by Christa Lynn
“No, Joe. You can’t come in. There isn’t anything of yours here, now you need to leave.”
“Yeah, so you can fuck your new boyfriend, Les?”
“That’s enough, Joe.” I step forward. “I think the lady said you need to leave, so I suggest you do just that.”
“Who the fuck are you? You have no right to tell me what to do. Leslie is my girl, not yours.”
“Fuck you Joe! Now get the hell out before I call the cops.”
“Ooooh, I’m scared Leslie. Go head, call the cops.” He says as he backs up a bit. “But I’ll be back to get what belongs to me, you can bet your sweet ass on that.”
He moves back further and Leslie shuts the door, visibly shaken.
“What an asshole.” I say as I move towards Leslie and ensure the doors are locked up.
“Yeah, fucking prick. I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“I’m a cop, you know. I could have dealt with it for you.”
“No, he’s harmless. He’s just pissed because I wouldn’t let him keep fucking his bimbo and letting him crash here. She dumped him when I kicked him out and now he has nowhere to go.
Not my problem. He should have thought of that before he started screwing around.”
“Well, you call me if he comes back, yeah? I’ll have a squad car here in minutes if he tries anything.”
“But how, you aren’t with the NYPD anymore, are you? Syd told me you quit?”
“Yeah, I’m with the FBI now. So, I can get a squad car here within minutes okay?” I say on a chuckle.
“FBI? Damn, you move fast.” She smiles.
“Long story. Listen, are you going to be okay here if I head home?”
“Yeah, we’ll be fine. I’ll lock up and set the alarm. I doubt he’ll be back tonight since he thinks you’re still here. Go on and get some rest, I’ll call you if we need you.”
“Okay.” I say as I brush my fingers on her shoulder. She’s still shaking and I don’t want to leave her and Sydney alone here. But if I don’t get some rest, I may just collapse myself.
I hear her lock the door behind me and the beeping sounds of her alarm keypad, so I know she and Sydney are secure. I head down the elevator and as I step off, I decide to call Mo and see if he can put a man outside, just to keep an eye out until I can get back.
“You don’t ask for much do you, Gabe?” Mo asks.
“Look, I know I’m the new kid on the block, but Sydney is in there. I don’t need to deal with another madman tonight.”
“Yeah, okay. I’ll get someone over there ASAP. You go home, get some rest and I’ll see you at HQ first thing in the morning, so we can make your new job official.”
“Yeah, I’ll be there after I meet with Chuck.”
“Ah yeah, that’ll be fun.”
“He’ll get over it. He’s known Sydney all her life, so he’ll understand why I did what I did. I hope.” I chuckle.
“Well, good luck with that. See you in the morning.”
“Later.” And I shove my phone back in my pocket. I look around and I don’t see Joe lurking anywhere, so I flag down a cab and go home.
Once I get inside, I take a hot shower, replace my bandage and finally crawl in to bed. It’s late and I have a long day tomorrow, but I just can’t get to sleep. I pop a pain pill to ease the sting from my wound and finally drift off.
The alarm goes off sooner than I would have liked, but I stretch and roll over to shut the alarm off. My bandages stretch and the glue from the tape pulling my skin. “Damn this, it’s coming off now.” And I yank the tape, effectively removing the bandage and some skin at the same time. “Fuck that hurt!”
I then laugh at myself, because pulling a little tape off hurt worse than the gunshot wound.
“Pussy.” I call myself as I climb out of bed.
Another shower and now I’m dressed to head to NYPD HQ. Chuck is waiting and I need to face the music, though I have a feeling the argument isn’t going to be pretty. The cab lets me out on LaFayette Street and I walk in, Olivia is behind the window. “Hey Gabe. Go on back, Chuck is waiting.”
“Thanks.” I say as I pull open the heavy steel door and make my way down the cold hallway.
I reach the door, but before I can knock the door opens and a highly upset Chuck stands there, one hand on the door and the other on his hip.
