by Jean Kelso
“Food’s here, guys, if you want to eat,” I tell them as I walk to the couch and sit down.
Both of them just nod in response. I smile at that.
I’m in mid-bite when Mel pipes up. “So are you in the FBI, Jack?” She pronounces the k loudly again. I almost choke on my food as I laugh.
“No!” Jack says firmly.
Mel starts to spin a piece of her hair around a finger, never dropping her gaze. “Are you secret service?”
I bite my lip to stop my laugh. Gabe walks towards me with a concerned look on his face. He holds a plate of food in front of him, but he doesn’t comment.
Jack stops typing. He looks up at Mel tight lipped and stone faced. “No!” he says firmly, again.
I close my eyes and take a breath, my food all but forgotten. Shit’s going to fly now. I know how my friend’s mind works. I set my plate on the table and wait. Gabe sits beside me on the couch with his plate in his lap and starts to eat.
Mel shifts in her seat and leans right into Jack as close as she can. I see her bite her lip and her eyes sparkle with mischief. “Are you a terrorist?”
Jack slams his hand down on the table just as Gabe spits his food out of his mouth. I full out laugh because it’s just hilarious how blunt Mel is being—no matter how stupid she is sounding.
“Jesus-fucking-Christ, woman!” Jack pushes his chair back and stands. His hands fly to his head and run through his hair. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?” He glares down at her.
Mel sits up straight in her chair with a huge grin on her face and the twinkle still in her eyes. She looks to me and winks. “Yep!” she says.
A growl sounds in the room. I look toward Jack, which is where the sound seems to be coming from. He has his eyes closed and shakes his head. “Fucking women!” He grunts and turns from the table. Jack stomps toward the kitchen, leaving Mel and the rest of us in the living room.
Mel immediately stands, looks to Gabe and I, frowns and follows after Jack. I think she’s going to do some groveling to make up to the man, especially if she wants in his pants.
CHAPTER 15
Belle
EVERYONE IS DONE EATING, the dishes are done and Mel and I are in the bedroom talking. The events of the day have taken a toll on me and I want to get washed and changed.
Gabe brought my bag into his room while I was doing the dishes and is now working on things with Jack, so it’s girl time.
I step out of the bathroom after I wash my face and brush my teeth. Mel sits like a lump on the bed. “What’s up, buttercup?” I move to sit beside her.
She looks up from her lap and gives me a small smile. “Just thinking of everything that could go wrong...” She scrunches her nose and pouts.
I sigh. I already feel slightly defeated due to exhaustion and then having heard the threat. “Look, I thought you were supposed to be the strong one, Mel.” I give her a pep talk. “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have made it through shit the first time. I need you.”
Mel blows out a breath. “I know. I’m trying, I really am, but when I saw you faze out like you did, everything came back, and I remembered how hard everything was back then.” Mel shifts on the bed to turn her body towards me. “I don’t want that bastard to get near you. If I could kill him and get away with it, I would. Christ, I wish he never got out of prison.” Her shoulders slump with that final word.
Considering I’m the victim, I didn’t expect to be the one consoling anyone. I reach out and pull Mel into a hug. I brush my hand over her head and whisper in her ear, “Me, too. Believe me, I feel the same way. Gabe says he won’t let Mike hurt me, and I believe him. I need to trust that.” Then my exhaustion takes over and the tears start again.
Mel and I both cry when the bedroom door slowly opens and Gabe peeks his head in. “Sorry to interrupt, ladies, but we may have got him.”
This makes me sniffle back some tears and pull apart from Mel. We both straighten up and follow Gabe out of the room.
In the living room Jack still sits at the table. He smiles big and holds a beer. Once Jack notices me and my tear-blemished face, he turns to Mel and sees the same look on her face when his smile fades. “You ladies okay?” he asks.
I nod. “What did you find?” I ask as I sniffle back the remnants of tears and catch a whiff of the tasty dinner we had not long ago.
Jack set his beer on the table. “Well, I have good news and bad news. Good news is the ass-hat used his phone and I was able to track a signal when it pinged off of three surrounding towers.”
