Chapter Twenty-Two

Fallout

Ella

“I can’t believe I’ve killed someone.” Ella swallowed, gripping the stem of the wine glass.

It had been hours since Tucker’s lawyer had secured her bail, but even though she’d showered, she still couldn’t seem to get the taste of the police station out of the back of her mouth.

In all that time, she’d been running the events of the night before through her head. God knows, she’d gone through it enough times with the bloody cops. She ought to know every minute by heart.

“I know.” Tucker pulled her closer, kissing her hair. “I’m sorry, little girl. I should never have let it come to this.”

“It’s not your fault, sir.”

That was one thing she was sure about. Tucker had done everything he could to protect her, but in the end, she’d had to act. The idea that Collins could have gunned them all down was inconceivable. As it was, he’d put her father in intensive care.

“I don’t want you to worry about the charges.” He guided her head to meet his gaze. “Sanderson thinks he’ll be able to get them dropped. His friends in the Crown Prosecution Service know they can’t make a manslaughter charge stick.”

“I’m not worrying about that.”

That wasn’t strictly true. After spending time in the dank police cell, she’d be lying if she said she hadn’t contemplated being sent to prison, but her larger concern was the fact that, whether she was charged and convicted or not, there was still a man in the morgue because of her.

Not that he had been a good man. Hell, he’d come there to kill the man she loved, but still, he was some one—someone’s son and maybe someone’s lover and father. And now he was dead.

Because of me.

“Are you sure?” Tucker’s thumb stroked along her chin.

“It’s just all a lot , sir.” That might have been the understatement of the millennium. “But I do so appreciate how you and Sanderson have helped me.” She’d have been lost without them both.

“Ella.” He wrangled the glass from her fingers and placed it on the coffee table beside him. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course, I’m going to help you. You shot the bastard who tried to kill me, and I fucking love you, by the way.”

She laughed at how he expressed his love for her. After everything they’d been through, she’d never been happier to hear the sentiment.

“I love you, too.” Wrapping her arms around him, she breathed in his familiar spicy scent. Even though her head still throbbed with recent events, she was so grateful for his steadfast presence.

“Do you need more food?” He motioned to the enormous Chinese banquet he’d ordered, most of which was still sitting in the middle of the coffee table.

“I’m fine, thank you, sir.” She glanced around the chic-looking lounge.

Tucker had taken her to another one of his city homes since the one they’d been staying in had become a crime scene.

“Do I need to put those cuffs back on you and make you eat, little girl?” His brow arched at her playfully.

“No, thank you.” She moved away from him and peered down at her wrists, remembering how restrictive the metal bracelets had been. “If you can believe it, I actually preferred your ropes.”

“Oh, really?” He chuckled as he patted his lap. “Come here. I want to kiss you.”

Her heart rate sped up as she inched closer on the couch and climbed to straddle him. “Like this?”

“Just like that.” His large hands lowered to her ass and squeezed. “I’ve missed you.”

Staring into his blue eyes, all she could do was concur. She’d missed him as well, especially during those long hours at the police station.

“Me, too. Thank you for finding somewhere for us to stay.”

“We can take our pick.” He tugged her closer. “I don’t mind where we stay.”

“But we can’t leave the country until my charges have been dropped.” Her pulse accelerated at the grim thought. The idea of holidaying with Tucker had been such an alluring thought.

“I told you not to worry about that,” he chided, smacking her ass gently. “In a few days, it will be resolved.”

“If you say so.” She appreciated his optimism but wasn’t sure she shared it.

“I do.” He grinned. “Trust me, Sanderson is the best.”

That much she could believe. The man acting on her behalf had represented her with stinging efficiency.

“Did you speak to my mum?” Opting to change the subject, she ran her fingers through the length of his dark hair.

“I did.” He leaned back against the sofa, evidently enjoying her attention. “I called her from the police station.”

“And?” She dreaded to think how Susie would have taken the news. Ella had never been in trouble with the police before, let alone for something so serious.

“She was worried, of course.”

Tucker was, she guessed, intentionally playing down her mother’s response. Ella could only imagine her mother’s horror at discovering her only child had been arrested for shooting someone.

“But I reassured her I’d be taking you home with me soon enough. She said she’d call you later today.”

“Thanks.” She snuggled into the crook of his neck, certain he’d have done his best to console Susie. Tucker could turn on the charm when it was required. Ella remembered how well he and her mum had got on at Osbourne’s. “I appreciate that.”