“You’re late. Sit down.” He barks.
I decide to save face, so I do what he says and sit. The door slams behind me and I know the fun is about to begin.
“You quit! Mother Fucker, YOU COAN’T JUST QUIT OVER THE PHONE!” He screams.
“It was the only way I could help Sydney. I was outside of NYPD jurisdiction.......”
“Yeah, about that. You’ll be reprimanded for trying to intervene with a federal investigation.”
“No, I won’t.”
He looks at me with confusion and I smile back. “You’re looking at the FBI’s newest agent, Chuck.”
“What the fuck?”
“Yeah, signing on the dotted line today. I’m a federal agent now. No more grunge work with the NYPD. I’m out, Chuck.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Just like that huh?”
I nod, “Just like that.”
“Well, shit. I don’t know what to say now. You’ve got me by the short and curlies, Gabe.
We’ll miss you around here. The Fed’s got them a good man, just try not to shoot another innocent man on your second day.” He laughs.
“You know about that eh?”
“I know everything, Gabe. Mo filled me in on most of the details last night. Speaking of, how is Sydney?”
“She was fine last night, I’m picking her up after I meet with Mo. Then I’ll know for sure.
She stayed at Leslie’s last night. Oh, by the way. I’m going to get some info on Leslie’s ex-boyfriend. He came around last night and caused some trouble. I need you to look into him for me, can you do that?”
“Yeah, sure. Just send me his info and I’ll check him out. Was he violent?”
“No, not really. But he would have been if I hadn’t been there. Leslie was shaken up, but she locked up tight behind me so I assume they’re fine.”
“Yeah, we didn’t get any calls for domestic issues last night, so I assume so too.” He stands and holds out his hand. I grasp it and shake, “Good luck with the Feds, Gabe. NYPD will still be here when you get ready to come back.”
“Right, I’ll keep you posted on that Chuck.”
“Oh, and take care of Sydney. She’s fragile right now. I find out you hurt her, and you’ll answer to me, Gabe. Federal Agent or not, I can still take you.”
I laugh out loud, “I’m sure you can Chuck. I’ll watch my back.”
“You do that. Oh and Gabe?”
“Yeah.” I say as I turn back to him.
“Good job in Chicago.”
“Thanks man. Take it easy, I’m sure we’ll be in touch.”
I head over to FBI headquarters and meet with Mo, signing the papers and getting an update on Sydney’s family.
“Franco was released from the hospital last night and he’s with his mother and sister at Mercy. She should get out today, but will continue treatment on an outpatient basis. Seems this really has taken a toll on her.”
“Yeah, Sydney said her family blamed her for Luis’ death. Guess it finally hit home that Luis brought it on his own family. That has to be hard to admit to after all these years.”
“Yeah, but it’s something. Hopefully the entire DeCarlo family can now heal and move on.
Franco is the hero in all of this, had he not gotten involved we’d still be looking for Sydney.”
“Or finding her body washing up on the banks of Lake Michigan.”
“Yeah. Well, welcome aboard Agent Torres. I’m looking forward to solving more crimes with you, my friend. But watch that trigger finger, eh?”
“Yeah, no problem.”
“Now, go get Sydney and get her home. You have some making up
to do.” He says as he waggles his eyebrows.
“Ha, yeah. There will be no making up of that kind for a bit. She needs time to recover both physically and mentally. She’s been through Hell, a Hell that has stayed with her for twenty years. Her insecurities and fear are not going to go away quickly.”
“No, but she has you and Leslie to help her. Be good to her.”
“Why does everyone keep telling me that?”
“You know why Gabe. Lots of people love her and want to protect her, she’s going to need you to help her get through this. Be there for her and just love her.”
“I will.”
I head out and walk across the street to the flower shop, hoping that something like that will help Sydney feel better. Yeah, right. Like flowers can heal deep wounds. I know how stupid it sounds, but she’s seen so much hurt, fear and evil the last few days that maybe a pretty arrangement will help.
