by Jewel, Bella
His eyes look out into the darkness, almost directly at me.
As if he knows I’m watching him.
As if he knows his life is about to end.
And I pull the trigger.
And my aim is spectacular. The bullet hits him right between the eyes, and a splash of red can be seen as slowly, his body topples backwards.
He hits the ground. Lifeless.
And just like that...it’s over.
Just like that, I slayed a monster.
Just like that, I gave Ellie her freedom back.
Just like that, I made it all go away.
Just. Like. That.
~21~
NOW – ELLIE
I’ll never forget the moment life was wiped from him.
I’ll never forget it for as long as I live.
The way that bullet ripped through the window.
The way the second one hit him right between the eyes.
The way his body fell off mine. Dead.
The way I felt, the moment I realized he was gone.
Gone. Forever. Gone.
I’ll never forget laying there, crying, out of relief and fear, or a buildup of emotion from ten years. Or all of them combined.
I’ll never forget Slater busting into the cabin, hauling me into his arms, and hanging onto me so tightly I couldn’t breathe.
I’ll never forget the day he became my hero.
He saved my life.
He took it all away.
It’s like he reached in, and just scooped up all the bad, and disposed of it.
Now here we are, at his house, me bundled up in a warm blanket, Erin by my side.
It still hasn’t fully clicked that it’s all over.
But deep down, I know it is.
They did it. Just like they said they would.
Slater saved me. Just like he promised. He made it all go away.
“Are you okay?” Erin asks, her arm still firmly around my shoulders, like she’s too afraid to let me go.
“He’s gone,” I whisper.
“He’s gone, honey. And you’re safe.”
I’m safe.
Oh my. I’m safe.
“I’m safe,” I murmur.
“I couldn’t breathe. Every single second you were gone. I couldn’t breathe. I was so afraid of something happening to you.”
“Never goin’ to let that happen, Erin,” Slater says, walking into the room with a cup of tea in his hand.
He’s followed by Lincoln, Damon, Finn and Malakai. Everyone else went home after making sure we were okay here.
“Thank you,” Erin says to him, and she means it. “All of you. Thank you.”
Malakai nods, and looks to Slater. He’s angry at him. I can see it written all over his face. Slater told me he took the shot against Malakai’s orders. I know why Malakai is angry, but I’m not going to be on his side for this. Slater taking that shot saved my life, and my sanity.
Because if that monster had continued his path...I wouldn’t be sitting here so calmly.
Slater made sure he didn’t give me anymore horror.
Slater made sure no more of my mind was damaged.
I owe him everything for that.
“I’m headin’ off,” Malakai murmurs. “Hope you’re feelin’ okay, Ellie.”
“Thank you,” I tell him. “With all my heart, Malakai. Thank you.”
He smiles, but he looks exhausted. “We die for family, darlin’. You know that.”
Then, he leaves.
I look to Slater, who hands me the cup of tea. I want to wrap myself in his arms. I want everyone else to just disappear so I can hang onto him. I need him. More than I’ve ever needed anything in my life.
“If you all don’t mind,” I murmur, still holding his eyes. “I’d like to be alone with Slater.”
“Just because he shot and killed a man, through a window, and saved your life, doesn’t mean he should get the top treatment, you know,” Damon says.
I turn and smile at him. “I think it does, Damon.”
He grins, and walks over, leaning down and kissing my head. “Glad you’re okay, Ellie.”
I beam up at him.
“Yeah,” Lincoln says. “Fuckin’ glad, sweetheart.”
“What they said,” Finn nods. “Only I’m not going to call you squishy names or kiss you. But, I am glad, Ellie. So fuckin’ glad.”
My heart expands.
“Well,” Erin says, letting me go. “I guess that means I have to leave, too.”
I turn and let the blanket fall so I can hug her. “I’ll call you later. And come into the bakery tomorrow.”
She leans back, and cups my cheeks. “You’re free, honey.”
“I’m free.”
She beams, and then stands. “Gentlemen, as always, it was a pleasure.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Finn says, and my brows go up.
Erin looks to me, wiggles her brows, and then grins.
I laugh.
They all leave, and I turn to Slater.
“Kickin’ everyone out...” he murmurs, voice low. “Must mean good things for me.”
He walks over and sits down on the sofa beside me, and I move quickly, turning and climbing onto his lap so I’m straddling him. I lean down, tucking my arms under his, and slide them around his back, and then I press my cheek over his chest, and just hang onto him.
“Fuck,” he rasps, clutching me so tightly I feel like I could just stop breathing.
But I’d be completely okay with it.
“You saved my life, Slater.”
“Owed it to you, darlin’.”
“No, you didn’t,” I pull back and look up at him. “You don’t owe me anything. What happened, it all needs to remain in the past. There is no reason for it to ever come back. It’s finished now. We have a chance to move forward, and leave our darkness behind us. Please, don’t hang onto it anymore. We’ve both lived with enough. We both deserve this freedom.”
“You sayin’ you want to move forward with me?” he murmurs, staring at my lips.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“You don’t remember anything...”
“I don’t have to remember anything to know how I feel,” I say, reaching up and cupping his firm jaw. “All I need to know, is that I want to be here. That everything inside me tells me I want to be here. The rest, it’ll come if it wants, or it won’t. I hope it does, but if it doesn’t, I’m okay with it. All I need right now, and probably forever, is you.”
“Fuck. You have any idea how long I’ve waited for those words?”
I lean up, kissing his lips softly for a moment. “Probably ten years.”
He snorts, and then kisses me, long and deep. My whole body comes alive, and I shuffle closer, kissing him until I can’t breathe.