“Okay…so what’s the bad news?” I move to sit in a chair at the table beside him and try to look at the screen in front of him. None of it makes sense to me.
“Bad news is that the towers make up a triangle of a good hundred square miles, so he could be anywhere in that amount of space,” Jack says.
I slump in the chair. That’s definitely bad news. We know he’s in the area, but we need to know where. Ugh, I just want to scream.
“But…” Jack perks up. “If Mike uses his phone for a longer period of time, I’ll be able to actually trace his location. He wasn’t on the phone long enough this last time, but at least we have an idea of where he is.” Jack leans forward and takes hold of his beer. He takes a gulp. “Right?”
I look to Gabe and back to Jack. “So you’re saying that we have to wait for him to call again and try to keep him on the phone?”
“Precisely,” Jack answers.
I put my head down on the table and feel tears well up in my eyes. Why does all the shit happen to me? Why can’t the bastard just leave me alone? I need air. I swallow the lump that forms in my throat as I sit up and look around. Gabe’s not in the room. Jack types away on his computer. Mel sits on the couch and stares into space.
I stand up and mumble, “I need air.” Then I wander to the foyer to slip on some shoes. Slowly, I make my way down the stairs and out the door.
The cool, fall evening breeze feels good on my hot tear-streaked face. I shut the door softly behind me and lean against the brick wall. I tip my head back and close my eyes. I rub the tears from my cheeks and wish things were better. I want my happy ever after, but at what cost? I slide my body down and sit on the cold pavement. The city’s quiet considering the beautiful weather, but people still mill about the sidewalk. They pay no mind to little ol’ me as I sit here. I tuck my legs up to my chest and wrap my arms around them. With my forehead down on my knees, I take slow, deep breaths to keep my anxiety at bay. The sounds of cars on the streets and feet walking by me compel me until I’m oblivious to my surroundings.
***
Gabe
I finish washing my hands and look into the mirror. Belle has dug herself so deep into my heart I don’t think she’ll ever be able to dig herself out. I see what this situation does to her and her friend and it makes me livid. I want to hurt someone or something. I’d prefer to hurt the bastard that she calls Mike, but I can’t do that until we find him.
I take a deep breath and calm myself. I can’t let the anger control me. Pleasure and pain go well together, but the pain I want to provide can’t be combined with pleasure right now. I need to focus on Belle. I try to shake those thoughts as I dry my hands and leave the bathroom.
In the living room I see Mel on the couch. She looks like she’s lost in her own little world.
Jack is in Ops mode. Jack’s the man. If there’s a friend in need—and Jack doesn’t have a lot of ‘friends’—he’s there. Jack takes his work seriously and always makes sure there’s a happy ending. I’m counting on him to get Belle and me through this. Actually, I’m counting on him to get me through this without me killing someone. Jack has seen my anger, and Lord knows how far I’ll take it if this asshole hurts my woman.
I realize that Belle’s not in the room. I don’t hear any noises coming from the kitchen, and I know she isn’t in the bedroom or I would’ve noticed her as I came out of the bathroom. “Where’s Belle?” I ask Jack as I move toward the table.
Jack looks up with a puzzled look on his face. He looks around and shrugs. “I don’t know, man. She was just here.” He reaches for his drink and chugs back a sip.
I narrow my eyes at him. A deep, sinking feeling begins to rise in me. Where would she go? I look to Mel. “Mel. Mel! Where is she?” No response from her. The sinking feeling gets deeper. I slam my fist on the table to get her attention and yell, “Mel!”
Mel looks over at me. She shakes her head and blinks. “What?”
I blow out a breath. “Where’s our girl?”
Mel looks around the room and frowns. “I don’t know,” she whispers.
I grip my hands in fists just as Belle’s cell rings. All our eyes shift to it. It rings once. Then twice. The trace connects as I pick it up and answer. “Hello?”
“Izzy looks awfully lonely right now. She’s just sitting out in the open, alone. It’d be so easy for me to just snatch her up,” a guttural, snake-like voice says.
I grip the phone tightly. My anger rises, fast and dangerous. “Don’t you touch her!” I grit out, but I’m not sure he hears it all since he hangs up. “Shit!”
