“Okay, Wolf, but we have agreed to let him go. He’s Bronson’s son, remember. Let someone else take that bastard out.”
Wolf laughs pointedly. “Ah, I’ll be watching the little prick and his father can suck my balls.” He steps over to Bronson Jr. and slaps him on the head a few times. “Another time, little man,” he says.
The worlds of Wolf and Bronson will collide again someday soon. I truly hope he doesn’t take me up on my offer and give me a call when it does. If he does call, I owe him one and I’ll be there.
*
“What the fuck?” I growl as I enter Ella’s apartment and find both the men who are supposed to be guarding her on the floor and bloodied.
My hand finds my gun. I shut the door behind me. “Where’s Ella?” I say, grabbing one of them by the collar. All he does is moan. My mind’s reeling with an icy dread for leaving her out of my sight—again.
I immediately spring back to my feet and raise my gun as I hear a clink coming from the kitchen. Without thinking, I take the few steps to the hallway, gun raised as I move toward the small kitchen.
Ella screams as she comes through the kitchen door, dropping some towels she’s carrying. I can’t tell if it’s fear or relief at first but then she runs to me, folding her arms around my neck, legs wrapped around my hips. I barely have time to put the gun away and support her weight placing my hands under her ass.
“I wanted to punch you but I missed you too much,” she says.
I kiss her neck and ear. “Ella, what the hell?”
She locks her eyes on mine as she jumps down to stand on her feet.
“Tanner happened,” she says. “He was a little pissed and didn’t bother asking questions when he broke through the door.”
“He escaped Wolf’s crew?”
“Apparently,” she answers. “And fucked a few more of the wolflings when he arrived here like a fucking thunderclap.”
“So much for him being shot,” I say, looking around for signs of him.
Ella nods. “He had his left shoulder in a sling. Unfortunately for these two, his right hook was still in business. He’s in my room.”
Tanner is sprawled on the bed, adjusting his sling. He’s sweating and his face is pale. The anger is still oozing out of his every pore.
“Mr. Cole,” Tanner says, lifting his chin. “If she was my girl, I wouldn’t leave her out of my sight.”
“I thought Wolf’s men could handle this,” I tell him.
“Believe me, they couldn’t,” he says.
“I believe you,” I say. “I’m never leaving her again.”
“I’m sorry to cast accusations,” he says, suddenly apologetic. “I’m the one who failed her. I’m taking it out on you.”
“Well, you’ve never been double-crossed like that before,” Ella says to Tanner, her voice trembling as she puts her hand on my back.
I hug her again. Her shoulders shake a little under my grasp.
“So much violence,” she says. “So much blood.”
“It’s over now,” I say. “Bronson agreed.”
“It’s over for you all,” Tanner says. “I still have some issues I am going to need to work through.”
“Bro,” I say. “You are a true professional. We live and learn. Your heart was in the right place.”
Tanner stares at me a long time and then he stares at Ella. “Don’t let that get around,” he says.
“What?” Ella says.
“That I have a heart,” he says. “It’s bad for business.”
Ella smiles. Tanner smiles a little, I think. This whole nightmare is over. Life can begin now. We all made mistakes. I heed Tanner’s advice and vow to myself never to let Ella down again.
She has my honesty. She has my protection. She has my love. Always.
—fifteen—
Ella
Three Days Later
The evening breeze blows my dress over my knees and onto my thighs. I have to keep my hands on the fabric as we walk down the promenade to keep it from blowing over my head. In hindsight, a pair of shorts would have been a better choice.
Except I feel like celebrating. A light, linen dress says time to celebrate way better than a pair of pants or shorts.
Jax, Carter and I have just had dinner at a small bistro in Santa Monica and, surprisingly, we were all able to get along. Very little sarcasm was used even when Carter announced he’s planning on leaving. Again.
I’m okay with that. I’m okay knowing the truth about my father and his various flaws and limitations. It’s better than being in the dark, imagining endless sad scenarios. Every child wonders if a parent left because of them and I was no exception. I will never have to blame myself again. Carter didn’t abandon me because of something I did or didn’t do. Carter left my mother and me because of choices Carter made in his own profession.