by Mary Smith
“Here.” She reaches for the soup on the tray. “We need to make sure you and the baby are okay.” She lifts the spoon toward my mouth. “It’s only soup. You’ve been out for almost four hours and I know that you need to eat for your strength.”
“I need Gable. Larissa, help me.”
“I can’t.” She sits the bowl back down. “Gideon says I can’t and I won’t jeopardize my relationship with him. He loves me.”
“Oh my God.” This is a fucking nightmare and it’s getting worse. “Gideon loves no one but himself.” I inform her.
“Don’t be jealous, Dream.” She lightly pinches my nose in an uncharacteristic manner. “I know your marriage isn’t real, but Gideon and I are. I hope someday you find happiness.”
“I have with Gable. I need Gable. Please, Larissa.” The tears come back.
She plays with a strand of my hair and I can see that she’s battling with herself to help me.
“Larissa, I will give you anything. Please let me see him, just for a moment.” I study her face and when she gets up, I think that she’s going to help me, but she leaves the room without saying a word.
“Damn.” I say aloud. I try not to cry, but it doesn’t help because the tears fall. Where’s Gable? What about Leo and Bruce? What’s happening at the house? Do they know where we are? A million questions are running through my brain and I can’t answer any of them.
I’m scared, alone, and I don’t know where my family is. On top of that, I’m in a lot of pain and I don’t know how I’m going to get out of this mess. Right now, all I can think of is Gable. I close my eyes and remember him holding me tightly. The way the scent of his cologne calms me, and how much I love him. Deep down, I wish I were pregnant. Gable will be a great father.
Great time to start thinking about that, Dream.
I try to calm myself the best I can, but the sobbing continues. My thoughts turn to Dad and something Gideon said. I know Dad died of a heart attack. The doctors told me he had. I’m sure that Gideon was just trying to get a rise out of me. Unfortunately, it worked.
I wonder what’s going to happen to me now that Gable can’t? Will Jacob finish what he started? Why did he stop in the first place? Maybe he wanted me conscious. I shiver in fear thinking about that. Then there’s Aven. I wonder what that bitch’s story is. How could a wife stand there and watch her husband drag another woman off to rape her?
A non-human and someone with no morals.
The door opens again and the devil herself walks through with a happy smirk on her face. Aven’s green are nothing but evil.
“Time to go see Jacob again.” She nods her head and two large men come in and clip me away from the cot and I feel relief as my arms drop to my side. I’m exhausted, absolutely spent.
One of the men pick me up; I don’t argue because there would be no way I could walk to wherever we’re going. I’m going to be stronger this time. I will fight harder. Jacob will not win this.
I’m carried into the large room where I was before with Gable. I lift my head, but there’s no sign of him, Leo, or Bruce. Are they still alive? They have to be. Gable has to be.
The large guard sits me down in a chair and the other one zip ties my hands, but in the front. He’s careful not to touch my broken hand and it’s not as tight as before. He even pats my good hand softly before stepping away from me.
That’s strange. However, I can’t dwell on it as Gable is brought in with Bruce and Leo. I survey Gable and his jacket is off and there’s a cut above his left eye, but it’s not bleeding badly. His lip is still split but not bleeding anymore. Bruce’s right eye is swelling and I can tell that he’s nose had been bleeding from the dried blood around it. Leo looks worse than both of them. He only has his undershirt on now. His whole face is swollen including both of his eyes and there’s still blood coming from his nose. The corner of one lip has a trickle of blood, too. I notice that his undershirt has slits in it and he’s been cut.
Gable nods at me and I know that he’s asking if I’m okay. I give him a small smile, and the tears burn my cheeks again.
Our connection is short-lived as Jacob comes bounding into the room with Gideon on his tails. I watch Larissa scurry in behind Gideon, still smiling. Oh, that girl is a nut-job of epic proportions and I would have never believed it, except I’m seeing it with my own eyes.
Gideon leans into Jacob and says something. Jacob nods and with a cold, hard stare strolls right over to me and pulls me up. He kicks me in the back of my leg to make me kneel in front of Gable.