“You’ve got it.” One of his hands rose along her back, skimming the thin material of her negligee. Tucker had ensured a bag of their ‘essentials’ had been brought from the apartment. He really did think of everything. “Did I mention I love you?”

“Yes.” She giggled as the palm roaming her backside dipped between her cheeks. “I love you too, sir.”

It had been an exceptionally long and arduous day, and she was still light years from coming to terms with what she’d been through and what it meant she’d done, but Tucker had a way of making her feel safe. Even when she’d fled the cabin to get away from him, he’d managed to track her down and protect her from the bewildered bear who she’d met at the river. She hadn’t appreciated it at the time, of course, but he’d had her best interests at heart, even then.

“Do you want me to take you to bed, little girl?” Having joined her in the shower, Tucker was only wearing a towel around his waist, and she could tell how excited the idea made him. “Or are you too tired?”

“It’s a lovely idea, sir.” She rose over him, pressing her palms onto each of his strong shoulders. After much deliberation, she thought those muscular shoulders might be her favorite part of his entire body, but she’d definitely need to examine every inch of him again to know for certain.

“But?” His tone was knowing.

“But I am exhausted.” She sighed. “And even though we’re sleeping somewhere else, I can’t get what happened out of my head.”

“It’s going to take time, but we’re safe now. I promise.”

The wistful look in his eyes told her that perhaps she might never reconcile what had happened. She recalled how Tucker had briefly explained the reason for his loathing of guns and wondered how the home invasion had affected him.

“What about Kenner?” The question rolled from her lips, even though she hadn’t intended to ask.

“What about him?” Tucker’s brow rose at her direct line of inquiry.

“You said he was the real reason Collins was there last night. So, he’s the reason Alexander’s in the hospital and that I’ve killed someone.” Her brow crumpled as she admitted it aloud. “And he’s still out there.”

“He hasn’t got the balls to come for me himself.” His hand rose to her hair. “Don’t worry about him.”

“But this will never be over while he’s out there, sir.” Her weary exasperation escaped as a sigh from her throat. “What if he just sends someone else to hurt you?”

“I’m going to deal with him.” Resolve resounded in Tucker’s voice.

“You mean you’re going to kill him?” She was starting to be fluent in ‘Tucker’s language’, and she understood what dealing with him meant. However, given everything Kenner was responsible for, she couldn’t say she disapproved.

“Maybe.” Tucker’s lips twitched as his digits tightened in her hair. “I’ll make sure his threat is properly neutralized.”

“But he’s your father, sir.” Ella knew only too well how complicated relationships could be when a biological parent let you down, but she couldn’t envision how Tucker must have felt. To know one parent killed the other must have been soul-destroying. It explained a lot about the man she’d met in the woods. “I think you’ll regret killing him.”

“He killed my mother.” His face drew nearer. “I’ve tried, Ella, but there is no ‘coming to terms’ with that.”

“I bet.” A line appeared in her brow. She wished she could do something to alleviate the trauma Kenner had caused, but she had to be honest; the way he was fisting her hair was distracting. Despite their many problems, she sensed the familiar heat building between her legs. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” His mouth brushed over hers. “None of this is on you.”

“Apart from killing Collins.” Her nipples beaded beneath her silky robe. It was wrong to be so turned on when she’d just sent someone to their grave, just as it had been wrong to fall for the man who’d captured her, but Ella was too past caring to try to rationalize her responses.

She was crazy about Tucker, and by some miracle, he’d fallen for her, too. If the passion and love they’d found together meant killing to protect their little piece of paradise, then she’d have to find a way to live with that.

“I’m not such a good girl anymore.”

“You were never a good girl!” He snorted at her claim, releasing her hair and running both hands over the curve of her breasts through the sexy robe. “But I have to correct you; you only fired that gun to protect me. I was the asshole who brought you into this murky world.”

“I think that might have been Alexander, sir.” She shifted over him, conscious of her growing need, yet starkly aware of how inappropriate it would be to jump him when he was talking about loss and suffering. It was one thing to be horny but another to initiate sex.

“But I concurred.” He was determined to be the bad guy.

“Then it’s both your faults, sir.” She ground herself against him, finding it increasingly difficult to ignore that part of her that wanted to be filled with his cock. “But I don’t care anymore.”

