Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that Marcus and Tate had easily subdued Sean. Police officers barreled through the door, and she heard Tate mumble, “Right on time,” as the officers took over custody of the struggling madman.
“Just tell me why? I could fucking handle that asshole killing me, but not you,” Zane growled.
Ellie sawed and jerked on a particularly tight piece of rope as she answered, “Well, I couldn’t handle him killing you. It would have been like he killed me, too. Even though you aren’t being particularly pleasant right now, I love your stubborn ass, Zane Colter, and I wasn’t about to give up on you. You never gave up on me.” Ellie spoke her mantra again, hoping it would be the last time she needed to say it.
The rope finally gave, and she was able to finally free Zane from his prison. He had to be sore. He hadn’t been able to move all night.
Marcus, Tate, and Lara ran over to Zane the moment the police took Sean out of the office in handcuffs.
“You okay?” Marcus asked, frowning as he saw the blood coming from Zane’s head and the bruises on his face.
“Did you just tell me that you love me?” Zane questioned, his gaze focused on Ellie.
“Yes. I’m tired of not saying it, so I’ll say it again. I love you, Zane Colter, and you couldn’t expect me to sit and do nothing.”
“I love you, too,” Zane replied huskily. “Not telling you that was my only regret.”
Ellie’s heart soared as she looked at him. “Marcus asked if you were okay?” she reminded him, since he’d completely ignored his brother. “Can you stand?”
“Of course,” Zane said arrogantly as he started to rise from his chair.
Luckily, Tate and Marcus were there to catch Zane’s body as he fell, the two of them laying him gently on the ground.
“Sorry. I guess I got dizzy,” Zane mumbled, his eyes closed.
Marcus probed Zane’s injuries. “He has some pretty bad gashes and lumps. I think we need an ambulance. He probably has a concussion.”
“Already on the way,” Lara answered as she stuffed her phone back in her pocket, obviously having already called for help.
“I’m going to be so pissed when I’m not so damn dizzy,” Zane muttered. “Ellie and Lara definitely shouldn’t have been here, and neither should any of my family. You should have just called the police. And how in the hell did you get my laptop?”
“You have one brother who was Special Forces, another who is a CIA operative, and a sister-in-law who is an ex-FBI agent. If none of us could get to your laptop, it would have been pretty damn sad,” Lara told Zane in a gently joking tone.
Zane scowled without opening his eyes, which made Ellie smile. She knew it probably annoyed him that his security wasn’t completely foolproof.
A moment later, he opened his eyes, squinting at everyone kneeling beside him. “Ellie loves me. Doesn’t that make me a lucky bastard?”
“He’s getting goofy,” Tate observed.
“In this case, I rather think he knows exactly what he’s saying, and I’d have to agree,” Marcus said calmly as he looked at Ellie. “Thanks for what you did. We couldn’t have pulled this off without you, and you certainly didn’t need to do it.”
She smiled at Marcus, knowing there was much more to this brother of Zane’s who liked to think he was detached and only cared about superficial things like fast cars and nice possessions. “Yes, I did have to do it. I love him, too.”
Lara and Tate smiled, and Marcus gave Ellie a satisfied look. “I know.”
Zane moved his hand, and Ellie caught it, twining his fingers with hers. “Hold on. The ambulance is here.”
“I’ll be fine,” Zane argued, moving like he wanted to get up.
In unison, Tate and Marcus pushed Zane back down as the paramedics came to take a look at him.
Ellie stepped back to make room for the medical personnel and Lara wrapped her arm around her shoulders supportively. “He’ll be okay. I’ve discovered all of the Colter brothers have hard heads. He took some pretty hard blows, but he’ll recover.”
Ellie looked at the shattered window and then back at Zane. “It could have been worse, I suppose.”
“That was quick thinking to get yourself and Zane clear of any misfire,” Lara told her quietly.
“Instinct,” Ellie said, brushing Lara’s compliment off.
“Love,” Lara countered with a smile.
Ellie grinned back at her. “He loves me. Zane really loves me.” Still giddy with relief and Zane’s declaration, she felt a little bit silly herself.
“I know,” Lara repeated Marcus’s words. “Another single Colter guy off the market.”