“I’m done talking to you, Butler. You are going to go through this deal or I’m killing her.” Jacob yells.
“Kill her and you’ll die.” Gable’s voice is calm.
“I’m not fucking kidding.” Jacob screams making my ears ring.
“I can’t wait to kill you.” Gable curls his lip.
“Not going to happen.” Jacob pushes something cold and hard against my temple and I sob. “Sign it,” he orders Gable. Gideon walks over with a paper and pen.
“If I sign it, how do I know she’ll live? You’re holding a gun to her head.” Gable nods to the weapon in Jacob’s hand.
“Sign it,” he says again. “I’m done fucking playing around with you. I want my shipments through that shipyard, and I want my customs people working it. Do you understand me?” The gun clicks and he pushes harder against my head.
“I can’t sign with my hands behind my back,” Gable states.
“One false move and she dies, along with your baby,” Jacob tells him.
Gable nods and one of the men comes over and clips the ties off Gable’s wrist. He snatches the pen from Gideon’s hand.
“I would have never believed my own brother would stab me in the back.” Gable glares at Gideon.
“It’s not like that. This is about money and the fact that you ruined me.” Gideon explains.
“How the fuck did I do that, Gideon? Is it because I gave you everything you wanted? Is it because I catered to you? Just how did I ruin you?” Gable’s voice rises with each question.
“You married her.” He points at me. “I told you she would ruin you. Why the fuck do you have such loyalty to Ulrich Jackson anyway?”
“Because he was a good person. He taught me that you put business and family on the same level. What you give back is what you’ll be remembered for. He changed his life around for his daughter, and I did it for Dad, you, and Mama.”
“Whatever, Gable,” he sighs. “Sign the paper so we all can go home.”
Gable laughs. “You think that’s going to happen, don’t you? You’re so fucking stupid. The second I sign this he’ll kill Dream first, to make me suffer and then he’ll either torture me or just shoot me in the head. That’s what he’s going to do.” Gable steps closer to Gideon. “Oh, and just so you know, in my Will, nothing goes to you. It went to Dream and Mama. So, after I’m dead, Jacob will kill Mama. I hope you and your conscience enjoy that at night, knowing we all died because of your greed.”
Gideon pales and for the first looks scared of Gable. “Jacob promised that nothing would happen to Mama or you.”
“Oh good, then he’s only kill the love of my life and my unborn child. I bet you’re up for Uncle of the Year Award then.”
Gideon flicks his eyes to me and the tears come faster for me. I know Gable is right. We’re going to die the moment he signs it. Typically, I can’t process information when I’m stressed, but right now I’m calm even with the tears streaming down my face.
This is how my life will end. I pray when it ends, Gable, Bruce, and Leo get out of here. I hope Mrs. Stones lives a full life and takes over JE with pride and I know she will.
I have heard your life flashes before your eyes when death is immanent. I remember Dad pushing me on the swings in our backyard, all my massive birthday and celebratory parties, and the look on his face when I graduated. I thought about the first time I kissed Gable and the first time we made love. That love was in his eyes the firs
t time I met him.
Look at us now. Our lives will end with a gunshot in the back of a building. Will anyone ever find our bodies? Will we have a proper funeral for everyone to get closure? Will Gideon and Jacob ever be brought to justice for our murders?
“Here.” Gable scribbles on the paper and shoves it into Gideon’s chest, causing him to stumble back. “Fuck you, Gideon.”
Gable gazes down at me, still on my knees in front of Jacob. “I’m sorry, Baby.”
I smile at him through my tears. “I know. I love you, Gable.” It comes out as a whisper because I barely have a voice.
“I love you, too, Birdkill.”
I gasp and my body reacts before I can think. I drop to the ground and I cover my head as best as I can. I hear gunshots and people yelling, but I don’t move. I’m not sure if it’s shock or what.
“Dream, go with Larissa.” I hear Gable yell and glance up as Larissa grabs my hand. She has a gun in her other hand and all I can think is run. “Dream, go with Larissa, now!”
Since my hands are still bound, I reach for her with both hands and I kick my shoes off as we race for the door.
