Forever Concealed

by Kathleen Brooks

  Sloane took the paper and put it in her purse. “Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I would like to stay around here if possible. It’s become home.”

  “Don’t your parents miss having you in Chicago?” Gabe asked.

  Sloane took a sip of her water to calm herself. “We don’t really get along. That’s why I love it here so much. It’s home to me now.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m glad you found your way here or we would never have met. Tell me more about why you decided to be a high school counselor.”

  * * *

  Gabe listened as Sloane talked about seeing drug addiction, depression, and crime growing up in Chicago. He knew it well enough from his various charities and even saw some of it in Rahmi before they found the main drug dealer peddling the poison to their people and took care of it.

  He watched her as she talked and saw the spark in her eye that told him she loved what she was doing. She loved helping people and making a difference. It was that spark that was missing in his life before. The passion Sloane had didn’t make him feel guilty for not helping more when he could have. Instead, he felt excited to find what he was passionate about so he could make a difference, too. And there was no place better than Keeneston to find that passion.

  His friend, Sydney Davies McKnight, and her husband, Deacon, had started Daughters of Elizabeth. It was a charity to help stop human trafficking. Sydney’s mother, Katelyn Davies, was the town veterinarian and worked hard to save animals and stop dog fighting. Layne Davies and her parents, Miles and Morgan, worked with charities to help retired soldiers. Miles worked with providing soldiers suffering from PTSD with a service dog. Layne was a physical therapist and treated wounded soldiers for free. Morgan ran their charities. And then here was Sloane with tons of ideas on how she wanted to help the community.

  Gabe was simply inspired. It might not be local, but the treaty he was working on would help three countries and millions of people. With renewed determination, Gabe had an idea on how to seal the deal with Draven. It was a long shot, but it might work.

  * * *

  Sloane laughed as Gabe told her a story about his twin brother when they were younger. His family sounded perfect. Usually she would feel worse as she thought about how she’d never have that, but Gabe didn’t make her feel bad. It was quite the opposite, in fact. Sloane couldn’t remember the last time she was so at ease with someone, even in the middle of this fancy restaurant.

  Obviously Gabe came from money, but he didn’t act as if the world should bow down to him. In fact, she’d forgotten completely as he told her how he and his brother had to muck out the horse stalls when they’d snuck downstairs one night and drank some bourbon when they were fifteen.

  Gabe smiled at her as he continued the story and Sloane tried to contain her laughter behind a napkin. “The combination of a headache, upset stomach, physical labor, and the smell of manure was lethal. And then my parents brought out two folding chairs and toasted us with their glasses of bourbon as we finished up our punishment. My dad offered me some when we staggered out of the barn. The smell sent my stomach rolling. I couldn’t touch the stuff for five years after that.”

  They laughed as the table was cleared of plates and glasses. She couldn’t believe they’d been talking for hours.

  “Thank you so much for lunch,” Sloane said as she smiled at him. How was this happening? After so many years and so many lying, cheating, or lazy men who had passed through her life, how had she finally found someone who was so perfect for her right when everything in her life was up in the air?

  “We could extend our date to dinner,” Gabe suggested as he reached across the table and placed his hand over hers.

  Sloane looked down at their joined hands. His was so much larger than hers. The warmth seeped into her and the electricity she’d felt the other night was strumming through her body. She looked into his eyes. She noticed when he was intense they turned darker. Right now they were completely dark and focused on her.

  “What’s going on with us?” she whispered, unable to break from his gaze. His dark brown hair was pushed back from his face, and his face was covered with a hint of scruff that made him appear more casual and devastatingly handsome as it highlighted his masculine jaw.

  “I don’t know, but I want to find out.”

  * * *

  Gabe stroked his thumb over her knuckles as he waited for Sloane to decide if she wanted to explore their feelings further with dinner or if she would just walk out of his life. With any other woman he wouldn’t have cared. It was different with Sloane. He wouldn’t give up without a fight. There was something more—something deeper than physical attraction. Hell, she hadn’t even invited him into her apartment yet. And he hadn’t told her he was a prince.

  Finally Sloane moved her hand to squeeze his. “Dinner sounds great. I have to work tonight, though.”

  Gabe almost jumped out of his seat and pumped his fist into the air. Instead he laced his fingers through hers as they left the table. “What time does your shift start?”

  “I work from seven until two. That’s my schedule for the rest of the week. I’m working as much as I can to save up in case I have to move for a job.”

  Gabe felt a moment of panic at the thought of Sloane having to leave town. Not before they could discover if what they were feeling was mere infatuation or something much deeper. The way Gabe’s hand tightened on hers at the thought of her leaving was reflexive and told him all he needed to know. This was something different. Gabe handed the valet the ticket for his car. “I’ll pick you up at five then. And give Keeneston High a chance. It’s not big and it probably won’t pay as much, but the town and the people will make you feel at home.”

