No sooner had Ella hung up the phone than a man entered the service station and strode up to the counter, holding out an identity card. “I’m Kennedy. I work for Wells Security. You’re to come with me, please.”
“Okay.” Habitually, she glanced briefly at the card.
Even at a glance she could see that the facial picture matched the calm-looking bloke’s. In the flesh he was a lot bigger. Muscular, his plain navy blue jacket hugging broad shoulders, and no doubt his boots big enough to kick a heavy drum into the middle of next year. He had that same look about him that she’d noticed in Ryan, Aaron and even Marietta. Observant, composed, controlled, confident, and definitely not to be argued with.
“Your safety is of paramount importance right now.” He slid the card back into his pocket. “Where is your co-worker?”
“Cassidy? He’s in the office out back doing his usual paperwork, or taking a nap.”
“Come.” He was already moving for the end of the counter.
Even as she hurried, she couldn’t help but cast an anxious look over her shoulder at the big glass window. Nothing was outside in the glow of the lights, no one looking in - well, that she could see, anyway.
Kennedy was already coming towards her on her side of the counter, passing to fall in behind her, effectively shielding her with his own body as he crowded in close, one big hand on her shoulder guiding her deftly forward towards the door leading into the back of the service station.
They were halfway to it when it opened to reveal Ryan. His hard gaze swept around, landed on her and Kennedy.
“Clear in here,” Kennedy said curtly.
Ryan nodded, strode out to meet them.
Seeing him was a huge relief, and she went willingly to him, being passed from Kennedy’s hands to Ryan’s.
Ryan didn’t linger, in complete professional protection mode as he hooked his hand around her upper arm, his gaze cutting over her face before returning to Kennedy. “Out back.”
Kennedy nodded and they started moving, Ella between them feeling suddenly very small and vulnerable as the two men towered over her.
Alarm pounded at her. Ryan hadn’t spoken to her, and that meant he was focussed on whatever was happening. Or going to happen. Whichever it was, it couldn’t be pleasant.
Now, as she obeyed his voiceless command through his grip on her arm and Kennedy behind her, she could appreciate how reassuring it was to have a bodyguard. In this case two. Except, to be honest, her heart was racing regardless.
As though sensing her anxiety, Ryan briefly looked down at her. The hardness of his eyes softened slightly. “Just follow instructions, Ella.”
She nodded.
Suddenly Ryan touched his hand to his ear, Kennedy behind him turning slightly.
It happened quickly. Ryan’s grip tightened and propelled her forward with a forceful “Move!”
Three things happened at once.
They were at a run when Kennedy shouted out, “Incoming!”
The big front glass window behind them exploded inwards, accompanied by squealing tyres and revving engine.
Ryan shoved sideways hard into Ella, knocking her out of the way, taking her down to the ground as something black and shiny crashed into the display stand not far from them to send metal shelves and tins flying into the air.
Everything happened fast, Ryan tucking her beneath him in an expert move while Kennedy dropped to her other side, both of them protecting her from the worst of the sharp glass and debris that flew through the air.
Stunned, she couldn’t even get her bearings before Ryan was on his haunches, tersely ordering Kennedy, “Take her!”
Fleetingly she saw Ryan take something from his waistband under his jacket, the flash of black metal as he started firing the gun, arms straight out as he looked down the sights and fired, the sound ringing in her ears.
Hauling her upright, Kennedy pushed her forward once more towards the back door while using the display stands for shelter, but she had no idea why Ryan was shooting.
Until she heard shots firing back.
Fear for him had her stumbling, only to be physically picked up by the behemoth behind her, one heavy arm clamped uncomfortably tight around her waist as he pounded forward.
“Move!” Ryan yelled. “Move move move!”
The urgency in his voice had Ella’s heart leaping. She’d never heard him speak above a quiet, controlled tone, not even when he was angry, but this was different.
She knew why when she managed to glance back just as Kennedy made the door.
Saw the man appear at the window, saw the bottle arc through the air even as Ryan shot the man straight through the chest. The bottle crashed to the ground not far from Ryan, exploded, and fire flared up.
“Ryan!” she screamed, fear for him tearing the words from her as the flames shot up, the car catching fire from another Molotov cocktail thrown by a dark shape appearing from another direction. “Ryan!”
She’d expected Kennedy to stop, to help him, but the big man took her through the door, slamming it behind him, cutting off sight of the roaring, spreading fire.