Then the phone notifies me of a message. I look at the screen to see a series of photos. Belle sleeping on her couch. Belle and Mel leaving the hospital. Finally, a photo of Belle sitting outside my apartment. My whole body tenses. I toss the phone at Jack and run towards the door.
“I didn’t get him, Gabe,” Jack shouts to me as I move towards the door.
I quickly slip my shoes on and call over my shoulder to him. “He’s fucking here watching her. He’s been watching her for Lord knows how long. She’s outside.” I punch the wall in the foyer hard before I run down the steps to get my girl.
CHAPTER 16
Belle
EVERYTHING HAPPENS SO FAST. Gabe’s door whips open and he comes running out. He looks around frantically. He startles me, and all I can do is watch him in dismay. Once he notices me sitting by the stairs, he reaches down and scoops me up. I wasn’t expecting that. He catches me off-guard. I instantly wrap my arms around his neck and hold on.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Did he touch you? Fuck!” Gabe asks me.
I just smile at him in confusion.
Things continue to move fast. The scenery changes and then there’s less noises. Up the stairs we go.
Gabe sets me on the couch and sternly orders me to, “Stay!”
I’m not going anywhere, but I need to know what the hell’s going on. “What the hell, Gabe?”
Gabe walks back from the table with my phone in his hand. He sits beside me and pulls me into him. Then he blows out a long, deep breath. “You scared the shit out of me, Belle.”
In complete confusion, I lean back and look at Gabe. Stress lines are noticeable on his face and his muscles are tense. I look around the room to Mel and Jack. They sit rather close and Mel seems upset.
“What’s going on?” I ask everyone in the room. Gabe’s upset, Mel’s upset—geez—give me a clue, damn it.
Gabe asks me to look at him and he holds my face to keep my attention on him. His serious expression puts my nerves on alert, so I wait patiently.
“Mike’s here, Belle,” Gabe speaks intently.
I try to pull back, but he won’t let me. My now frightened mind can’t think straight. “Where?” I ask.
Gabe leans forward and puts his forehead to mine. He breathes slowly and calmly as he speaks. “He’s been watching you. He’s been in your apartment and has been following you.”
My body begins to shake. Shit. Mike has been this close, but for how long? He’s been in my apartment and that means he was the one who opened the window. I swallow the hard lump in my throat before I grab onto Gabe and let my tears fall. “I don’t want him to hurt anyone.”
“Never!” Gabe growls. “He’ll never hurt you or anyone else. I won’t let him.” Gabe kisses my forehead and pulls me into him, holding me close as my body shakes.
Finally, my body stops shaking. My nerves settle somewhat, and I look up at Gabe with a smile. “Thank you.”
“Anything for you, babe,” Gabe whispers as he runs his fingers through my hair—a gesture I love. It’s such a relaxing thing to have done. Being cared for by Gabe like this and snuggling into his body heat, I let sleep take me…let it take my cares away.
CHAPTER 17
Belle
I WAKE TO THE SUN shining brightly in the room. I vaguely remember sitting on the couch and being told that Mike has been watching and following me…being cared for by Gabe and then nothing. I fell asleep.
As I look around with my sleepy eyes, I see I’m in bed and only in a big tee shirt, which must be Gabe’s. I pull the shirt closer and sniff. Mmm, it smells just like Gabe. I sigh and remember the situation I’m in. I toss the blankets aside and crawl out of the bed. I begin to move to the door. I hear voices coming from the living room—little snippets of male voices. I catch the odd word: trust, control. With those words I think I know what’s being discussed—me.
I open the door and it squeaks just a little. I pad my way down the hallway. When I enter the living room everyone becomes quiet. Mel and Jack sit at the table drinking what I assume is coffee while Gabe heads in my direction.
“Belle, what are you doing up already?” He wears a frown on his face. Why is he upset? I have no idea.
“The room’s bright. The sun woke me. What’s the matter, Gabe?” I ask him and move closer.
Gabe takes me by the hand and tries to steer me back to the room, but I hold back. I stand firm and won’t go anywhere. “Gabe.”
