by Mary Smith
“I figured you would come here since you asked. Do you need to yell at me again?” He finally stops typing when I pull his office chair back and stand behind him and the desk.
“Yes, I do actually.”
“I could have been sending a very important email.”
“Were you?”
“Didn’t I say could have?” He tries hiding his smirk.
“I wouldn’t smile, just yet. I’m mad.”
“What’s new?” He rolls his eyes.
“I’m done playing, Gable. You have to stop with the secrets, because the next time, I’m serious, I’m not coming back. Are we clear?”
Gable gazes at me and I know that he’s thinking about if I’m serious or not. He gives in and nods. “Okay. I was wrong this time; I’ll admit it. I’m sorry.”
“Wow, the great Gable Butler is apologizing to me.” I lean in closer to him. “Thank you, and it’s accepted.”
“You know.” He hooked the top of my blouse pulling me closer to him. “I do remember a vivid sexual fantasy you had about us, my office, and this chair.” He flicks his tongue.
“I’ve seem to have forgotten.” I softly whisper my lie.
“Really?” He squints at me. “I think you’re lying, Mrs. Butler.”
I smirk and lean back on his desk and he drops his hand. “Are you calling me a liar?”
“In a sense,” he tilts his head to the side. “Mainly, I’m ready to play out the fantasy.”
I slowly shake my head. “Not happening. I’m here to talk to you and spend a quiet evening together.”
There are three loud raps on the door and I smile. “Perfect timing.” I jump up from the desk and head over to the door.
When I open it, I’m staring at Gideon’s cold eyes, and his fist connects with my jaw, making it all go black.
Chapter 28
The metallic taste and my aching face force me to open my eyes. I don’t know where I am, but I’m tied to a chair.
Oh no, not again. I remember Gideon’s face right before he hit me.
I look the room and it’s not where Jacob had us. This is different. I don’t know where I am. I’m alone in the room and I want to yell out for Gable. Is he alive? Is he here somewhere close to me? I close my eyes and try to remain calm. I tug on my wrist, but the rope burns into skin as I twist and turn them.
“You can’t get out.”
I gasp as I strain my neck all the way to the left and see someone stepping out of the shadows. I didn’t need to see his face because I knew his voice.
“Gideon. Gideon, what have you done? Where is Gable?”
“My brother is fine. He’s great actually, because we’ve removed you from the picture.”
“We? Who is we?”
“Aven and I.” He strolls over to me and kneels down. He takes his black, steel gun and runs it up and down the inside of my right thigh, under my skirt.
“Gideon, I need to see Gable.”
“No, you don’t.” He stands and slaps me across my face and I can’t even scream from the stinging, and tears fill my eyes.
Gideon says nothing else and walks out of the room. I sniff and spit out the blood that fills my mouth. I study the room to see if I can figure out some way to escape, but there’s nothing except gray concrete walls and a dim light above me. There’s a door near me, about fifteen feet away.
How am I going to get out of this? What the hell are Aven and Gideon up to now? What could they possible want from us?
The loud click and bang of the door opening causes me to turn my head. Gideon comes back in and has Leo with him. He pushes Leo to the ground, and I can see that Leo’s face has been beaten badly.
“Leo,” I gasp. My heart breaks seeing him this way. “Gideon, let him go.” I plead. “I swear I’ll do whatever you want.”
“Oh, I know you will.” Gideon pulls Leo up to his knees, to face me. “Leo is your friend, right?”
“Yes.” I answer.
“You think of his as family, right?”
“Yes.” My voice cracks as I stare at Leo.
“What about you, Leo? Do you care for little Dream Jackson?”
“Yes.” Leo says without a beat of hesitation.
“That’s what I thought.” Gideon pulls out the gun from his waistband and pulls the trigger.
My body goes into shock. My eyes are seeing something my brain can’t process. Leo falls lifeless over to this side. The crimson blood, bits of his skull, and brain matter lay about in a pool around him. I can’t scream, cry, or move. I watch the life leave Leo’s eyes, since they are still open staring at me.