  “From all you’ve told me, I’m already homesick for a place I’ve never been.” Sloane smiled and promised to call the second she got back home. Gabe had talked to Cade and Annie Davies who were family friends. Cade had been a teacher at Keeneston High since Gabe was born and still coached football for the school. Annie was an ex-DEA agent-turned-sheriff’s deputy and taught drug education at the high school every year. They had been more than happy to help Gabe get Sloane an interview.

  A van turned down Main Street and a couple of cars behind it was his SUV. Gabe turned back to Sloane as she began to ask about dinner. “Any hint on where we’re going tonight so I can dress accordingly?”

  “Whatever you wear for Billy’s is fine. The place I have in mind is pretty casual. I hope you like BBQ,” Gabe said. From the corner of his eye, he saw the van slow to a stop in front of them. He looked down the street and saw his SUV waiting for the van to move.

  The side door of the van opened and three masked men leapt out. Sloane screamed as the men reached for them. It happened so fast. But just like the previous night, time seemed to slow. Gabe shoved Sloane behind him. He put his fists up and threw a jab Ahmed would be proud of. His hand smashed into the temple of one of the men. He felt the impact of the hit reverberate up his forearm, but he didn’t care since the man went down hard and didn’t move again.

  The second man went for Gabe and the third reached for Sloane. He heard Sloane screaming and in his peripheral vision saw the man grab her arm. Unfortunately, Gabe had his hands full with the remaining man. Punches were traded and Gabe felt his muscles straining for release. All thoughts turned to getting to Sloane as he heard her scream again. He didn’t even think as he fought. Everything shut off except for the need to protect Sloane.

  People began to surround them and Gabe hoped they’d step in. “Help her!” Gabe ordered, but the people just pulled out their cell phones to record the fight.

  Gabe turned his head to quickly see how Sloane was and saw her on the ground. The man had her by one arm and was trying to pull her up when she kicked up hard and fast. The man doubled over and Sloane scrambled out of his grip right as a punch connected with Gabe’s jaw.

  Gabe felt his teeth slam together as his head snapped back. That was going to lea
ve a bruise. However, instead of knocking Gabe out, it pissed him off. He used one arm to protect his face and pulled his right arm back, clenching his fist tightly. He waited for his shot to end the fight. He curved his shoulders inward to absorb the punches the man threw at his arm and shoulder.

  Were the men trained? Yes. Was Gabe trained better? Most definitely. The man punched again, only this time he dropped his guard. It was all Gabe needed to land one forceful uppercut to the man’s chin that left him dropping to the ground unconscious. Gabe spun on the man trying to take deep breaths after being kicked in the balls. He flexed his fingers preparing for another fight as a group of women grabbed Sloane from the ground and pulled her to safety. Through all of the chaos he saw her eyes. She was scared and it was because of him.

  Gabe growled as he heard sirens in the distance. He reached over and hauled the man who had gone after Sloane up by the neck. The man struggled, but Gabe just tightened his fingers, cutting off the man’s airway. “I hope Draven paid you enough for the amount of time you’ll do in jail. You’re lucky there’re witnesses or I’d kill you for trying to hurt her.”

  “I’ll take him, sir,” the stern voice of a woman said. Gabe turned to look and saw a woman with dark brown hair hanging in long waves down her back. She wore a royal blue fitted V-neck tucked into tan pants. She was standing with a pair of handcuffs casually in her hand and a detective’s badge on her trim waist.

  Gabe nodded, let go of the man, and stepped back as he crumpled, gasping for air on the sidewalk. The detective walked around the man and slapped the cuffs on him. “I’m detective Andrea Braxton,” she told Gabe before shoving the man to a newly arrived uniformed officer. “Take him to the car and have your partner secure the other two. I want you to get all these people’s names and the video footage.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” The officer walked off hauling the man with him as Sloane hurried forward.

  “Are you hurt?” Gabe asked her as she flung herself into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her and breathed her in. Her body was trembling, but she was safe.

  “I’m fine. But what about you? You were punched.” Sloane gasped as she saw his red knuckles and the start of a bruise on the side of his jaw. With pain in her eyes, she gently ran a finger over his wounds.

  “I’m fine. I promise.”

  Detective Braxton looked between them before focusing on Gabe. “Do you want me to call your security detail, Prince Ali Rahman?”

  Busted. Gabe felt Sloane freeze and then slowly lower her hand from where her fingers had been caressing his cheek.

  “Sloane,” he said, her name holding all the begging and pleading Gabe had in him.

  “Excuse me, did you say prince?” Sloane asked, turning her back to Gabe and looking at Detective Braxton.

