Guarding Gabriel
Page 19
His absence left a sharp shard of regret in my gut, whose edges, I can only hope, will dull with time. I grieve for him, but it is worse than grieving for the dead, for they can never forgive, and he has chosen not to.
“So, he left you?”
“No.”
“So, what did happen Miss Bradshaw?”
“He never came back. You don’t just leave everything behind and not come back. I called the police, they investigated and he ended up on the missing person’s register. He’s never been found.”
“And you suspect Miss Miller had something to do with his disappearance?”
Helen shot out of her chair her voice harsh, “Objection, speculation. She is not a qualified detective.”
“I’ll allow the witness to answer.”
“Your honour, we are not here to find out what the witness thinks, only what she knows.”
“Your objection has been noted. Now sit down Miss Ying.”
Helen sat down stiffly her expression as unreadable as ever.
“Miss Bradshaw?” the prosecutor nudged.
“I think she killed him and hid him somewhere, just like she did with all these other men.”
“Did you go to the police with your worries?”
“I did.”
“What did they say?”
“That there was no such person as Alison Wynters and therefore they could not investigate her, nor could they find her. Now we know why.”
“Indeed Miss Bradshaw, thank you. That will be all.”
Helen stood up, stiff and agitated.
“Miss Bradshaw, has a body been found?”
“No.”
“Is there any concrete proof that Josh is dead?”
“No, But –”
“Did the police treat his disappearance as suspicious?”
“No, but –”
“So, there is a possibility that he is alive, and he just left you and you are looking for someone to blame?”
“No, he didn’t leave me, he –”
“Is there a possibility that he is alive Miss Bradshaw?”
She looked to the prosecutor suddenly a lost little lamb.
“Yes, I guess that’s possible, but –”
“No further questions your honour.”
Helen sat down just as stiffly as she stood up, but I could see the edge of a suppressed, satisfied smile along her rigid mouth and tight eyes. If she wasn’t such a stiff, I would have given her a high five.
Take that Rebecca.
That’s what you get for sucking my boyfriend’s dick.
Later that day, Helen asked me if she had to worry about another body surfacing. I assured her I knew nothing of Josh’s whereabouts or disappearance. When she asked me if Alison did, I scowled at her. She didn't bring it up again.
Not for two weeks anyway.
It took the police two weeks to find Josh. He wasn’t alive. They never did tie me to his murder, but the suspicion was always there, hanging like a dark cloud above my head, like a noose around my neck. Despite Helen’s best efforts, the jury heard the rumours, the details, as they were accidentally leaked. The damage was done.
The prosecution’s case ended, and then it was Helen’s turn to try and dig me out from beneath the steaming pile of crap I was buried under.
My trial lasted eight weeks. I had to wait ten days for the jury to come back, which in all honesty was a surprise. I still don’t know why they took so long.
When they found me guilty, my heart jolted, my legs turned to jelly and if it wasn’t for Gabriel holding me up, I would have fallen. My life fractured like an iced river at the beginning of spring.
“How could this happen?” I grabbed Helen who snatched her hand away.
“For your sake, I hope they bought our defence.”
It was all the reassurance she gave me. I glared at her through wounded tearful eyes.
The judge said we would reconvene in the morning for sentencing.
That night was one of the longest in my life. The hotel room felt small, trapping me within its walls. I wanted to go walking, running, flying. I wanted to disappear into the ether and be one with the world. I was scared. And I was alone. Until I wasn’t.
I felt him before I saw him, like a familiar smell or memory. He was there. Sitting on the couch.
“What are you doing here?” I didn’t turn to him.
“I miss you Jane.” His voice sounded small, remorseful.
I turned to him. “You're not supposed to be here anymore.”
He rose to from the couch and closed the distance between us.
I took a backwards step just to find my back against the wall. “We need each other Jane.”
He stood inches from me, his towering height too close and too hot. His eyes implored mine. “Jane.” It was a plea on his lips.
Gabriel lifted a finger and traced the jagged scar on my chest. “I'm not going anywhere, Jane, not until you forgive me.”
I pulled at his shirt, the buttons falling away to reveal the rough scar along his bare muscular chest.
“Did you do all those terrible things they said I did?” I looked into Gabriel’s eyes.
“For you.”
“But why?”
“Because they said they loved you.”
“They did! They all did! They promised.”
“Just like your parents did when they left you with him? Just like he did? When he came in the dark with his heavy hands and stinking breath? He told you he loved you.”
“Stop!”
“I did it for us, for you.”
“Gabriel.” I traced my fingers over the thick wounded flesh on his chest, leaning in, I kissed the ugly mark. I heard the low growl in his throat. I breathed him in. Spice and sweat and need. He smelled like home, my home. “I feel so broken, you’ve cut me to the very core.”
“And I can fix you from the inside out. If we are going to survive this, we have to forgive each other. Let me love you.”
“Love me?”
“Always.”
“Gabriel.” I choked on his name. “I forgive you.” And I did. He knew what was best for me. He always had.
The nurse switched the light as she left my room. The medicine was about to kick in. The room grew soft, the world was beautiful. I had to hurry if I wanted to see him, the pills always made him fuzzy.
I turned my head on my pillow and smiled at Gabriel who smiled back, only love in his eyes.
His fingers brushed my cheek, “I will never leave you Jane, we're going to be together forever.”
THE END
Acknowledgments
I would like to start by thanking you, the reader, for taking the time to pick up this book, from an unknown, and giving it a chance. I hope that it exceeded your expectations and that you will enjoy this journey with me in the future.
I would love to thank my wonderful friend and beta reader, Dawn. Her enthusiasm knows no boundaries, her genuine love for books, reading, and helping authors is contagious and humbling. I have loved having her in my corner. Thank you.
To all my other betas and C/Ps, your input and critiques have been invaluable. Without you, Gabriel would not have been where he is today.
To my family, without whom this book would have been finished months ago.
To all the Gabriels out there that keep us up at night.
About the Author
Jane Wynters doesn’t quite know how to answer the question of “where are you from?” She’s moved from place to place like a snowflake on the wind always searching for a safe place to land. She loves meeting new people and exploring new places. She loves reading, writing and conjuring new worlds from her imagination.
Also by J. A. Wynters
Coming soon:
Gabriel Book 1
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Guarding Gabriel
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