I pick out a vase full of lilies, daisies and fresh greenery. Bright colors and strong fragrance should ease her pain a little, even if just for a moment. As I wait for a cab to stop, I call Leslie and confirm that they are in fact, okay. Sydney slept all night with no nightmares, and they are talking over coffee right now. I feel better knowing that asshole Joe didn’t go back last night and pull a stupid stunt like he did earlier. I’ll try and get more info on Joe once I get to Sydney and get her home.
Chapter 24
Leslie opens her door and there stands the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid my tired eyes on.
The man that rescued me and saved my life. Well, one of the men anyway. I need to check in on Franco soon and thank him. And smack him for getting involved with that asshole that almost killed me.
“Hey Leslie. How is she?” I hear him ask.
“I’m right here, Gabe, and I can hear you.” I smile as I walk towards the door.
“Babe, you look beautiful.” He says as he kisses my cheek. No one has ever called me ‘babe’ before him, and I’m finding I like it. “Did you sleep well?”
I nod, “Yes. For the first time in...years, I think.”
“No nightmares?”
“No, thank goodness.”
“These are for you.” He says as he hands me the vase of flowers.
“Thank you, they’re beautiful.”
“Beautiful flowers for a beautiful woman.”
I find myself blushing, which I do easily anyway. But I take the vase and place it on the table as Leslie locks the door back.
“Everything quiet last night?” Gabe asks Leslie.
She cuts her eyes to me, but nods to Gabe.
“What’s going on?” I ask Leslie, but she just walks away towards the kitchen.
“Les?” I ask as I follow her.
“Nothing’s going on Sydney, he was just concerned.”
I know Leslie, and I know she’s keeping something from me. But I let it go, for now.
“You ready to go home?” Gabe asks.
“Yes, I am. Leslie, thank you so much for picking me up at the airport and letting me crash here last night. I’m sorry I’ve been such an inconvenience.”
“Shut up, Syd. You are never an inconvenience. You’re my friend and I love you, but don’t you ever try to keep shit like this from me again. I know where you live.”
I laugh and it feels good, cause I haven’t laughed in forever. Laughter is the spice of life, without it you’ll go mad. I know now, that I’m going to be fine. It might take while, but I’ll be stronger than I ever was. I feel freer than I’ve felt in years, almost like my psyche knew my nightmare wasn’t over yet. But now I feel closure, though I know I have a long way to go. You don’t just kill two people and get over that right away, but with my friends and my man beside me, I know I can conquer anything.
My man? I’m not sure where that came from, but he’s seen me go through Hell and knows the prior Hell I’ve gone through, and he’s still here. That says something. What, at this point, I can be sure. But time heals all wounds, they say.
“Let’s go babe.” Gabe whispers as he takes my hand in his.
I give Leslie a hug and she hugs Gabe back, whispering in his ear. I wonder what she said, but I don’t ask. They obviously have some sort of secret going on and I’ll get it out of one of them eventually, but now is not the time. Right now I want to go home.
The fifteen minute cab ride takes thirty minutes, but we finally get back to my place. Gabe sits on my sofa and pulls me down in to his lap, his fingers brushing my cheek. I close my eyes and press my face harder in to his hand, absorbing the comfort of his warmth.
“Where are your bandages?”
“I took them off. Bleeding has stopped and the tape was pulling on my skin.” He answers.
“Can I see?” I ask, tugging the hem of his shirt up.
“Are you sure? It’s not pretty.”
I nod and pull his shirt over his head, watching him grimace at the pain that still lingers.
I examine the wound, lightly brushing the puckered skin around it.
“I’m sorry.” I say quietly.
“Sorry for what? Sydney, you didn’t cause any of this. You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“If I had just stayed with you at your house, none of this.......”
“SHHHH, stop it. What’s done is done, now we work on getting past it. It’s over and no one will ever bother you again, that I can promise you.”
“I’ve said this before Gabe, don’t make promises you can’t keep. We both know the world is unpredictable and no one knows the future.”
