This is for the best, she told herself.
When the driver dropped her off, she asked him to wait for her, and to keep the tab running if need be. Once in the house she locked the door behind her and took a quick shower. She packed a few bags of clothes and took her mother’s pendant from the jewelry box. In the white room she grabbed fifty thousand in cash, along with a fake ID identifying her as Piper Peterson. There was a fake birth certificate for Piper, along with a social security card and passport. Stashing the forged documents in her pocket, she considered the many weapons and especially the vials of vampire blood.
Gabby took one of the vials in her shaking hand and thought of what it would be like to drink it. Her body shuddered at the thought, and for a moment she fought the urge to pop the cork and throw it back. Instead she smashed it on the floor and broke the remaining vials as well.
She took nothing else from the white room; that was a part of her old life and had no place in her new one.
After closing the door to the white room for the last time, Gabby replaced the bottle that was used to hold down the locking mechanism with another, and added it to her bag.
In the living room she considered taking along a family photo and another that was her favorite of Maggy, but in the end she decided against it. She couldn’t bring anything that might give away her true identity.
She stopped at the door and gave the house one final looking-over before turning the knob and heading out to meet her new life.
Riggs stood in the doorway, looking to have been about to knock.
“We’ve got to talk,” he said, eyeing Gabby’s bags.
“This isn’t a good time,” said Gabby, glancing around at the street and dark window beyond.
“Yeah, well, make time,” he said, blocking the way.
“What are you doing? I told you I have to go.”
“You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what the fuck happened the other night. And where the hell have you been?”
“You don’t want to know what I’ve got to say. Do yourself a favor and forget about all of it.”
“I can’t forget what I saw.”
“Did you report it?”
Riggs shook his head.
“Why not?”
He laughed mirthlessly, and Gabby could sense intense anger burning just under the surface. “I’ve been let go.”
“Let go? Fired?”
Riggs nodded, brow furled in anger.
“I’m so sorry,” said Gabby, feeling that this too was of course her fault.
“Then tell me the truth. You owe me that much for saving your ass.”
“The truth is I like you too much to tell you the truth. You would eventually curse the day you even asked that question. Consider this me saving your ass. We’re even.”
She shouldered her bags and moved to push past him. To her surprise, he grabbed ahold of her shoulders and turned her around, forcing her to face him.
“You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what the hell is going on with you,” said Riggs. “Are you in trouble again?”
Gabby laughed bitterly. “I’m always in trouble. Why do you even care what happens to me? We hardly know each other.”
He started to say something, looking unsure of himself, but then a look of determination overcame him and he suddenly kissed her. Gabby dropped the bags and wrapped her arms around him. The kiss was gentle, loving, with none of the animalistic urgency that they had shared previously.
Gabby wanted to tell him everything. She wanted to make love all afternoon and curl up safe beside him. But she knew that if she let him in, he would eventually get hurt or worse, and she liked him too much to risk it. Gabby was a liability to everyone who knew her, and for their sake, she had to go.
Riggs cupped her face with one hand and hugged her. Gabby fought the urge to melt into him, to shut out the world and all its problems and lose herself in his embrace.
“I can’t do this,” she said, voice shaking with emotion.
“Why not? I know that you feel the same way. Let me help you.”
“I…” Gabby pulled away before her determination failed her. She picked up her bags.
Riggs still barred the way. His eyes were glossy, and the look on his face broke her heart.
“Whatever it is, I’m with you, Gabby. Why are you so afraid to let me in?”
Gabby touched his cheek and pulled him in for one final kiss. When she released him, he looked hopeful.
“You’re a good guy, Frank, and there’s a good woman out there for you. You don’t need someone like me. Trust me.”
“Gabby…”
“If you love me, you will respect my decision. Don’t follow me. And don’t try to find me. It’s better this way. Goodbye, Frank.”
She moved to the door, and Riggs did nothing to stop her this time.
Tears streaming down her cheeks, Gabby marched to the street and headed east, not wanting to take any of the vehicles she owned. To her relief, Riggs didn’t follow her.