“Belle.” He stares at me with his eyes narrowed and his lips thin.
I raise my eyebrows and repeat myself. “Gabe.”
He moves closer to me, eyes on me. “Belle...” I can see his eye twitch this time. Is he getting angry? Why?
I return his stare, but don’t speak. I won many staring contests at university, just ask Mel. She won lots of bets on them.
I’m not sure how long we stand there glaring, but Mel’s giggle and Jack’s husky voice break the showdown.
“For fuck sakes, Gabe. Don’t be forcing her into shit. She doesn’t want to lay down, don’t make her. There’s enough stress going around,” Jack grits out.
With that I rip my hand from Gabe and look from Jack to Gabe. “Nobody is forcing shit. I do what I want.” I stomp away from Gabe and head to the bathroom. I need a minute, and the last time I left the building shit hit the fan.
I slam the bathroom door behind me and move to the sink. Turning the water on cold, I lean forward to splash some water on my face. Gabe has been so good about not ordering me around, so why now? I may love him, but right now’s not the time to push me. I’m not a fucking puppet.
I survived Mike once. I can do it again. I’ve managed to survive cancer so far, which was with the help of doctors and the support of my body. I can do this. I don’t need Gabe if he’s going to start bossing me around all the time. I take a deep breath and turn to the door. While I was fighting myself I must not have heard the door open.
Gabe leans in the doorway. He doesn’t look happy, but he doesn’t look angry, either. It doesn’t matter to me at the moment. I’m pissed. My emotions are all over the place. “What?” I yell at him while I grab a towel to dry my face and toss it on the counter when I’ done.
“Will you talk to me, please?” Gabe asks.
“I don’t want to fucking talk to you right now,” I yell again, letting my anger control the situation at hand.
Gabe doesn’t move from the doorway. I want out of the bathroom, but I stand my ground. My heart begins to race with my anger. My breath grows heavy. I know if I don’t calm down, my anger will turn to anxiety and then who knows what will happen?
“Belle, please calm down.” Gabe softens his expression and stands straight in the door. I detect no more anger or frustration coming from him, but I don’t know if I can trust that.
Gabe’s right, though. I need to calm down. I close my eyes and try to take a br
eath.
Gabe catches me off-guard. Immediately and swiftly, he lifts me up and over his shoulder. I open my eyes to see his jean-clad ass. As much as his ass baits me, my anger isn’t gone yet. Ugh. “What the fuck, Gabe?” I wiggle and begin to kick with my legs. A sudden smack to my ass that sits high in the air catches my attention. “Ahh! That hurt, fucker.”
“You closed your eyes, babe. I took my chance. Now, we need to talk.” Gabe smacks my ass again. “Now, shush, and no name calling.” He turns us around in the bathroom, careful not to knock my body on the door frame, and walks us to the bedroom. I keep quiet as he demands.
Once in the room, Gabe kneels down and sets me on the bed. “Stay!” He leaves the room and returns moments later with two bottles of waters. Then Gabe shuts and locks the door before he comes toward me.
“Well, I’m here. Talk, Gabe.” I huff. My anger subsides mostly. I feel defeat at best. I know Gabe has my best interest at heart, but damn it, he knows my past. I told him I wanted to try for him, but I won’t tolerate being told what to do all the time. I cross my legs and my arms to wait.
Gabe hands me a bottle of water. Then he pulls the chair from the corner to sit in front of me. He looks at me, holding his bottle of water. A look of adoration and love glistens in his eyes, and a hint of hurt shows on his face. I sit there and take it all in. This gorgeous man sitting in front of me is mine. He swore to never hurt me, but with my past colliding with my present, my mind is a mess.
The silence. I can’t stand it. Gabe just sits there and watches me. I look around the room, open my water and take a sip. “Well?” I ask sarcastically.
“Don’t get lippy, Belle,” Gabe says firmly.
“Well, you wanted to talk so talk,” I tell him and slump my shoulders with a pout.
Gabe takes a breath, grabs my arms and pulls my hands into his. He holds them tightly. I try to pull them away.
“Let go, Gabe.”