But not before Ella spotted a tall, broad-shouldered man with blonde hair and pale blue eyes rearing up outside the window, gun in hand, putting a bullet into a second man already lighting up another Molotov cocktail.
Her last glimpse of the room before Kennedy slammed the door shut was of Ryan getting to his feet, eyes as cold as death, as hard as ice, menace pouring off him, that hint of cruelty on his face. Even as the fires licked fiercely around him, he was calmly control.
But still a man, a man who could burn, a man who could die.
Then the door cut him from sight.
“No!” She struggled. “Kennedy, you have to help him! Put me down!”
“We keep moving.” Matching action to words, he ran down the hall.
“Please! I’m fine! You have to help Ryan! Please!”
“Let him do his job.” The words were snapped grimly into her ear.
Almost immediately, despite the panic gripping her, the terror for Ryan’s safety, the pulse pounding horror of what had happened - was still happening - words echoed in her ears.
Just follow instructions, Ella. Do exactly as he says.
Ryan’s words. Ryan’s orders.
It hit her hard, yanked her back to reality. Ryan knew what he was doing. Kennedy knew. She was the novice, the one needing protecting. Fighting the one charged with saving her wasn’t going to help anyone, only hinder them. Put them all in even greater danger.
It was this that stopped her struggling as they entered the staff room.
Dropping her to her feet, Kennedy shoved her against the wall behind the door, one finger under her nose. “Stay right there.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry.”
Without acknowledging that he’d heard her, he touched the door handle, opened it just a crack. Whatever he saw on the other side had him throwing open the door and tucking her into his side as he propelled them outside at a run, his arm around her guiding her to a nearby black van.
Several figures passed them going in the direction of the service station. Flashes of eyes only, black ski masks of some kind pulled over their heads to hide their identities. Intimidating figures in dark navy cargo pants, dark navy long-sleeved shirts beneath bullet-proof jackets, black gloves and black boots. Several had guns.
Relief swept through her - these had to be Tactical Response Group, or some other police group. They’d help Ryan, help Aaron.
As Kennedy bundled her into the back of the van, she caught a glimpse of the back door of the service station, saw several figures go inside, saw a black silhouette on the roof, then the van door slammed shut and she was left staring at Kennedy.
“You all right?” He appraised her.
Man wasn’t even breathing hard. Several specks of blood peppered one cheek. He spoke steadily, definitely not as though he’d pulled her from the jaws of death, protected her with his body. Done his job.
She nodded. “I’m sorry about freaking out.” Her teeth started to chatter.
“It’s okay.” Grabbing a blanket, he wrapped it around her shoulders.
“N-no. I panicked.”
“Civilians aren’t conditioned for this kind of thing.” He gave her back a comforting rub.
“Thank you.”
He nodded.
“You cheek is bleeding.” Hand shaking, she drew a tissue from her pocket and handed it to him. “It’s clean.”
“Thanks.” He dabbed at his cheek while turning to check out the front windscreen.
She looked around. “Cassidy. Where’s Cassidy?”
“Ryan came in the back door. He’d have swept the office. Cassidy’s out.” At her worried look, he slid the door open enough to stick his head out, spoke to someone. Seconds later he pulled his head back in and shut the door. “Cassidy’s been taken off-site already.”
Thank goodness. Ella’s hands shook, her heart thudded. Outside she heard voices, sirens. A black shape passed the windscreen, a pair of eyes and narrow strip of flesh the only thing visible in the slitted mask.
Thank God she was on the right side. If she was a bad guy facing these intimidating people in their ominous outfits and menacing air, she’d have crapped herself.
Biting her lip, she leaned forward to peer out the windscreen at the service station. A red/orange glow came from the front of the building, filling the sky, and she could see the flicker of flames. Inside that was Ryan. Her breath caught.
“He’ll be fine,” Kennedy assured her.
“How can you be sure?” She gripped the blanket tightly. “The fuel bowsers…”
“Ryan knows his job.”
That was reassuring in a small way - right until something exploded. Now figures came running from the service station as fire trucks roared into the parking lot. Cop cars pulled in, sirens blaring, followed by an ambulance which parked further back.
Ella knew why. A service station filled with petrol and oil on fire? Recipe for disaster.
The side door of the van opened, figures climbing in and taking seats. The front doors opened, the van rocking as more bodies piled in, then the doors shut, cutting everything from sight. The van’s engine started and whoever was driving put the van in reverse.
