Page 86 of Fate's Unseen Shadow

“Yes. I’ll take you to the track.” Damon researched their options as she drove. “Do you have a preference for where we go? Slater suggested a cabin in North Carolina.”

Ella wiped her palms, one at a time, on her jeans. “You said two weeks. Is that how long you think we’ll be gone?”

He studied her profile, needing to look at where they’d stay tonight but wanting to make sure she knew the truth. “I don’t know. But no matter how long this takes, I’m not leaving you. It doesn’t matter if we’re back here by Monday or a year from now. I told you I wouldn’t be the one that walks away from this.”

“I know.” She took surface roads instead of getting onto the expressway. “But how you say that makes me think you mean something else.” With a small shake of her head, she adjusted the air-conditioning. “Never mind. I’m stressed and overthinking this.”

“You have it right, Ella. I’m yours until you decide you’re done with me. I love you. That means wherever you go, I go.” He’d planned to wait and ensure she understood that even though their situation had accelerated his feelings, the outcome was the same. He loved her.

She smiled and then swiped the back of her hand over her eyes. “Not sure they’re going to let you inside the women’s prison if I get convicted of murder.” She sniffed, but her tears seemed like happy ones.

“I’ll wear a dress and that red lipstick you love so much and sneak inside.”

She laid her head back on the seat at a red light, staring straight ahead. “I love you, too.” She swallowed. “God, it’s like saying it makes it feel ten times bigger than keeping it inside.”

“I know.” Their future came into sharp clarity. “What do you think about going to North Carolina?”

“That might be nice.” She turned into the apartment complex. “Hide in the mountains. Find a few trails to explore.”

He dropped his hand to her thigh as she parked in front of his building. “Hold on.”

Three people stood outside his door.

“Is that Detective Moore?” Ella asked, leaning forward to see better.

“Yes. Fuck. And the FBI. I recognize the suits.” He did the first thing he could think to get her out of there, having already been spotted. “Listen. I’m going to get out, and you’re going to drive. They can’t see into the windshield from here with the tint, so they don’t know you’re driving. Just ease away and go toRyker’s. He already left Cager to keep searching for Davies. I’ll be there as soon as I get rid of them, and we’ll leave from there. Buy whatever we need on the road.”

“Drive to Ryker’s. Got it. Damon…”

He reached over, cradling the back of her head and hauling her to the middle. He kissed her roughly.

She parted her lips, giving him access to her sweet taste for the briefest second before he ended it.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can get away.” He rested his forehead against hers, eyes squeezing shut against the terror of sending her off alone. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she whispered.

Refusing to let himself look at her again, he jerked open the car door and stepped out. He remained in the parking lot until her taillights disappeared. Satisfied she had escaped, he regained command over his emotions and strolled up to Jeff and the two FBI agents.

“I think your car is driving away without you.” Jeff held out his hand to shake Damon’s. “Nice to see you again.”

“I can’t say I was expecting to see you here. Why would you think I would be at home and not Cager?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t. This was our first stop for the night.” He pointed to the two people with him. “Agent Diggs and Agent Tillman. We would’ve gone to Cager next. I need to talk to you about one of your employees. Ella.”

“Ella is mine. You know, I wouldn’t have guessed you were the type of man to be upset over a woman rejecting you.” The two FBI agents shared a confused glance. Good. He needed to cast doubt in their minds for whatever Jeff had told them.

Jeff offered him a bland smile. “I didn’t know you were in a relationship then,” he said in clipped words.

“We weren’t.” He lifted a shoulder. “But you helped move that along. Maybe I should thank you."

“Congrats,” he said dryly. “Well, I need to talk to you about your girlfriend.”

“Fiancée.”

Jeff’s eyebrows shot up his forehead.

“Once I get her to agree to it. When you know, you know.”

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