Page 6 of Unbreakable Connection (Connections Duet)

“Yup, and she's the most stubborn woman I've ever met. She will not listen even if it’s to protect her own life, so I go around her and do what I can to protect her and the clinic.”

“All by yourself?” I asked, trying to shake him a bit.

“No, I have some help, but it’s limited.”

“Well, today that's over because I'm here now, and I promise to protect her because she's my woman, and no one will hurt her.”

He straightened his shoulders and said in a curt tone, “Does she know that?”WTF?I thought as if I owed this asshole any clarification. Instead, I stepped closer, making him take a step back.

“If she doesn't, she will,” I said nothing more to the guard, who probably is in love with her. Who could blame him? She cares about people, even the ones that don't deserve it. I bypassedreception and went directly to her office to wait for her. It was easy to get up here since I already knew the specs of the building and which ways to go unseen until I was ready to be. While I waited for Ellen to return, I called our contacts here to get more information on the rising violence that had ended up at my woman's front door. I can't have that and will end it sooner rather than later, but first, I need to see her.

“It was rough back there, but thankfully, the kid will recover.” I heard her say as her voice got closer. I must have closed my eyes for a few minutes and then was awakened by her soft footsteps approaching. “I'm exhausted and have been on my feet for the last 16 hours, so if nothing else arises, I'm going home to sleep.”

“You got it,” I heard another woman say as the door opened, and Ellen almost shrieked when she saw me waiting in her office.

“Edric? What are you doing here?” she questioned with her eyes wild with fire. She’s a challenge, this I know, but I’m not leaving here without her.

“Isn't it obvious? I'm here for you,” she scoffed as she closed the door behind her and placed the charts she was holding down on her desk. She didn't say anything else and sat down to open her bottom drawer, pulling out a bottle and a shot glass.

“It's a little early, don't you think?”

“Nope, it's a perfect time, and just in case you haven't noticed, I don't work normal hours.” She poured and drank her shot of Sambuca, licking her lips before downing the second. Damn, she was sexy as hell with a body built for sin and one I need to get reacquainted with before I lose my fucking mind. She moved the bottle and glass aside, kicking her feet onto her desk and slowly turning her eyes back on mine.

“So, here for me, you say? And why is that when I haven't heard from you in four months?”

“Missing me, Ellen?” I stepped closer and placed my hands on her desk, looking right at her.

“No, more like trying to forget you,” her words pained me as she took another shot before slamming the bottle down onto the desk.

“Okay, that’s enough for you,” I said, taking the bottle and the empty glass from her hands.

“Fuck you, Edric George!” she shouted as she slapped her palms on the desk, standing up to meet me at eye level. “You don’t get to come in here to do or say anything to me after you dropped off the face of the earth.”

“Is your memory failing you? Because I did try to talk to you, but you were the one that cut me off. What would you have me do after you clarified to Sabina that we were over?”

“I never said those words, and I expected more from you. Four months, Edric, no calls, texts, not one single word, and now you're in my office expecting me to do what? Fall at your feet? Not happening, and I'm too exhausted to further discuss this with you.”

“You were testing me? Weren’t you?” she didn’t need to say the words; I knew. “You were just looking for a reason not to trust me. How can you be so brave and perform miracles daily, but when it comes to me, you fucking run?”

“You ran first,” she said defiantly.

“No, you must have me confused with someone else because, from the moment we met, all I’ve been trying to do is find a place where I fit in your life and stay there. Yes, I behaved horribly and overreacted, but I tried to make that right once I learned the truth, but you shut me out. So what was I to do? I was going out of my mind without you and risked my life more times than I could count to not think of you every second of every day.”

“Yeah, and how did that work out for you?”

“It didn’t because no matter what I do, I can’t do it. I’ve wanted you from the start, and that hasn’t changed. You’re mine, Ellen,” she couldn’t look at me and tried to move past me, but there was no way I was letting that happen. Instead, I reached for her tiny waist and pulled her close to my chest, smelling the sweet drink on her breath. She shuttered under my touch, which was the most incredible feeling in the world, knowing she still wanted me. I leaned close to her ear, inhaling her perfume, and said, “I don't think so, sweetheart. I’ve traveled a long way to have a conversation with you that you would not have had with me four months ago, so it will happen as soon as I can get you alone.”

“You are unbelievable, Edric, you know that? If you had only accepted my truth and understood why I had to break plans with you, then we may be in a different place now.”

“I’m listening now and would have months ago if you had given me a chance to apologize, but you are stubborn and were hurt. Please come with me and give me a chance to talk to you. If you need rest, I'll take you somewhere to do that, but please don't send me away.”

Her resolve was fleeting, and she moved away from me to grab her things and opened the door, clicking the lights off. “Well? Let’s go,” she said over her shoulder. I watched her hand off some files to a few of the nurses behind the counter, never looking back at me, although she knew I was a second away from pulling her back into my arms.

I thought it would be easy, and then once again, my sexy minx showed her claws and glowered at me. She was angry, and I was angry. I didn’t do hurt and dejection very well, but she clearly didn’t either. Our fight was one colossal misunderstanding, and we lost precious time to be together. The distance ends today, and our reunion begins. The words from the guard I tangled with earlier were not lost on me as I walked Ellen out to my truck. Thetruck was a monster, and she would need a lift to get inside it. She looked up at it and then back to me.

“You couldn’t go with a simple rental?”

“Not my style; the bigger, the better, and I’m not taking any chances with my precious cargo.”

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