ll get the money back for you, and more. Let me work for you.”
The man, I don’t know his real name, except they call him Walter, stares at me. He tilts his head to the side, scrunching his eyes at me. “What is he to you that you’d risk your life taking on his debt?”
“That’s not important, what’s important is that I’m here, promising to double your money and work for you until you get it all back. Nothing in it for me. You get every cent. Do we have a deal?”
The man looks at me, like I’ve lost my mind. “You’re goin’ to deal for me, earn his debt back and more, and get absolutely fuckin’ nothing about it?”
“Yes.”
“It’s dangerous work.”
“Don’t give a fuck. You promise me you’ll lay off him, clear his name and let me pay you back, and I’ll do whatever you ask.”
He crosses his arms. “You understand I have to make an example of people who do wrong by me, otherwise others will fuck me over...”
“How many people know Lincoln did wrong by you?”