It happened so fast, so many bodies inside that Ella couldn’t tell in the dimness who was who, but one thing she did see was that none of them were Ryan. Or Aaron.
Anxiety ratcheted up another notch. Where was he? It ratcheted up even further when the van continued heading down the freeway, leaving behind the burning service station.
Ella turned to Kennedy sitting beside her. “Kennedy?”
The street lights fell across his face, his features impassive. “Ryan’ll be fine.”
Biting her lip, she clutched his arm. “Why are we leaving him behind? And Aaron?”
“They have things to sort out.” His voice softened just a little. “Trust him.”
“I do.” Her bottom lip trembled against her will. “But if he gets hurt, I will kick his arse.”
There came a chuckle from the very back seat, but Ella didn’t look around. “Where are we going?”
“Safe place.”
“What happened?” She studied his profile. “Back there. What was that?”
“Ryan will explain when he arrives.”
Everyone else was quiet, so Ella did the same, hugging the blanket around her as she shivered. Shocky, she knew. Better than dead. Be better if Ryan was by her side. No one else seemed worried about him, Kennedy seemed so sure he was okay - and Aaron, she couldn’t forget him - but until she saw Ryan or heard his voice, she couldn’t help but worry.
From the front seat she heard low murmuring but couldn’t make out the words. Through the windscreen she could see they’d moved out of the main part of the city, headed out to a warehouse district. A stone fence loomed, high iron gates, and was that really a guard house and a guard dog? The guard exchanged low words with the van driver, returned to the guard house and the gate slid open. The van drove through the gates, across a big open area to pull up at what appeared to be a warehouse. A door opened in the wall and the van drove inside to park beside several other plain black vans and two plain black four wheel drives. Behind them the door smoothly shut.
Kennedy slid the van door open, hopped out and turned to help Ella.
She left the blanket behind and jumped down beside him. Before she could step aside to give the people behind her room, Kennedy’s big hand was on her shoulder steering her away. Just before she went through the door, she managed a brief glance back to see the people getting out of the van. They still had their masks on, looked so big and forbidding in their cargo pants, shirts and bullet proof vests. One of them was shorter than the others, smaller in build, and she sensed it was a woman.
Kennedy led Ella down a wide corridor. The floors were industrial-grade lino, the walls a stark pale grey. Several doors opened off to each side. Turning into one door, he led her through into the room beyond.
It had simple furnishings - a two-seater sofa, two armchairs, low coffee table with a couple of magazines and a crossword book on it, a cabinet with a clock above it, and a big TV mounted on the wall.
“Sit here.” He pointed to the sofa. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Alone in the room, Ella looked around. There was nothing on the walls indicating this was a police building. The van hadn’t any signage on it. The people didn’t have any kind of police insignia. Were they a secret cover op? In fact, why hadn’t they stayed at the scene?
Perched on the edge of the sofa, she was still mulling this over when Kennedy appeared with a hot mug of Milo.
As he handed it to her, he bent and studied her face. “How you doing?”
“A little rattled,” she replied truthfully. “But I’m okay.”
He nodded. “Good.” Straightening, he touched the communicator in his ear. “She’s safe at base. No injuries visible. Worried about you.” Another nod. “I’ll tell her.”
“Ryan?” Ella held her breath.
For the first time, Kennedy smiled. “He said he’ll come as soon as he can. Meanwhile, if you want to sleep I can take you to a bunk.”
Relief poured through her. “I’m fine. I don’t think I can sleep.”
“Hungry?”
“I eat now and I just might chunder.”
“Understood.” He stepped back. “I’m going to fetch my laptop, do some work while we wait. There’s some magazines on the table or you can watch TV.” He left the room.
Doubtful she’d even take in whatever was on the TV or in the magazines, but sitting and staring at the wall would drive her nuts. Kennedy was going to work on a laptop and she didn’t want to disturb him, so she picked up a magazine and settled in the corner of the sofa, sipping on the Milo carefully as her hands still trembled.
Returning, Kennedy dropped into an armchair and opened the laptop. Within minutes he was typing.
Gradually the shaking eased away, her heart resuming its normal rate. Oddly enough, his solid presence and the sound of the keys clicking lightly were comforting.
She was flicking through a third magazine as she checked her wrist watch for the umpteenth time.
“Ella.”