I pull back, and look into his eyes. “If there is ever a single person out there who has gone above and beyond to prove themselves, it’s you...”
“Told you once I’d turn the world upside down for you, Ellie. I fuckin’ meant it.”
I grin at him. “Anyone would think you like me, Slater Knight.”
He smiles.
Big. Beautiful. Real.
And my heart melts. Right then and there. It just melts.
That smile is everything.
It. Is. Everything.
“I think you might be right.”
Oh.
I’m right.
Yeah. So damned right.
~*~*~*~
NOW – ELLIE
“I wanted to give you these,” I say, handing some flowers over the counter to Shania.
I’ve wanted to come in here for a few weeks now, but with everything happening, I haven’t had the chance. Now I’m safe, and can move around as I please, it is time I came and thanked the lovely waitress who helped me that day.
I owe it to her.
If it wasn’t for her kindness, and not calling the police on my crazy ass, then I probably wouldn’t be her
e.
“What for?” she smiles, taking them.
“For helping me out that day. You could have kicked me out. Called the police. Anything. But you didn’t. You took care of me, and I know I looked completely crazy.”
She laughs. “I don’t mind. We’ve all been in that position before, you know? I don’t blame you for reacting the way you did.”
“Still,” I say. “You didn’t have to, and I appreciate that you were so kind.”
She beams, and her cheeks get rosy. “This means a lot to me, thank you. Maybe you’d like to catch up sometime? I could always use some new friends.”
“Of course, I’d love that!”
We exchange numbers, and I tell her, “If there is anything I can do, to make up for your kindness, please let me know.”
“Actually,” she says, but then quickly hesitates.
“What is it?” I ask.
“This...this might sound forward, but...those men you were with...the bikers...”
I smile at her, to encourage her to go on.
“Did they help get you out of that mess? Did they get him away from you?”
I nod. “They did. They’re pretty good at that.”
“Do you think...do you think they’d help me?”
I stare at her, a little confused. “Help you?”
She exhales, and looks down, “Look, sorry. Never mind.”
“No, please, Shania. Tell me.”
She looks back up. “It’s a long story, but...I’m in a bad situation, too. I’m scared. And I’ve lost something very important to me. The police won’t help me any further. And I need someone...something...to help.”
I nod. “Of course. Of course we’ll help you. The club members, they’re incredible with what they do. I’m sure if I spoke to them, they’d happily help out.”
“Do you think?”
I nod. “Yeah, I think so.”
I’m not sure if that’s the truth or not.
But, if they wouldn’t help, I’m certain Slater and his family would.
This girl, I owe her a lot. Not to mention, she’s scared. I can see it in her. I know how that feels, better than anyone. There isn’t a single person in the world I’d like to feel that way, especially not the good ones.
I had help, to get my life in order.
Why shouldn’t she be deserving of the same?
“You ready to go?”
I turn around and see Lincoln walking in. He drove me in here because Slater was out on a ride, and still isn’t completely happy with me being out on my own, but he’s getting better. Lincoln and I don’t fully see eye to eye, but we’re coming around. He’s got his own demons, and his own regrets, I can’t blame him for everything.
I think he’s lived with enough, too.
“Oh, yeah, of course,” I say, and then I look back to Shania. “Shania, this is Lincoln. Lincoln, this is Shania.”
Lincoln looks to her, and nods, “Yeah, we’ve met.”
They’ve met?
Oh right. He came back and checked all the footage after Paul was in here.
“Oh, right, sorry. Actually, now you’re here...Shania needs help.”
Lincoln looks to her, and her cheeks go rosy. “Not from him, I don’t,” Shania mutters, crossing her arms.
Oh boy.
What did I miss?
“Wasn’t offerin’, sweetheart,” Lincoln snaps back.
“Whoa,” I say, putting my hands up. “I’ve obviously missed something.”
“It’s okay, Ellie,” Shania says. “I don’t need help from him.”
Lincoln stares at her.
She glares at him.
“You still got your panties in a fuckin’ twist because of what happened?” Lincoln growls.
“Panties in a twist! Don’t you talk to me about panties, dude. You fucked me, and then when I woke up, you were gone. And you took my damned panties, like a creep. Those were my favorite! Then you put the wrong number in my phone. Who does that? You’re twisted!”
Oh boy.
This is not what I expected.
“Left them in my truck,” Lincoln mutters.
“I did not leave them in your truck!”
“Did.”
“Did not!”
“Okay,” I say, shaking my head, still confused. “This...this is just...too much. Lincoln, I’ll meet you at the car.”
“What do you need help for?” he asks her, completely ignoring me.
“Nothing I’m telling you. I’ll get help from someone else.”
“Not likely. Now, what do you need?”
“Eat me, Lincoln!” she snaps.
“Did that, was fuckin’ lovely. Now, you goin’ to tell me, or do I have to find out myself? Because I will.”
Shania’s cheeks go red, and she throws her hands on her hips. “Over my dead body.”
Lincoln shrugs. “Have it your way. I’ll find out. And when I do, I’ll be back.”
With that, he turns and walks out.
I stare at her, blinking. “Well, I didn’t expect that.”
She huffs. “Stupid, infuriating man!”
“That he certainly is.”
“Argh!”
With that, she spins and storms off behind the counter.
I can’t help it.
I smile.
I think Lincoln Knight just met his match.
Oh boy.
THE END
Well, you guess it. Lincoln’s book is coming up next! I cannot wait for this one. Seriously, Lincoln is my favorite character, so his book is going to be epic!!! I hope you enjoyed this, and you’ll be sure to see more of Ellie and Slater in the upcoming books, where we’ll find out more about her memory, and how things between her and Slater go! Can’t wait!
Bella x