“This way, Dream.” Larissa and I sprint down the hall and as we come to the corner she stops me. She motions me to be quiet and I glue myself to the wall. Larissa holds the gun in front of her and searches the corner. She looks like an action movie hero, and she moves with ease.
“Let’s go,” she whispers to me and takes my hands. We run down the short hallway and out a side door.
I’m stunned for a moment because we’re outside. We’re in an alleyway. I’m about to ask what’s happening, but a black car pulls up and Larissa shoves me into the backseat and yells for the driver to drive. He throws the car in reverse and spins out of the alley and onto the main road.
“Gable.” I whip around and look at the back tinted window.
“He’s getting out.” Larissa pats my leg. “Just breathe.”
“What? What’s happening?” I yell at her. “I thought you were with Gideon.”
“Listen to me. When we get back to Butler Mansion, we will tell you everything.”
Oh no. Not this shit again. I can’t handle this right now. This won’t end well.
Chapter 22
When we pull up to the gates of Butler Mansion they open without putting in the code. Larissa and I didn’t speak a word. I don’t know what’s going on, and I’m in a lot of pain. I want answers, and I need Gable.
Four guards with guns greet me and usher me into the house.
“Dream.” Mama and Mrs. Stones say my name at the same time and wrap me into their arms. That’s it. That’s what broke me. I loudly sob and cling to them and never want to let them go.
“Dream, you need to be checked out by the doctor.” Mrs. Stones guides me over to Dr. Bell in Gable’s office.
Larissa is sitting on Gable’s desk and Dr. Bell is stitching her arm. Larissa gives me a small smile.
“Where’s Gable?” I don’t know what else to ask but that. I want Gable back here and that way I can kiss him, hug him, and then get him to tell me everything that’s going on.
“I lost contact with them.” She hops off the desk. “I know that he’ll be here soon.”
Before I can interrogate her, Dr. Bell pats the desk and I climb up there. Mama comes into the room with a one of Gable’s dress shirts and she carefully slips it on. I didn’t even realize that I had been running around in my bra. How embarrassing.
As Dr. Bell checks me out, my nose isn’t broken only bruised, along with my cheeks. Besides a few hairs pulled, there is no permanent damage to my head. My worst injury is my hand. Dr. Bell wraps it, but tells me that I’ll need to go to hospital and get it x-rayed and set.
“Let’s get you something to eat.” Mama loops her arm with mine.
As we head to the kitchen, I pass numerous men I’ve never seen before, with guns at every window. I’m too tired to even care at this point. All I want is Gable. I sit on the stool and Misha’s eyes are red and puffy. However, she fixes me a glass of red wine and hands it to me without even asking. I take two large gulps, letting the burn of the alcohol heal the scratchiness of my sore throat.
“Do you want to talk?” Mama asks.
I shake my head. “I want Gable.”
Mama nods and rubs her hand up and down my back. Misha asks if I want food and I can’t think of food. I continue to drink the wine. Larissa comes in and I’m grateful for what she’s done, but there’s only one thing on my mind. I know that it seems like I’m losing it, but Gable is what I need to remain sane.
Misha hands a bowl of soup to Larissa, Mama, and Mrs. Stones and refills my glass. The five of us don’t speak. The only noise is the men shuffling around their posts and a few instructions between them.
Seconds turn into minutes that into hours. My anger at not knowing what was planned turns into fear that I won’t see Gable ever again. Hell, I miss Leo and Bruce, too. I aimlessly walk through the first floor, with Mama and Mrs. Stones not far behind me. Larissa is on the phone constantly, trying to obtain information about Gable, but whomever she’s talking to, they don’t know anything either.
Dr. Bell gives me a couple of painkillers for my hand, since I refuse to go to the hospital until I know Gable is home safe and sound. Soon, I feel myself falling into sleep.
~~~
I jolt up into a sitting position. I heard something. Is it Jacob? Is he coming back for me? I finally realize, from the dimly lit room, I’m in our bedroom. Where’s Gable? His side of the bed is still untouched.