Finally - finally - she heard the voice she was aching to hear, and she was out of the sofa fast, the magazine dropping to the floor. Whirling, she saw Ryan entering the room and she leaped forward.
He caught her in his arms, hugged her close as she clung to him. The scent of smoke was strong but she didn’t care. All she knew was that he was here, was safe. Ryan bent down and she was able to bury her face in his neck, breathe in his scent beneath the lingering acrid smell of smoke.
And then tears threatened.
“Ella mine,” he said softly.
“I was so worried. Damn it, Ryan!”
“I’m fine, Ella.”
“You didn’t get burnt or shot?”
“No.”
“Aaron?” She clenched the back of his shirt tight in her fists.
“He’s fine, too.” Ryan rocked her gently. “We’re all fine.”
“Okay.” Leaning against him, she sniffled. “Sorry. Bloody stupid.”
“It’s all good.”
“You’re not the one blubbering.”
He laughed softly, a low chuckle.
That on its own was reassuring. It made her able to swallow down the lump in her throat and pull back enough to smile up at him.
Ryan smiled slightly in return before switching his attention to where Kennedy was closing the laptop. “Thanks for looking after my Ella.”
“No worries.” He gave a salute and started for the door.
“Wait. Kennedy, wait.” Ella pulled away from Ryan, his arms releasing her.
Stopping, the big guard turned to look down at her as she approached. His expression was definitely astonished when she hugged him. “Thank you.”
“No worries.” He awkwardly patted her shoulder.
Going up on tip-toe, she crooked a finger at him, almost laughing when he shot Ryan a look over her head. Was that a touch of wariness in his eyes? Not used to being thanked, or worried about Ryan’s reaction?
Ella kissed Kennedy’s cheek. “I won’t forget it. What you did, helping save my life.”
“Yeah.” Another awkward pat from a big hand. “No worries.”
She stepped back, smiling at his slightly flustered expression.
Striding forward, Ryan reached out to grip Kennedy’s hand. Neither of them said anything, just looked at each other, nodded and gave each other’s hand a squeeze, the muscles in their biceps bulging with equal strength, and then Kennedy took his leave.
Men. Ella shook her head. Can’t even say what they feel.
Turning back around, Ryan gathered her into his arms, kissed her long and deep.
Mind you, she thought in a delicious haze, sometimes actions are better than words.
Lifting his lips from hers, he regarded her lovingly. “Ella mine.”
“Mmmm.” She nestled into him, resting her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear.
They stood like that for several minutes, Ella drawing strength from him, Ryan supporting her while resting his chin atop her head.
As nice as it was, though, there were still questions, and they surfaced as her inner peace was restored. “Are you going to tell me now what happened?”
“Yes.” He guided her back to the sofa, sat her down before sitting on the coffee table directly across from her.
As he shifted closer, his muscular thighs bracketed her softer ones. Resting his elbows on his knees, he took her hands in a firm grip while regarding her steadily.
A sudden horrible thought hit her. “Rose-”
“Is safe,” he said. “Let’s get that perfectly clear now.”
“Okay.” She relaxed a little. “Tell me what’s going on. Is this to do with the case?”
“In a nutshell, the case has broken. Felicity, Rose’s live-in bodyguard, called to say that the feds have cracked the underage sex ring. They’ve got names and are moving in on suspects before they go to ground. That newspaper article was enough to send out a warning, but with the evidence they’ve collected thanks to you and Rose, people are being arrested and desperate people will be ready to make deals to save their own arses. This ring is going to fall apart. As we speak, feds are raiding the houses of every name on the list. The criminals are scattered over Melbourne and, from the sounds of it, a couple of other places including Sydney. It’s wide-spread and bigger than anyone thought.”
“What about the judge’s house?” Ella asked worriedly. “What about Rose?”
“Felicity moved her to a safe house already. She won’t be anywhere near the raids, and will stay at the safe house until this case is over.” His gaze remained steady, though his hands tightened fractionally, his thumbs running over the backs of her hands. “She was lucky. You not so much.”
Ella stared blankly for a few seconds, then realisation hit hard. “You mean this attack on the service station was…?”
“Aimed at you.”
“But how did you know in time?”
“Control Centre rang to say a prowler was at your house. That was too much of a coincidence for me.”
“Houses get prowlers often,” she pointed out.
“They do. But my inner radar was pinging, I knew something was off.”