“Tsk Tsk.” Gideon says heartlessly. “Such a shame.” He steps over Leo and grabs my chin. His cold, demon eyes stare deeply into me. “Give me JE.”
“What?” My voice finally functions.
“You’re going to give me JE.” He squeezes my face harder. “And you’re going to do it now.”
“I need Gable.” I whispers and taste the salty tears that are running down my cheeks and landing on my lips.
“I’ll be right back.” He releases me. I watch Gideon stroll out of the room as if he is heading out for a night out with friends or simply heading into another room. This isn’t a man who just shot and killed someone.
I try not to gaze down at Leo, but I do. His eyes are still open, but you can see the spirit is gone from them. I shut my eyes and silently tell Leo thank you for all that he’s done for me and I love him. I keep my eyes close and turn my head away from where his body lays. I don’t want to remember him like this. My memories of him will be of all the times he has been there for me and all the times that he saved me.
I try to remain focused on happy memories with Leo and my father to keep me calm. I can feel my body shutting down on me. I’m not sure if it’s the shock, but the room is spinning and my eyes are growing heavy. Soon, I give in and the world fades away.
~~~
“Leave her the fuck alone, Gideon.”
Gable?
“Or what? What the fuck are you going to do, Gable? Are you going to kill me? You’re tied to a chair and there’s no one around to hear you?”
I try to pry my eyes open but everything is still black. I lift my lids, but I still can’t see anything. I’m blindfolded. I realize when my senses feel the itchy material around my eyes.
“Gable.” I whisper out loud.
“I’m here.” His deep voice soothes me. “Don’t say anything.”
“Gideon killed Leo.” I sniffle.
“What?” Gable yells. “What the fuck?”
“She needed to know I’m serious.” Gideon says as if it’s not a big deal at all. “I want JE.”
“Why? What is the point of owning JE? There’s nothing you can gain from being the owner.” Gable tries to reason with him.
“Oh, but there is a bigger reason.”
I feel a hard tug on my hair and I yelp in pain.
“Gideon!” Gable screams at him.
“See, if I have JE in my pocket,” Gideon ignores his brother and continues talking. “Then I have Dream in my pocket. This little bitch needs to be taught a lesson. She’ll get that when I sell her company off piece-by-piece. Maybe I’ll kill that old hag, Mrs. Stones next.”
I gasp. Oh God. Please no.
“Gideon, I will give you whatever you want. We don’t have to involve Dream or JE in this. Is it money? I can set you up on a monthly account and you’d never have to work again in your life.” Gable tries to reason with him.
“She has ruined our lives. Why can’t you see this? Why can’t you see past anything but her tight pussy?”
“That’s not true. I love Dream. I married her because I wanted to protect her from Jacob. Out of everyone in my life, you know the truth about Dream and me. You are my brother.” Gable keeps his voice at an even low tone.
“More lies, Gable. You can’t love someone by looking at them once. You can’t protect everyone in the world. I don’t even know why you try.” Gideon’s ton
e changes and he sounds lost and far away.
“I try to save the ones I love. You, Mama, and Dream are everything to me. You’re my brother, Gideon. You’re my best friend. You know I’d lay my life down for you.” Gable continues trying to keep Gideon talking and calm him down.
There’s silence between them and I’m not sure if they’re even in the room anymore. It’s not until I hear the shuffling of someone’s feet that I know that they’re still here.
“Why did you get married, Gable? Everything was perfect for us. We were running this town.” Gideon’s voice is low and almost a whisper.
“I love Dream. You knew I was going to marry her, no matter what it took.”
“And lying to her, practically kidnapping her, is your idea of romance and the perfect way to start a marriage?”
“Gideon, I’m not proud of how Dream and I started, but she’s my wife and I love her. Let her go and we can talk about this.”
I hold my breath and do the best that I can not to make a sound knowing that Gable is reasoning with Gideon, and it is working. I’m trying to act as if I’m not even in the room.