“In which case, you know what to do.” Ushering her a few inches from his lap, he whipped open his towel to reveal his engorged erection. “Show me what you do care about, little girl.”

She bit her lip as she hovered over him, her eyes closing as she finally relented and gave them both what they desired. Pushing down on his long shaft, she could only groan with carnal need.

Ella never wanted their passion to end.

***

Tucker

Ella rode him as though her life depended upon it, her hot flesh melding around his as her pleasure peaked.

“Fuck, you’re amazing.” He pulled her close as he drove his cock in and out of her wetness. She clenched around him, gasping at the sublime intensity.

When his climax finally engulfed him, there were no thoughts of loss, pain, or death, only the encompassing serenity that their connection delivered. Pleasure erupted in his brain, drowning out everything else in the world except Ella.

He held her in silence as they both caught their breath, relishing every second of their incredible intimacy.

“Are you okay, sir?” She rose from his embrace, her beautiful green eyes blinking down at him.

“How can you even ask?” He grazed a hand over her hip. “You’re magnificent, little girl. We’re magnificent.”

“I just know that you’ve been through a lot.” She shrugged as she squeezed his shaft. “And I want to be here for you.”

“Thank you.” It was all he could think to say as she slid from his dick.

She had become his everything.

Ella had come into his life in the most twisted circumstances, and she’d shattered the glass on practically everything he’d taken for granted, but stroking her thigh, he was certain of only two things.

He wouldn’t have had it any other way, and whatever transpired between them, he would never, ever give her up.

The sound of his phone jarred, drawing their attention to the buzzing device on the end of the couch.

“It might be your mum,” he told her. “Given that your phone was impounded as police evidence, I gave her my number.”

“Mind if I check?” Ella wiggled from his lap and darted to where his phone vibrated.

“Go ahead.” He smiled, aware that she’d gone even without his say-so.

It was reassuring to know that in spite of everything he’d put her through, Ella was the same mischievous imp she’d always been. She paid lip service to his authority, often in the most exquisite ways, but at her delicious core, she was still the same feisty young woman he’d first met.

“It’s the hospital.” Her face was ashen as she turned back to him. “Something awful has happened to Alexander.”

“You don’t know that.” He reached for his phone and answered the call while grabbing her hand and drawing her closer. “Tucker Bowman.”

“Hello.” The guy on the other end of the phone sounded even younger than Ella, or maybe he was just getting old. “We have this number for Ella Bennett. Is she there, please? It’s about her father.”

“Yes, she’s here.” It was impossible to know if it was good or bad news from the guy’s tone, and Tucker watched her reactions carefully as he thrust the device at her. “It’s for you.”

“Oh God.” Taking the phone from him, she trembled.

“Come here,” he instructed, guiding her to sit down beside him. “It’ll be okay.”

“Miss Bennett?”

Tucker could just make out the guy’s voice as she held the device to her ear.

“Yes.” She drew in a breath. “I’m Ella Bennett.”

Tucker waited, just able to hear the caller’s voice, yet not able to discern what he said.

“Yes, I’m his next of kin.” Her gaze darted to Tucker as the guy from the hospital replied.

Tucker only had Ella’s responses for clues as to what was being said, and for the longest time, she just seemed to sit there wide-eyed as she listened.

“Oh, that’s great news.” Ultimately, her smile gave her away, her breaths speeding up as she processed his words. “Thank you.”

“Yes, I appreciate it’s early days,” she went on. “Thank you for letting me know.” She ended the call, passing the phone back to Tucker as she explained. “They’ve managed to stabilize him. I mean, he’s on a ton of drugs, and it’s too soon to know his long-term prognosis, but they think he’ll pull through.”

“That’s fabulous, little girl.” He pulled her closer, genuinely pleased. He didn’t have much love for Bennett, but he realized that without him, he wouldn’t have the wonderful woman he now got to call his own. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thank you.” Her eyes were wet with fresh tears. “After everything, maybe last night won’t turn out to be all bad. I mean, I’m still a killer, but…”

“A defender ,” he corrected. “Some might even say savior. You saved me, little girl.”

“You’re just biased, sir.” She planted a warm kiss on his bicep.

“Damn lucky, you mean.” Replete and relieved, he enjoyed the feel of her caresses as they moved along the length of his arm. “Because that’s what I am.”