Page 73 of In Her Shadow

“Well, I appreciate you coming here to tell me.” I smile at him, trying to hold everything together and process all I’ve heard. I had no idea Ren went to Lance for help to find me, and I still can’t figure out why he would lie about shooting my best friend, especially considering how mad it made me.

“What happened, Eloise? What did you mean when you said Ren was protecting you from her? What was she gonna do?”

“What do you believe happened, Lance?” I stare him right in the eyes, because something tells me he knows. That coming here gave him his answers. Now I just have to trust that he sees the justice in them.

“I believe in true love and, despite how fucked-up that guy of your’s might be, there’s no doubting that he’s got it for you.” He shrugs as he stands back up.

“I don’t know how to thank you for helping him, and for going against your morals when you found that crime scene. I can assure you that I'm happy, and that I’m not in danger anymore.” I smile, hoping that hearing that is enough for him. “If there’s ever anything you need…”

“Just keep that monster tamed,” he smirks at me, starting to make his way back toward the front door.

“Lance…,” I call after him, and when he turns around, I shuffle my way over to him and pull him in for an awkward hug. “I hope one day you find a fucked-up love of your own,” I whisper..

I’m feeling a little nervous when I hear the door downstairs slam, and I wait for Ren upstairs.

I’ve had a lot of time to think about what Lance revealed today. I’ve put a few things together and come to a conclusion.Now it’s time to figure out if that conclusion is correct. If it is, I’ve got some making up to do.

“Holy fuck.” Ren’s eyes almost pop out of his head when he finds me lying propped up on the bed, facing the door, in myjust-in-caseunderwear. The bra barely fits, so my tits spill over the top of it, and I can’t even see what’s going on with the thong but I know I’ll be relieved when it comes off.

“Baby, are you okay?” He looks a little concerned about my mental state as he enters the room and closes the door behind him.

“I’m good.Veryuncomfortable, but good.” I stroke my hand over my belly, knowing how much he likes it.

“It can’t be much longer.” He sounds sympathetic as he moves closer, still seeming unsure as to what's happening here.

“Might be even less if we did something freaky,” I point out, biting my lip because I know he likes that, too.

“You must really be uncomfortable, you could barely look at me when I left. Have you been reading up on how to induce labour?” He frowns suspiciously.

“I found something out today.” I ignore his questions because my desire for the truth is almost as bad as the desire to feel him inside me again.

“What did you find out, pretty girl?” he asks, stroking his hand over my huge, round belly and looking mesmerized by it. I know how much he’s missed being able to touch it while I was mad at him.

“Well, for a start, I found out that Katelyn wasn’t shot; she died from a single stab wound.” His hand instantly stops the circle he’s making, and he slowly looks up at me.

“How did you find that out?” his eyes narrow, darkly.

“You getting the governor involved may have covered all your tracks with the law, but not with me. Why did you lie to me,Ren?” I ask. I think I have a pretty good idea why, but I need to hear it from him to be sure.

“I don’t know where you're getting your information from but?—”

“Don’t lie to me, Ren, I want the truth. I can handle it,” I promise him.

“You sure about that?” He rests his knees on the floor and kisses my taut, overstretched skin before his eyes meet mine again.

“I’m sure.” I nod for him to continue.

“I saw how much you wanted me to save her before I went inside that cabin, and as mad as I was, I had every intention to do what you asked. I thought you were bat shit crazy, but I was gonna do it. I walked through the door, and she was already dead, baby.” His hand moves up to cradle my face and wipe away my tears when they start to fall. “I couldn’t face coming out and telling you that. I knew you’d blame yourself; that you’d carry that guilt for a whole fucking lifetime and so I figured it would be better if you blamed me instead.”

“Ren.” I shake my head, unable to believe that he’d risk me hating him rather than have me hate myself. “Were you really gonna save her?”

“Of course, I was. You asked me to.” He stares back at me, confused, and it makes those tears flow even faster.

“Is there anything you wouldn’t do for me?” I laugh despite them.

“Not a single fucking thing.” He reaches up to kiss me, standing back up on his feet.

“I just have one more question.” I pull back before we get started on making up for all the nights we’ve been apart.

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