“Really?” Equal parts curious and fascinated, she eyed him. “You could just feel that something wasn’t right?”
“You don’t make the kind of living I did without developing a strong sixth sense and gut instinct.” He shrugged it away. “Anyway, Kennedy felt something off as well, noticed a sedan go past the service station twice, and he was moving in to get you out even as we were coming. The rest you know.”
“Yeah. Well, kind of. Are you sure those men were linked to this ring?”
“No doubt about it. The survivor was pretty quick to talk after some persuasion.”
“Wait a minute.” She looked at him. “Survivor? There were two men, and you and Aaron shot them.”
“Those two are dead.” Not one hint of emotion crossed his face or reflected in his voice. “The survivor was one that Aaron knocked out before he got to the second man.” He stopped, waited for her reaction.
Waited so calmly, but watchful, gauging her response.
Hell with it, this wasn’t the time to tiptoe around. “He was going to kill us all. Kill you. Burn us alive if the car didn’t hit us first.” Ella’s lips pursed. “I’m not going to lie and say I’m sorry they’re dead.”
“They were never going to hurt you, Ella. I wouldn’t allow it.” That flash of cruelty flickered in his eyes, the ruthlessness filtering through the room, the danger that seemed to dance behind him rising up. “No bargain plea for the two who tried to kill you, first by car and then by fire. No mercy.”
She instantly knew what he was doing, laying it down flat for her, putting all the ugliness on the table between them. Getting it out into the open that he hadn’t hesitated to kill for her.
Ruthless. Merciless. Dangerous. Ryan was all three. But with her he was gentle - firm at times, yes, but gentle. Caring. Loved her. It was there to see behind the unfathomable depths of his brown eyes, his hands that cradled hers, his lips that kissed her so tenderly. The faith he had in her to not hide who he was, what he did, and why.
It might have scared her - once.
“I’m not happy you killed for me,” she replied candidly, “but I understand.”
He squeezed her hands.
“Because if I had to face a choice between you or them, I wouldn’t hesitate. It’d be you all the way.”
His eyes softened, the cruelty buried beneath her words even though the grimness stayed.
As he continued speaking, his hands released hers to shackle her wrists lightly before he slowly smoothed his palms up and down her forearms. She doubted he even realised what he was doing, but she drew comfort from it nevertheless.
“The prowler Paul caught was turned over to Edward, as was the service station survivor. They were keen to talk after a little persuasion.”
From the look in Ryan’s eyes, Ella had a pretty fair idea what the persuasion consisted of, and who had done it. Personally, she thought getting the information any way they could was worth the end result. “Did they tell where the girls are kept? If any still live?”
“Some. The rest of it needs to be gotten from those higher up the hierarchy. These men were low on the rung. They killed some of the girls, buried them. But not all. This ring is operating in several states. But now it’s been blown open, people will make deals and the remaining girls will be found. All we can hope for is that they’re found in time.”
Ella’s heart fell. “You mean they could be killed now.”
“It’s not unlikely, but the hope, the plan, is that by rounding everyone up at the same time that the girls will be recovered alive.” Ryan’s eyes were hard again. “They’ve also got the names of the girls just starting to get sucked into this, those fortunate enough to still be at home, and they’re being brought into the police stations now to be questioned about the places they went to join in this far-reaching club. They have valuable information and the AFP will get that information. Once those girls realise they were destined for a shallow grave in some Godforsaken place in the bush, they’ll talk.”
Ella shivered at the thought of lonely graves amongst silent, dark trees and scrub. The last resting places of girls easily seduced by older men with charm and money. It wasn’t just girls from poor, broken or troubled families, but those from good families could also be seduced. It was a dangerous world for those too quick to trust, too quick to fall in love or infatuation, easily seduced by charm, wit, riches and suave experience.
Ryan resumed talking. “The judge had his daughter watched for fear a ring member he’d had words with might attempt something with her in revenge. When two of the club members got caught, he started to wonder if it was a coincidence. It didn’t take him long to put two and two together. He knew his daughter had met with you several times, and both times it wasn’t long after that two of the ring members fell. When word hit the newspapers about the suspected underage sex ring, he decided to take out anyone who could be a leak. You were the prime suspect because he recognised you, re-read your case, and realised that the first two to fall were part of your rigged trial. And there you were talking to his daughter, who had mentioned the similarities of her necklace to a dead girl.”
Shit, and all this time she’d thought she’d flown under the radar.
