Page 62 of Fighting Conviction
“Thank God.” Dev moved his hand to cradle the back of her head. His lips whispered over her forehead and she closed her eyes at the overwhelming sense of peace and security cleansing her body of tension.
“Ma’am? Who is this? Do you know this man?”
“I’m her boyfriend and a naval medic. Get the stretcher out and you can check her vitals before we go.” Whoever he was talking to, must’ve sensed the authority behind his command because soon enough she sat on an upright stretcher outside of an ambulance.
Multiple EMTs took her vitals, fed her a fake sugary, chocolate substance, some beef jerky, and a Gatorade while asking her questions—most of which Dev answered for her—but it was nothing like the crowded feeling she’d felt right after passing out.
It could’ve been because she was finally feeding her body, but it also could’ve been because she was safe. Dev’s hand never stopped touching her. He moved to accommodate the EMTs but they stayed connected and he remained in her vision at all times.
After a while, a portly medic approached her with a clipboard. “Ma’am, we think you suffered from exhaustion and then a panic attack. We don’t think you need to go to the hospital, but we can take you if you want.”
Dev’s hand squeezed hers and it was the only answer she needed.
“No. I’m safe with Dev.”
The stranger nodded but Ellie checked out of the conversation, trusting Dev to take care of the rest.
Eventually, despite the fact she’d been given the all-clear to go, Dev insisted on carrying her off to his truck. The gentle sway of his footsteps lulled her eyes closed. She was functionally okay, but she was still exhausted from…everything. He set her in her seat and clicked the seat belt in, kissing her forehead before he left.
“Rest, angel. I’m taking you home.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“I can’t believe you fuckin’ punched him, dude. That was aggressive as hell. He’s one of your best friends and you’re usually all I-am-robot.” The last few words spoken in Phoenix’s crappy robotic impersonation woke Ellie fully from her nap. There was a low rumbling growl in response and Ellie lifted a bleary eyelid.
“I’ll do it to you too, if you don’t fucking leave. I wanted her change of clothes from her roommate and you gave them to me. That’s all I need right now.”
“Sheesh, alright. But you know Jaybird’s gonna have your ass for keepin’ her from him. That and I’m sure as hell he knows you’re in love with her by now.”
Love.
The word lit a small flame of hope in Ellie’s soul and cleared the sleepy fog in her mind.
“Leave. Now.” The rumbled command came before the slam of the door and a deep exhale.
Ellie opened her eyes completely to find Dev’s back up against the door. She felt around and fingered the soft comforter she was burrowed in and soaked in the cinnamon smell from her pillow. Slowly she remembered she was laying in Dev’s bed in his studio apartment at the BlackStone Securities facility.
She glanced back at the man who’d saved her once again and met his deep forest green eyes.
“Some birthday, huh?” The brows and muscles around Dev’s eyes were weary and tense as he spoke, and Ellie’s stomach twisted with guilt.
Was that because of her? Stupid question. Of course she was the cause. She had a million questions, so instead of filtering them, she blurted the first ones that came to mind.
“How did you know I’m claustrophobic? Or where I was?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and chuckled. “Your roommate texted me from your phone. And as for the claustrophobia… I had a hunch it was one of your triggers after your panic attack at the shooting range. Then I started paying more attention and noticed you spend as little time as possible in that tiny dorm room of yours. You also gravitate toward people you trust when the room is too crowded. My theory was confirmed when I realized you don’t like your movements restricted—”
“Unless you let me feel like I am in control.”
“No, youarein control. Even if you don’t have control over the physical situation, control over your mental state is the most important. You could train to fight back an entire army but if you don’t focus and think logically then one guy will beat you every time.”
“Ugh, but I got beat by a freakin’closettoday.”
Dev huffed another laugh and paced toward her until he sat on the bed, one knee up and one leg off the side. His weight made the mattress dip and her body fell closer into the lowered space until it met Dev’s thigh. He laid a hand on her shin and gave a gentle squeeze. “Fair, but only after you deprived your body of the proper ammo. You’re taking shit care of your physical self. You finally lost the battle and everything shut down on you.”
The denial she’d been asserting for a year wanted to push back but his words held on and she bit her lip from fighting the truth.
“Oh and heads-up… your brother’s a little mad about my decision to monitor you. We came to… terms. I told him you would see him after you’ve rested. I know his hovering stresses you out sometimes.”
