“All of this happened to her because she was trying to help me. How do I live with that? And how do I forgive all of you for not telling me that she was alive?” Chloe’s voice was tearful and desperate.
Gabe moved forward, but Chloe shied away from him, and that hurt him more than anything else ever could. “You’ll have to forgive me, sweetheart. And you’ll have to forgive your family. We all knew you were strong enough to handle the truth, but you were still trying to work things out. You needed to be your priority—and I won’t apologize for putting your needs first. Ever. You needed to leave Rocky Springs, just like Ellie needed to get away from here for a while.” His heart was hammering against his chest wall as he added, “I’m not me without you, Chloe. You have to forgive me because I can’t be without you anymore.”
“I hate it that I can’t hate you,” she told him angrily.
Gabe wanted to laugh at her comment, but he didn’t dare. “Face it, darlin’—if you had to make the same call, you’d do exactly what I did. You’d think about protecting me if I was vulnerable.”
She stared at him for a moment thoughtfully. “I honestly don’t know what I’d do. But I know it would kill me to lie to you.”
“Technically, I didn’t lie. I just didn’t tell you the truth.” It was a lame argument, but he was desperate enough to try anything.
Chloe put her hands on her hips and gave him an irritated glare. “In this case, I don’t think there’s much difference.”
Gabe released a frustrated breath. “I didn’t want to do it, Chloe. But if I had to do it again, I would. Yes, I was protecting you. I love you more than anything or anybody else in this world. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do to see you as happy as you’ve been for the last several months.”
A tear trickled down Chloe’s cheek, and that tiny droplet was all it took to break Gabe’s heart.
“I can’t believe she’s alive,” Chloe said hesitantly, her tears starting to fall faster.
Gabe felt his phone vibrate and he pulled it out of his pocket. “She’s not only alive, but she’s back here in Rocky Springs. Zane said they just landed and are headed for his house.”
Chloe started to cry in earnest, painful sobs pouring forward from deep inside her.
Gabe opened his arms, holding his breath as she hesitated infinitesimally, and then she ran forward and flung herself at him. He caught her up and cradled her against his body, knowing she’d forgiven him and everything was going to be okay. As he held her tightly against him, knowing she was everything to him, he vowed to himself that no matter how difficult it might be, he’d never ever risk losing her again. He was an open book to Chloe. She knew him, and she knew all of his secrets. From this day forward, now that she was stronger, Gabe swore he’d never keep anything from her again.
Zane was apprehensive as he pulled into the garage of his home at Rocky Springs. Gabe already knew they were here, and he had no doubt he’d be seeing his little sister and her husband in the next few hours. Gabe had let him know he and Chloe were headed back to the house to shower, and they’d set a time to meet in the early evening.
Hell, he’d already been warned that Ellie was going to cry, and for whatever the reason, he didn’t like to see her torn up. Okay. Yeah. Maybe they’d be happy tears, but Ellie and Chloe were bound to dredge up some of their pain while they worked through all that had happened.
He took a deep breath as he cut the engine on the vehicle and closed the garage door. It had been a weird day. First, Elena had come up missing. Sean had called him, accusing Zane of somehow being responsible for her absence. The rant hadn’t made a lot of sense, but Zane brushed it off since he knew how attached to Elena his director was, even though she didn’t deserve it.
Zane had tried to explain that more likely than not, Elena would be back, but Sean hadn’t been in the mood to listen. Honestly, the guy had sounded distraught.
More than likely, she’d found a richer man than Sean.
Zane paid very well for a man in Sean’s position. Unfortunately, he knew that his director had lavished Elena with luxuries, some that were incredibly costly. Keeping up with the demands of a woman like her had to eventually leave the poor guy broke.
Trying to push his strange conversation with Sean from his mind, Zane smiled at Ellie as she met him at the door.
She shot back a tentative smile.
She’s nervous.
Zane unlocked the door, and then he led the way inside.
He looked around the immaculate kitchen and then peeked into the living room.