“Well then, I promise you this. I promise to do whatever I need to do to make sure you’re protected. I’ll never let anyone hurt you, not again.”
I smile at him and he smiles back.
“How did we get here?” I ask.
“Where?”
“Me, sitting on your lap in my apartment. We just met recently, but I........” Stop it Sydney, it’s too soon to start pouring you feelings out. I’m still an emotional wreck, but I need to feel him.
“But what, Syd. Tell me what’s on your mind.”
I shake my head, “Never mind. It isn’t important.”
“Bullshit, everything about you is important.”
“When I was in that basement, Stephan......forced me to do things I didn’t want to do. I felt so ugly and dirty, so weak. I never want to feel that way again.”
“I know baby, and you never will.”
“Make love to me.”
I can’t believe I just said that, but it’s out there.
“What?”
“You heard me, Gabe. I need you to bring me back to life. I know it’s soon, and the wounds are still fresh. But I need to feel beautiful again. Take away the ugliness and bring back the beauty, Gabe. Please, I need that to feel whole again.”
He stares at me for a moment while my fingers trace his hard stomach, my eyes glued to his wound. He reaches up and presses his fingers against my chin, turning my face towards his.
“Are you sure, Sydney? I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You’ll only hurt me if you say no. I need to feel your body on me, I need to feel you inside me. I need to feel alive again, and only you can do that to me. Please, Gabe. Bring me back to life.”
He brushes his lips over mine in a tender kiss, his tongue swiping the seam of my lips. I immediately feel my body relax as I part my lips and take him in. The kiss is soft, sweet. But as our mouths are fused together, our breathing picks up and the kiss becomes frantic. My hands are pressed against his chest and I feel him hardening under me. I grind myself on him, but before I know it he’s picking me up and flipping us, so that I’m on my back and he’s hovering over me.
Our lips stay locked and he puts his weight on me and my body begins to throb. I ache for him and I need him inside me. “Now Gabe, please.” I beg.
He lifts my tee shirt over my head and his eyes go to my breasts, before his large hand cups my flesh. His thumb brushes over my hardening nipple and that throbbing heads
between my legs. I reach down and unbutton his belt and his jeans, shoving them down his hips, exposing his erection.
He stands up and pulls his jeans all the way off, so that he is completely naked and staring down at me with heated eyes. I move to remove my pants and he shakes his head. “That’s my job.” And he tucks his thumbs under the elastic and slowly pulls my pants over my hips and legs, tossing them to the floor.
We’re both naked now, and suddenly I feel vulnerable lying under him. “Are you sure, Sydney?”
I nod, because I need this. I need to feel loved and wanted, after feeling so hated for so long.
“Yes, please.”
He gets on his knees and draws a finger through my folds before sinking his middle finger inside me. My back arches and I suck him in further, my juices spilling on to his fingers. His thumb presses against my clit and I feel my eyes roll back in my head. “Look at me Sydney.”
And I open my eyes, focusing on Gabe's face. “At any point this is too much, you stop me baby.”
I nod, but all I want is to feel him inside me. He positions his body and I feel him at my entrance. He pushes slowly inside and I feel my body come alive. I place my hands on his shoulders and keep my eyes on his, so that he can see that I need this. I need him to make love to me. And he knows, I can see it in his eyes as he sinks deeper and deeper in to me.
His body drops and his weight is on me. I trace my fingers down his back and cup his ass as I pull my knees up and back, his cock sinking even deeper inside. He pulls back and strokes back in, over and over until we’re both sweating and panting. His cock hits that sweet spot inside and I feel my body tensing. Gabe must feel it too cause he looks down at me searching for confirmation that I’m all right.
But before I can nod at him, my sex clenches and I explode as I say his name, “Gabe!” He picks up his speed and his thrusts get harder and harder, his lips finding mine and he breathes my name as he comes.
“Did I hurt you?” He asks against my ear, his hot breath sending tingles down my spine.