Ryan correctly interpreted her expression. “It’s a dangerous game you and Rose were playing, Ella. You’re lucky the feds got involved when they did.”
“You mean you and the feds.” Ella sighed. “Poor Rose. Was she also targeted?”
“No one is sure how far the judge was prepared to go to cover his tracks. Maybe Rose was in his sights, maybe not. But the feds have him now and they’ll get the truth from him. As it stands, Rose is safe.”
God, she could only imagine how her friend must feel. “Can I talk to her?”
“Not just yet. Not until the feds have everyone in custody and the case tightly sewn up.” Noticing her crestfallen face, he added, “We can get a message to Rose for you. She’ll know you’re thinking of her, asking after her.”
“Okay.” Ella took a deep breath. “So what now?”
“I wish I could take you home right now, but unfortunately that’s not be for awhile yet. I’m taking you to Edward at the AFP building where you need to give a statement and also, and I’m sorry to have to say this, you need to look at the bodies and see if you recognise them.”
She swallowed.
“I’ll be with you, Ella mine.” Ryan leaned closer, eyes steady, his presence so calming, reassuring. “Every step of the way.”
“Okay.”
“Aaron will meet us there.”
Heart heavy with dread, she nodded. This wasn’t something she wanted to do. Right now all she wanted was to crawl into Ryan’s bed, into his arms, be cradled against him in the safety and privacy of their home. With Boof at their feet, the fountain tinkling in the courtyard and - her head jerked in alarm. “Boof! Would they have hurt Boof? Oh geez, Ryan-”
“Boof’s fine,” he interrupted before she could go into a blind panic. “He was sitting in the window when Grant checked around the perimeter of the house. Everything is safe, Boof is safe.”
“Thank God.” Her shoulders slumped in relief. “I know to most people he’s just a cat, but he’s…you know, mine. Ours.”
“I know.” For the first time a hint of a smile crossed his face as he pushed a lock of hair behind her ear.
“What’s so funny?”
“You’re more upset about the cat than your own brush with death.”
“Boof is defenceless and innocent.” That made perfect sense to her. “And you should have seen me when Kennedy got me into the van. I was shaking like a leaf and I thought my heart was going to pound right out of my chest. Nothing brave about that.”
“Ella mine, you are braver than you give yourself credit.”
“You and Kennedy are the brave ones. You both saved my life.”
Drawing her forward, he pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Um…that van of people.”
He didn’t reply.
“The ones in all that dark blue and vests, with guns and ski masks. They weren’t police, were they?”
His expression remained stoic.
“Are they part of Wells Security?”
“They’re a specialised group.”
It was obvious he wasn’t going to expand on that. Ella wasn’t an idiot, certainly not about to push for more information. If she was meant to know Ryan would tell her, that he didn’t meant it was something Wells Security didn’t advertise. She’d respect that.
“Okay, I won’t say another word to anyone about them. Though maybe,” she added impishly, “I should have pumped Kennedy for information while he was still a little flustered from my gratitude.”
“Trust me, he wouldn’t have said a word.” Ryan’s eyes narrowed suddenly. “Which reminds me, back at the service station when I explicitly told you both to run, did I see you struggling with him?”
“Ah…” She blinked innocently. “No.”
“You wouldn’t be lying to me, would you, Ella mine?”
“Okay, maybe I kind of was worried about you, and wanted him to help you instead.” She smiled winningly. “But, you know, I did obey.” His eyes continued to bore into her. “In the end.”
“In the end,” he echoed with deceptive softness that had her hairs springing to attention on her arms.
Uh oh. She bit her lip.
“Did I not tell you to do what he said? To obey orders?”
“Something like that, yes.”
“Exactly that.”
Unable to hold that hard gaze anymore, she glanced away, cleared her throat, peeked back. “I admit I panicked.” Suddenly irritated at his lack of understanding, she scowled. “Damn it, Ryan, I was so bloody scared you’d die, that I’d lose you again! Can you blame me for not wanting to leave you?” She pushed to her feet. “Damn, man, if the positions had been reversed, you wouldn’t have left me!”
A surge of powerful thigh muscles and Ryan was towering over her.
Teeth clenched, Ella glared at his chest which was on eye-level.
After several seconds of silence, a long finger under her chin tipped her head back so she had to meet his eyes.