“You’re my best friend, too, Gable.” Gideon’s voice breaks. “But, you left me for her.”
“I never left. I’m right here. We’re always going to brothers. Nothing that will ever change that. We are tied together forever. You and me.” Gable’s voice is soft.
The silence stretches between them, and I feel someone closer to me. I’m sure it’s Gideon since I can hear Gable is further away from me. I think Gable’s broken through because he pulls off my blindfold and I’m blinded for a second as my eyesight adjusts to the lighting. I hear a pop and my arms instantly loosened as I’m freed from my restraints.
I search the room for Gable and he’s tied to a chair to my far left. I release the breath of anxiety once our eyes connect. Gideon walks into my line of sight and I lean back away from him.
“Do you love my brother?” He narrows his eyes at me.
“Yes. Yes, I do, Gideon.” I tell him honestly.
“Do you promise to take care of him and always be there for him?”
“Yes,” I repeat and study his face closer. Something’s changed and it feels off. These aren’t the same cold eyes that shot and killed Leo. These eyes are lost.
“He needs stability and love.” Tears fill the corner of Gideon’s eyes.
I nod. “I promise, Gideon.”
He holds out his hand and shaking, I take it and he helps me to my feet.
“I’m sorry.” He whispers low enough that I don’t think that Gable hears him. He turns around and goes to Gable.
I scan the room and realize that we’re in Matherson’s Printing office. However, the windows are blacked out with thick black curtains. I turn my attention back to Gable and Gideon.
Gideon snips off his cable ties binding his wrists. Gideon walks over to the other side of the room, away from us both as Gable rushes over to me and cups my face.
“Okay?” I give him a small smile and try to not burst into tears. “Okay.” He sighs with relief.
“Gable.” We both glance over at Gideon. “I’m sorry.”
“Gideon,” he releases me. “I know. Can you tell me where Aven is?”
He shrugs. “She should have been here already. I don’t know where she is. Just go, Gable. Get out of here.”
“I want to help you.” Gable starts to take a step toward Gideon, but he holds up his hand to stop him.
“You can’t.” Gideon shakes his head. “Leave, Gable.”
“Not without you, brother. I’m going to help you. I know there’s something more going on, and I’m not going to give up on you.”
Gideon pulls the gun from behind his back and points it at Gable. “You can’t help me. Now, leave Gable. Take your wife and leave,” he shouts.
I take a step back and tug on Gable’s arms. “Come on.”
“I told you that I’m here for you and here I am. You’re my best friend, Gideon. Put the gun away and let’s work this out.” Gable ignores me and tries to plead with his brother.
Gideon pulls the hammer back on his gun, cocking it. “Leave or I’ll shoot Dream.”
“He’s not going to shoot anyone.” We all whip in the direction of the new voice that has entered the room.
“Aven,” Gable hisses.
“Hello, Gable.” She smiles brightly at him. “I see you and Dream are back together again.”
“We were just leaving.” Gable yanks me behind him.
“No, you’re not going anywhere.” Aven opens her purse. She reaches in and shows us her silver gun. “Let’s put things in better perspective.” She turns her body toward Gideon and fires.
I scream out as I watch Gideon fall backward and clutch his chest. The red begins to seep through his white shirt and he gurgles for air.
Gable races to his brother’s side, but Gideon has already closed his eyes and you know there’s no hope for him.
“Now, it’s your turn.” Aven points the gun at me and everything goes black.
Chapter 29
I can hear voices in the distance. It’s Gable and Aven, but I can’t make out what they are saying. I don’t feel any real pain. I don’t think that she hurt me in any way, but I’m not sure what’s happening either.
“Gable?” I push out. My mouth is dry. It feels like sandpaper and my throat is scratchy.
“Dream. Dream, can you hear me?”
Gable, I know my mouth is open, but I can’t seem to pry my eyes open. All I can see is darkness.
“Dream, please open your eyes. Please,” his voice cracks.
