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Ellie wasn’t crying, just hugging him hard. It impressed him. How was she still holding herself together like that? A courageous heart, no doubt. Now that he held her, even in the messy situation he found himself, he’d gladly give her the time she needed before dragging her back to reality.
Slowly, her body relaxed, and she loosened her hold enough to look up. He could see light bruises on her face, but they weren’t as severe as he’d first feared.
“Where are we? Finch wouldn’t give me any answers and sent me here.”
Sam indulged in smoothing a few wild hairs away from her face before answering. Even if every cell in his body wanted to protect her, shield her as much as possible, he knew that knowledge could be key to getting her out of there alive. Keeping it as factual as possible, he explained how Lazarus had planted a bug in her bag so they could find her, the trap created by Finch, and his ultimatum. She listened silently, assimilating every bit of the details. He was amazed how this woman, one in which he’d sensed such despair, could keep such cool composure.
“Okay, okay.” Ellie took a deep breath before pushing away from him and getting off the bed. Her first few steps were wobbly when she went to switch on the lights.
In the stark light, he saw dust and blood stained her skin, her clothing had been shredded in certain spots, but it was the bluish marks from fingers at her throat that made him go to her.
“He hurt you, didn’t he? Finch put his hands on you.”
But when he reached for her, she caught his hand, cradled it in both of hers. “It’s nothing. Nothing compared to what he did to you.”
Despite the fact he couldn’t detect judgment or pity in the blue of her gaze, Sam felt too exposed. Not that he was surprised Finch had revealed such a thing to her. After all, his father was a manipulator, one who’d take advantage of every crack and every weakness he could find. Sam didn’t know if he would’ve revealed any of it to Ellie. Apart from Lazarus, who’d done some digging of his own, nobody else knew.
However, when he tried to pull his hand away, she held it tight. “You should escape now, Sam. You know what you’re doing, you know how to handle this type of situation. I’m sure you could escape. Even tonight.”
It was as if his brain couldn’t quite process what she was insinuating, or maybe he couldn’t truly believe it. “You can’t expect me to escape and leave you here. You heard me, if I do, he will kill you.”
Ellie shook her head. “You’ve suffered enough. No human being, no child, should have to endure what you did. I’m not worth the sacrifice. When you called me by mistake, on New Year’s, I was... I was going to jump into the river. I wanted to end my life, Sam. You can’t sacrifice your life for someone who doesn’t value her own.”
Hearing the words out loud, what he’d suspected all along, the broken mirror image of his own, all he could do was gather her into the shelter of his arms. How small she felt, but somehow, his small fairy was the strongest of them both.
“If I hadn’t made that mistake, we would’ve been floating side by side in that same river.”
Sam had feared his admission would bring back that untenable wave of pain, but instead, he only felt... stillness, or was it peace?
Before he could sort his thoughts, he felt her small body shake in his arms. Not certain how to deal with a flood of tears, Sam was stunned when Ellie pulled back and she was laughing.
Baffled, Sam was at a loss how to react until she cupped his cheeks, her mirth all but enveloping him. “Don’t you see what a pair we are? And we’re still alive. I think whoever is pulling the strings has the worst sense of humor.”
Her laughter bubbled up again, and Sam weirdly wanted to join in.
“It may be a sign, Sam.”
“A sign?”
“I don’t know much about your family. What I have gathered is that for years you and your brothers have tried to stop your father.”
“We failed.”
Ellie shook her head. “No, with each attempt, you chipped away at his power, at who he is. What if you could find the spot that once hit, would bring the entire building down? You wanted to break free of your father, maybe you have the chance. The man I met, who kidnapped me, isn’t worth your death, Sam.”
“How can you have such faith in who I am? You know nothing about me.”
“And you know nothing about me, Sam. And yet, you stopped that final jump because of me. We’re strangers who have lost their way yet found each other. I see honor in you, a protector of your brothers. You may have reached the end of your rope that night, but I believe your strength is still greater than your pain. I don’t care that I don’t know everything about you. I think that for the moment, staying alive is the only solution we have.”
It was true that the pain had gnawed at him all his life, but since Ellie’s voice had found a way in and pushed at it, he had to admit it became more and more manageable. There was even a glimmer of hope, whatever it meant.
“Why would you do that for me? Why would you want to help a virtual stranger?”
Her eyes shimmered, and for a moment he thought she’d speak but she shook her head. “Because it’s in me to help people. And I wouldn’t be too disappointed if when we save our own butts, we bring down a bad guy. That would start the new year with a bang, don’t you think?”
Even if he could sense the fear in her words, Sam was in awe of the woman before him and leaned down until their foreheads touched. “Are you certain? Jamieson Finch is the most dangerous man out there. He’ll try everything to make sure we turn against each other, manipulate us. Maybe what he told me is a complete lie. You have to know that, Ellie.”
A slight nod told him that she understood. “You’re not alone. Not anymore. Let’s kick this bad guy’s ass, once and for all. Together.”