I swing my feet to the floor and my hand is throbbing. I need to give up and go to the hospital before I do any real damage to it. The alarm clock reads six in the morning and my heart sinks.
What’s happening with Gable? Why isn’t he here with me? Doesn’t he know that I need him? Is he still alive?
The last question brings the tears. If he’s gone, I don’t know what I’ll do. To think a few months ago I didn’t even like him, and now look at me. I’m praying for his safe return to our lives and me. Then I’m going to yell at him until he tells me what the hell is going on.
I’m still in my skirt and Gable’s dress shirt, but I don’t care as I pad barefoot to the kitchen. The men are still guarding the windows and I wonder if they slept. I receive a few nods, but nothing more. Larissa is sitting at the breakfast bar when I walk in.
“Hey, I was going to come wake you.”
“Do you know something?” I rush to her side.
“Gable and Bruce are at the police station.”
I gasp and cover my mouth. He’s alive. “Is he okay?”
She nods. “He’ll go to the hospital later after he’s finished with his statement. I’ll need to take you to give your side of the story. I didn’t take you last night because I figured you needed to be here first. I’ll get in trouble with that.” Larissa shrugs.
“Will you tell me who you work for now?”
“FBI.”
“What? I thought you were going to be a lawyer.”
“I was planning on it, but I changed my mind and ended up going to the academy.”
“Why?” I sit down next to her.
“Being a lawyer wasn’t for me. Then one of my step-dad’s friend and I began talking and the FBI was a good fit for me.”
“So, you were like, undercover, then?”
Larissa nods. “At the Wall’s Ball, my boss and I came up with the plan. Since we had been watching Jacob for so long, we knew Gideon had been helping him in some way. Soon, I was fake-dating Gideon.”
“I knew it. I knew Gideon wasn’t your type.”
“And Gable’s yours?” She gives me a pointed look.
“Yes, he is,” I answer her. She smiles. “Tell me the rest.”
“Not much to tell.” She shrugs. “I started dating Gideon to get closer to Jacob and his operations. It worked and the paperwork that I saw from you helped more. The way you talked of Gable, I knew that he was legit now. Gideon
verified that, too. Jacob had big plans to take over Gable’s shipyard. I truly didn’t think that he would do it on his own. My unit director and I figured he would contract it out.
“Then Gideon started running his mouth about how Jacob wanted you out of the picture because of your dad. I guess there’s a lot of bad blood there?”
“I guess, because I don’t know the story.” I knew some of the story, but I’m cautious on what to tell her. She is the FBI. “I guess he wanted Dad’s help and he wouldn’t give it.”
Larissa nods. “I figure it was something like that. Well, do you want to head to the hospital? Gable can meet us there and you can give your statement. I can wake Mrs. Butler and Mrs. Stones.”
“No, don’t wake them. We can go, but where’s Jacob and Gideon now?”
“Jacob’s in the hospital. Apparently, Gable fucked him up badly. Gideon, Aven, and the other security guards are in jail waiting on lawyers and arraignment.”
I nod and wonder how bad Gable really hurt Jacob. Deep down I hope it’s bad even though I know I shouldn’t think that way. I need to get to Gable. Larissa calls for Trent and he appear, ready to take us to the hospital. The three of us load up into one of the several black Mercedes in the driveway. I don’t talk to any of them as he drives us. I keep repeating in my head that I want Gable. When I see him, then I’ll know that it’s okay.
We pull into the hospital entrance, and two male nurses are waiting for me with a wheelchair. I want to inform them my hand is hurt, but I refrain and sit down. Larissa follows me while Trent parks the SUV. I’m wheeled through the lobby and into an examine room. A doctor comes in and asks questions about my hand. Larissa answers most of them, and I let her because I’m too tired to argue.
After a few x-rays, I’m told several bones are broken and I’ll have to have pins put in to help heal my fingers. I’m equipped with a sling and we wait for the specialist to come in and give the final word. I lie on the hospital bed and ask Larissa again where Gable is.
“I know he has to be done by now.”
“I’ll call him again.” She stands and steps into the hallway.