“Can’t.” I breathe out. I feel cold and I sense that I’m lying on the concrete floor.
“Look at the poor helpless, Dream Butler.” I hear Aven’s evil voice from a distance. “Poor, poor Dream. Tsk. Tsk.”
I know she’s playing with my emotions and the hot tears are leaving my eyes. I sniffle.
“Oh, and now she’s crying.” She mocks a gasp.
My eyelids finally listen to my command to open. Aven is right there next to me; I thought she was farther away.
“Look at that. Well, hello Dream. It seems you passed out.” She touches my cheek, but I shake away from her.
I’m not tied to anything and I sit up. I shouldn’t have moved that fast because the room starts to spin, but I do my best to keep my balance.
“Aven, this is between us. Let Dream go.” I turn and see Gable standing near Gideon’s lifeless body.
My heart breaks at seeing Gable. He looks exhausted and his eyes are blood shot. Gable loved Gideon and he’s going to carry this burden for the rest of his life.
“There’s nothing between us anymore, Gable. I did everything you asked of me. I was your perfect girlfriend. But, you never cared about me, did you?” Aven points her gun to Gable. “I should have married you, but you didn’t give a shit about me.”
“I did care for you Aven. That’s not a lie, but we weren’t meant for each other.” Gable reasons with her.
“And she is?” Aven points her unarmed hand at me. “This...this...child. You’re old enough to be her father, Gable. How sick is that? What could you two possibly have in common?”
“More than you two did,” I speak.
“Shut up.” She spins to me. “No one cares about what you have to say.”
Remain calm.
I can hear Leo’s voice in my head. I slow my breathing and slowly rise to my feet. I look around the room and realize that we’re still in Jacob’s office. My back is to the front door and Gable is to my left. I need to get him closer to me. I connect with his eyes and stare at him. I pray that he understands my thoughts and I hope that this works. This isn’t practice and we aren’t in the woods. This is real life and that’s a real gun. She can easily kill me and I know this.
“Aven, you know that Gable loves me.” Oh, good idea, Dream, piss her off.
“No he doesn’t. The only thing that Gable loves is money and himself,”
Aven snarls.
“We love each other. We’ve started a life together.” I move my body toward Gable.
“Life? A life? Let me explain something to you, little girl. Gable doesn’t love you. You’re a virgin that didn’t have anywhere to go and he wanted JE. It’s all about the money.”
I take a small step toward him. “No, Aven. I can’t explain to you how wrong you are. At first, that might have been the truth, but not now. We’re starting a family.”
Keep her talking, Dream. I can hear Leo in my head. Great, now I’m going crazy along with everything else.
“I wanted all of that with him, too.” Aven glances at Gable.
“Is that what’s this is about? You wanting Gable?”
“No!” She shouts loudly. “This is about me finishing Jacob’s plan, you bitch. I’m going to make sure you die and Gable suffers.”
“Because he hurt you?” I try to clarify.
“No, because he thinks he can use anyone and everyone to get what he wants.”
I ease my way over to him and I’m almost there. “It’s what he did to you, right? He used you and then dumped you.”
Aven’s green eyes glare at me. I think she’s beginning to figure out what I’m doing and I only have a minute to figure out what the hell I’m doing.
“If you take one more step, I’ll kill you.” Damn it. Aven has the gun inches from my head. “Don’t think you can play me. I’m much smarter than you are.”
“I’m...I’m not trying anything, Aven. I’m only trying to figure out why you’re doing this to us.”
Aven rolls her eyes. “You’re fucking stupid. There isn’t an us or you and him. It’s only Gable and you’re another fucking pawn in his life. Don’t you get that? You’re nothing to him. Nothing.”
“You’re right.” I answer and try to play into her game. “I’m nothing to him. I’ve known that since the day I married him. Our marriage is only for business reasons and for show.”
Aven drops the gun down and rolls in laughter. She’s actually holding her side. I glance at Gable, who winks at me. It’s working and I need to keep it up.