The day was a chilly one, but Gabby wrapped her jacket around her tight and got in the waiting cab.
“Where to?” the driver asked.
“The airport.”
Gabby’s phone rang. It was Valentine. She let it go to voicemail, and after a few moments, the message notification popped up. She considered erasing it, knowing what Valentine would say, and she didn’t want to hear anything that would test her resolve. Eventually, curiosity got the better of her, and she tapped the button to listen.
“Gabby, it’s Valentine. Where are you? I’m headed over to your house right now. We’ve got to talk. Gabby…I’m so sorry. I really am. I never meant to hurt you. I meant what I said in the vault…I love you. You must believe me. I’ve never met anyone like you before. Please. Let me make it up to you. Let’s have a fresh start. You mean the world to m—”
Gabby shut off her phone and wiped her eyes. She opened the passenger window, meaning to throw the phone out, but just then she saw the dark SUV in the side mirror. Angrily, she dialed Michael’s number. She had been hoping to avoid explaining things to him, knowing that if anyone could convince her to stay, it would be him. But she wasn’t going to get anywhere with the weres trailing her.
“Gabby?”
“Hello, Michael.”
“They told me that you checked yourself out. Bob just informed me that you’re in a cab headed back to the city. What’s going on?”
“Call off the guards.”
There was a moment of silence, then, “Where are you going?”
“I’m tired of explaining myself. Please, just do what I ask.”
“Gabby, listen to me. You don’t have to do this.”
“Yes I do!” said Gabby, so loudly that the cab driver jumped in his seat and offered her a startled look. “Goddammit, Michael. Stop being my big brother and be my friend. The vamp—” Gabby glanced at the driver and lowered her voice. “The threat has passed. I don’t need your guards watching over me anymore.”
“Tell me where you’re headed. I’ll meet you. We can talk.”
Gabby ground her teeth and fought back the urge to break down. She didn’t know if she wanted to scream or bawl her eyes out.
“Michael. I’m asking you to trust me for once. Call off the guards, just let me go.”
Gabby heard a heavy sigh on the other line. When Michael spoke, the sorrow in his voice tore at her emotions.
“I can’t let you go. Not like this.”
Gabby fought to control herself and pushed the growing lump of emotion down deep. “You once told me that you don’t regret your biggest mistake, that it shaped you, and you learned from it. This might be a mistake, but it is my mistake to make. You’ve got to respect my decision.”
There were many long seconds of silence, and Gabby noticed the SUV behind them turn off onto a side road.
“Thank you, Michael.”
“Gabby...if you ever need anything…”
“I know, thanks. Goo
dbye, Michael.”
“Goodbye, Gabby,” said Michael, softly, reluctantly.
Gabby hung up the phone and wiped her eyes. She finally tossed the phone out the window.
“Leaving on a Jet Plane” by Peter, Paul, and Mary began to play on the radio, and Gabby laughed to herself until she was crying. She thought to tell the driver to change the channel but kept quiet. She needed to feel the pain, she needed to get used to it. Life was pain, and if you didn’t feel it, that meant that you were dead.
Gabby felt the urge to look back one last time, but she kept her teary eyes forward and looked ahead into the unknown.
The story continues in Book 3
Cross Roads
Coming Soon!
Letter to the Reader
Dear Reader,
Thank you for purchasing Cross the Line. I hope you enjoyed this book.
I would love to hear what you thought of the story, good or bad, so please feel free to leave a review. I also invite you to join Gabby’s Mailing List for updates on upcoming book releases, contests, giveaways, and much more. You can also get in touch with me on my Facebook page. I love meeting new readers, and respond to all my messages personally. I hope to see you there!
To everyone who has left a review, shared my books on Goodreads, posted on Twitter or Facebook, or simply just enjoyed one of my books and told their friends:
Thank you!
With humble appreciation,
M.J. Lovestone
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
The story continues in Book 3
Letter to the Reader
Cross the Line: A Gabriella Cross Paranormal Romance Book 2 Page 18