His gaze was steady, neither condemning nor excusing. “I would never have left you, Ella mine. But that doesn’t mean I approve of your reactions at that time.” When she opened her mouth to retort hotly, he continued quietly “But you’re right.”
“I am?” That floored her. “I mean, of course I am.”
Ryan cupped her cheeks, big palms warm against her skin. “I know why you did it, but it still angered me because if you had stayed, if something had happened to you, I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself. My job - Kennedy’s job - was to keep you safe. Yes, you did obey in the end, and I’m grateful for that.”
Some of Ella’s tension eased a bit.
“But your momentary disobedience could have caused your death.” He paused. “Could have caused Kennedy to get hurt. Jeopardised us all.”
Now she felt horrible. “I didn’t think about that.”
“Ella, I’m not telling you this to hurt you, to make you feel low. I’m telling you this because it’s fact. I need to know that if anything - God forbid - like this ever happens again, you will do as you’re told immediately regardless of your feelings or beliefs. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” And she meant it. “You’re right. I promise.”
“Good.” He kissed the tip of her nose before drawing back. Only now a harder expression crossed his face. “But there are consequences, Ella.”
Her mouth actually went dry at his unyielding expression. “Consequences?”
“I hope you like washing cars.”
Her mouth fell open. “Washing cars?”
“Kennedy’s and my car.” Hooking an arm around her waist, he turned her around and walked them towards the door. “Wash, vacuum and polish. Oh yes, and black the tyres.”
“Black the tyres?” She baulked at the door. “Are you kidding me?”
The look he gave her spoke volumes. “Trust me, Ella mine, that option is a lot less painful than my first instinct.”
“In what way?”
“This way you might get aching arms. Your only other option will result in you having an aching arse.”
Holy crap. Taken aback, she couldn’t tell from his severe expression if he meant it or not, but the glint in his eyes was really unnerving.
Sure as hell wasn’t going to push that discussion. “So, this blackening stuff. Where do I get it from again?”
She was rewarded by a light tap on her bum and a low, deep, unexpected chuckle.
The bloody man had been stringing her along. “Damn it, Ryan!” She slapped his arm.
“Sometimes, Ella mine, you are so easy.” He tugged her into his side and dropped a kiss on top of her head.
Smiling, she wound her arm around his waist and leaned into him. “And you are such an arse.”
“Yes. But I’m top arse.”
“You realise how ridiculous that sounds, right?”
“Don’t care. Still top.”
Their combined amusement faded as they walked outside. The chill early morning was bleak as dark grey tinged the horizon. The sun was just starting to rise. By the time they reached the AFP building it would be up. People would be going to work, school, exercising, or doing one of a hundred things normal people did every day.
She could only pray the day would bring answers and rescue as well.
~*~
It was mid morning before Ryan and Ella returned home. Both were quiet, Ella lost in her thoughts, Ryan watching her unobtrusively, ready for any signs of her breaking down.
He fed a disgruntled Boof while she showered. Once she was settled in bed, he showered before joining her, slipping beneath the covers, opening his arm out. Automatically she rolled into his embrace, settled her head on his shoulder, nestled closer as she slid one soft thigh over his muscled one.
Boof landed on the bed, breathing tuna breath over them both before flopping against the small of her back, his rusty purr filling the room.
“Ryan?” she whispered.
“Yes, Ella mine?”
“I love you.”
He pressed a kiss to the silky hair below his chin. “Love you, too.”
Cradled safely in his arms, Ella closed her eyes.
Several times she awoke from a nightmare, each time he was right there to soothe her and settle her back to sleep.
The third time she awoke restless and in the fog of a dream of flames and searching for a missing Ryan, he rolled her over onto her back, kissed her deeply, nudged her thighs apart, and gladly she opened to him, sighing blissfully as he slid deep inside her. He stroked her fears away, filled her with everything that was his, his eyes so loving as he gazed down at her, his lovemaking so tender it wrung her heart. He worshipped her, pushed the horror away, replaced it with warmth and love and caring, filling her as they both gently crested the wave, tumbled sweetly over it, caught up in each other as the passionate act joined them so intimately within their own little cocoon as they drifted down.
Kissing her deeply, lingeringly, Ryan kept her cradled against him as he rolled to his side, tucking her head beneath his chin as he enfolded her in his arms.
This time when she slept it was without fear, dreamless, the strength of his embrace and the solidness of his love surrounding her. Keeping her safe.
Forever.