Page 106 of Fighting Conviction
He squeezed tighter and threaded his hands in her hair. “I found you, angel. And goddamnit I’m never losing you again.”
Cool air brushed against her face and lavender tickled her nose.
Ellie gulped and blinked back tears as she whispered again. “Thank you, Sash.”
“What, baby?” Dev stood up from his kneeling position. “We gotta get you outta here.”
Ellie watched as the figure melted away and two more appeared.
“Dude, let’s go. I don’t think this place is done blowin’ up.” Phoenix bent to pick her up but Dev snatched her away. That’s when she remembered she wasn’t the only one who needed saving.
“Virginia!” she yelled into a cough and pointed behind her. “Virginia’s in there.”
“Shit.” Hawk took two strides and hopped into the cellar feet first. He came back within a second carefully holding Virginia against his chest.
“Come on. Let’s get outta here.” Phoenix jogged into the smoke, leading the way.
Ellie reached her legs to the ground, only to have them wrapped up by Dev’s arm.
“If you think I’m letting you go after that you are out of your goddamn mind, angel.”
Ellie only nodded and returned her arms around his neck, taking in the soothing cinnamon she’d come to crave the past year. Dev ran them up a hill and Ellie watched the house as it collapsed even farther in on itself. Sirens and fiery winds filled the night.
The dark shadow figure formed in the new billow of smoke beside the house and Ellie blinked back tears.
Love you, Sash.
“Love you, too, El.”
A cool tear trailed down Ellie’s cheek as she said goodbye for what she knew in her heart was the final time.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Devil paced as Dr. Layton pulled the stethoscope away from Ellie’s chest and hung it around her own neck. “Except for your knuckles, Devil, there’s hardly a scratch on either of you. From what y’all are telling me, it’s miraculous you came away with only pink skin to show for it. I’d say you’re completely fine, but doctors are at least supposed to say ‘take it easy for a few days.’ It’s in our oath.” She winked at Ellie and gave a warm, reassuring smile that eased the tension in Devil’s body.
He’d known Ellie was okay. The paramedics even cleared her on scene, but Devil had wanted a second opinion and insisted they take her to the hospital. There was no way in hell he’d have let her leave there if she hadn’t been given a clean bill of health.
Jaybird had been a wreck. He and a very pregnant Jules had sat with Devil late into the night while Ellie was overseen in the ER. As soon as the doctor was finished with her, Jaybird hovered, asking her a million questions and not letting her so much as fucking breathe. Devil had wanted to tell him to back the fuck off, but he understood Ellie’s brother was just as worried as he had been.
When he noticed Ellie getting tired from having to convince Jaybird she was fine, on top of the fact that she was already exhausted from fighting for her life, Devil had stepped in. She’d tried to say she was fine, that she didn’t need the rest, but the fatigue in her posture said otherwise. He’d told Jaybird to leave, reassuring him that he could see her in the morning. Whether it was Devil’s clenched fist, or the catch in his throat as he’d told Jaybird they needed time to decompress, for some reason, the man listened.
After Jaybird and Jules left, Devil had to practically pry Ellie from the hospital waiting room. She’d been waiting there with Virginia’s parents, but they’d insisted Ellie go home and rest, reassuring her they’d call when Virginia woke up from her successful surgery.
When he and Ellie were finally on their way back to BlackStone, Ellie coughed and Devil had flipped his shit, terrified he, the doctor, and the paramedics had all missed something. He’d called the doctor the BlackStone Crew had on retainer for serious injuries, or for when Devil was compromised. At the time, Devil was worried both might be true.
“Thanks doc.” Devil shook her hand before walking her out. When they got to the door, he turned to watch Ellie drink a sip of water before triple-checking with Dr. Layton. “You sure she’ll be fine?”
Dr. Layton smiled and followed his gaze over his shoulder. “It’s nice to see you care. Your bedside manner is usually so… detached.”
Devil’s lips tightened as he silently swore to change that about himself. It wasn’t fair to him or even everyone else that he held them at arm’s length. After Draco, the closest man he had in the Crew to call a best friend was Jaybird. And even Jaybird had been the last to know about his feelings for Ellie.
Well, next to last.
He glanced back again before turning to Dr. Layton.
“She’s different, huh?” The knowing smile got on his nerves but he grunted his assent. Dr. Layton chuckled. “I’ll leave y’all be, then. Remember...” She lowered her voice. “Nothingtoostrenuous.”
Devil groaned. “Goodbye, doc.” Dr. Layton laughed on her way out and Devil closed the door behind her. He leaned against it before scrubbing his short beard with both hands. Finally, he looked up and narrowed his eyes at Ellie.
