Page 28 of Escaped
“Really?”Her tone sounded skeptical.
“Really.”I pulled in a hopeful breath.“I only saw one in my cell when we were parted.Other than that, I don’t think I’ve experienced anything since before we were in the cabin.And that’s unusual, believe me.”
I gave her a moment to soak in that knowledge.“You’vedone that for me, little girl.You’ve not only inspired me to be a better man, but you’ve tangibly helped me to become him.”
It sounded glib, but I meant every word.She might have been the one who’d needed a guide when we’d first met, but I’d been the one who was lost.
“I…” She hesitated.“I don’t know what to say, sir.”
“I understand.”Eyeing her hands, I yearned to reach for them, to feel the touch of her flesh on mine again, but it didn’t seem right until she’d had time to think through everything I’d told her and cast her verdict.“I just wanted you to know.”
“I need time to think, but until then, you need to see a doctor, sir.”She nodded toward my injured shoulder.“You’re looking paler than ever.Please, let me drive until we can find a hospital.”
“A hospital?”I shook my head at her innocent suggestion.“Hospitals ask too many questions, little girl.”
I needed medical help, but we were going to have to think of a better option.
Chapter Twelve
External Validation
Erin
“How are you feeling?”
Casting an anxious glance in his direction, my focus returned to the road ahead.I’d been driving for almost two hours since his unexpected disclosures, and in that time, the man who’d flipped the script on my entire life had fallen suspiciously quiet.
“I’m just tired.”He blew out a breath, trying to suppress his pain as he shifted in the passenger seat, but it was there in his voice and in the way he moved.
“You’re hurt.”Well, duh… the guy’s been shot.“You’re not only tired.”
“Yeah.Flinching, he offered me a weak smile as I briefly turned his way again.“I seem to remember that, little girl.”
The light shining in his eyes reminded me of the man who’d mastered me in the cabin, of the one I’d tried to fight as well as ultimately falling for, but the version of Eli sitting beside me was altered.In pain, yes, but more than that, he was wearier, jaded, older.
“I wanted to thank you, sir.”I hesitated over his title, gripping the wheel tighter as I forced it out.
It was difficult to reconcile the injured man who’d taken a bullet to protect me with the one he’d confessed to being in the past.Everyone had a history.I accepted that, but one that involved slaying people seemed difficult to overlook.
“What for?”His voice sounded hollow with despondency.“Putting you in danger, or finally admitting who I am?”
“Was,” I corrected quickly.“You’re not that man anymore.”
“Erin, I must have killed at least five guys back at the bunker.”He snorted.“I’m hardly a reformed character!”
“I shot people, too.”I frowned.It seemed to be the day for startling confessions.“But in general, neither of us goes around killing people now, right?”
My gaze slid his way as though I needed him to confirm the point.
“Right.”His eyes squeezed closed as he fidgeted again.He’d never have said so, but clearly, his pain was intensifying.“There were no deaths between Hawkins engineering my exit from the job until today, unless you count James and Miles.”
James and Miles.
My eyes widened as I remembered the two assholes who had started the spiral of our crazy romance.
“You didn’t kill them,” I insisted, trying not to return to my underlying concerns about Chelle.I still didn’t know what had happened to her.Maybe I never would.“Their recklessness killed themselves.”
“I’m not sure Chelle saw it that way.”He reached for his temple and pushed his dark hair from his face.
