Blue | E.D

Epilogue

One Month Later

"Can you believe they're still talking about the lab on the news?" Ethan asked, showing me his phone so I could read the article he was reading. "Maybe the police have finally started releasing names, so they might actually have something interesting to talk about." He grumbled.

He read silently for a minute and then said, "I guess the media finally got wind of the illegal genetic experiments that'd been going on." He gasped, pulling the phone to just inches from his nose. "They're shutting the place down for further investigation! And Alfred Benson has been stripped of his title."

He laughed. "Alfred? No wonder the guy went off the deep end."

I shared his smile, but I was already way ahead of him in the article. Dr. Black had come forward about everything—everything except for the fact that I had survived past birth. He said that Benson had been keeping everyone "trapped" there with blackmail and threats. That much was probably true.

Grayson had identified Alfred Benson as the man who'd kidnapped us, and the reason for kidnapping was unknown. Benson was charged for torture and kidnapping. Everyone seemed to think that the old man had simply gone insane.

Surprisingly, Benson hasn't made any attempt to expose me, even if he did plead innocent of his charges. Perhaps he saw no need to further incriminate himself. Needless to say, he was found guilty on all charges.

"Come on," I said, gently taking the phone from his hands and setting it on the table. "Let's just enjoy not having to look over our shoulders anymore, okay?"

Ethan smiled up at me, eyes practically shining with happiness. "Sounds good to me."

Summer break had finally arrived, and I was ecstatic over the fact that I had more free time with Ethan now. We spent most of our days inside the house, but occasionally I liked to risk an outing.

Trying not to think about the article, I guided Ethan out the front door and we walked to a small park just outside town. Hand-in-hand, we leisurely followed a nature trail extending from the park into the forest, enjoying the warm breeze and one another's closeness.

Ethan pulled me into the shelter of two overlapping trees, shielding is both behind the thick foliage around them. He gently slid his fingers into my hair, pulling me into his arms.

"You smell so—"

"Good. I know. Now shut up and kiss me."

He grinned. "Yes, ma'am."

Our lips touched, and he lifted me by the waist, leaning back against the tree behind him so that I was straddled on top of him, legs wrapped around his. A soft growl vibrated in his chest with pleasure.

"Slow down, tiger," I laughed, nuzzling into his neck.

"Didn't you say shut up and kiss me?" he teased, nipping playfully at my ear.

"Mmm, sure did."

I melted against him, becoming all warm and soft, and kissed him passionately. All my lingering paranoia vanished with his touch, letting me live solely in the here and now.

And there was no place else I'd rather be than right here.