  10

  She was in shock. Sloane looked at Gabe and knew by the way he looked at her she hadn’t misheard. He was a prince. It suddenly made sense—the tuxedo, the “homework,” the scary ass man in the fancy car.

  “Yeah. Prince Gabriel, right?” Detective Braxton answered as she wrote notes on her small notepad, oblivious to the upheaval her words were causing. “Or are you Prince Zain? You two look so much alike.”

  Gabriel. Gabe. Oh my gosh. Sloane took quick little breaths trying not to freak out. Was he just using her? A freaking prince didn’t date a dirt-poor waitress for any other reason.

  “Yes, I’m Gabriel. Can my date and I go someplace private to answer any questions you have?”

  How had she not seen it? Gabe, Prince Gabriel that is, stood looking every inch a royal. Sloane tried to take a step back, but he tightened his hold on her waist instead of letting her go as people snapped pictures of them.

  “Of course. As soon as I saw you standing here, I called Agent Parker. We have an unofficial agreement to call him if anyone from Keeneston ends up in trouble,” Detective Braxton explained as she took a bystander’s phone.

  “I have an apartment not far from here.”

  Detective Braxton nodded. “I know where. We don’t have many princes in Lexington. I need to talk with my officers for a moment. Should I meet you two there?”

  “Yes, please. And call my security detail and ask for Nash Dagher. He’s the agent in charge of my brother and me.”

  “Done. I’ll have some officers accompany you until Agent Parker arrives,” Detective Braxton said as if talking to a prince were an everyday occurrence. Sloane, on the other hand, was very close to hyperventilating. If she had thought Gabe was too high above her when he was simply part of a family who owned a thoroughbred farm, they’d find out about her past even faster now. There was probably some security agent, like the scary man, running her name right now. She could see the king and queen telling him to stay away from her, and somehow that would hurt more than anything—seeing the familiar look of judgment.

  Sloane was so overwhelmed that his parents were rulers of some country that she let him pull her into the SUV. She blinked as she watched him walk in front of his car. She was so stupid, just like her parents had told her. Sloane had wanted to live a quiet life away from them, away from her past life. And how was she to do that if her picture ended up in the paper for dating a freaking prince? It could ruin everything.

  The door opened and Gabe slid into his seat. He didn’t say anything as he drove away from the restaurant with a police escort. Sloane couldn’t look at him during the short drive to the apartment building known as the most luxurious in town. Instead anger, hurt, and embarrassment filled her.

  Gabe pulled in an underground garage and parked as one officer escorted them from the car and the other headed upstairs with Gabe’s keys. Gabe went to hold her hand, but Sloane pulled it away. She didn’t want an audience for what she had to say.

  “Are either of you hurt? We could call a medic,” the officer asked.

  “Thank you. I’m fine. Sloane?”

  The sound of her name on Gabe’s lips had tears waging war with her anger. She’d dreamed of him saying her name filled with passion and caring one night before. She’d dreamed he’d spoken her name with this intimacy before he kissed her. A dream that had turned into a real-life nightmare, knowing those dreams of love were dead.

  “I’m not hurt. Thank you.”

  “It’s clear,” a voice came over the shoulder walkie-talkie.

  The three of them entered the elevator. Gabe reached forward and keyed a code. The elevator stopped at the penthouse. Of course it would be. When they got off the elevator, they walked into a lovely entrance with white marble and lightly tanned walls. The second officer was waiting by the elevator.

  “Do you want us to wait here with you?”

  “No thanks. Just wait in the garage until Agent Parker arrives.”

  The two men nodded and returned to the elevator. The doors silently closed and they were alone.

  “Sloane,” Gabe started and Sloane lost it.

  “Don’t you Sloane me. You lied to me!”

  Gabe hung his head and did a remarkable job at looking remorseful. “I know, but please let me explain.”

  “Explain what?” Sloan flung her hands up in the air as she stormed through a hallway into the most beautiful living room she’d ever seen. Elegant, classic, handsome . . . it was pure Gabe. The marble continued as well as the light tan walls. But the room, which was lined with two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows, contained a dark brown rug, a glass table, two leather chairs, and a leather couch. Along the wall connected to the hallway was a gas fireplace with a large flat-screen television above it. Past that was what she guessed were the bedrooms. An open kitchen was off to the left and a large dining table ran between the kitchen and the wall of windows so diners could enjoy the view of downtown. She was so out of her element.

  “Explain that you used me for laughs,” she accused him. “Because we both know a prince from . . . wherever you’re from, doesn’t date waitresses.”

  “Nothing about our situation is funny. Please, just listen. I didn’t tell yo
u because I wanted to get to know you better. When I tell people who I am, one of two things happens. They either pretend to be interested to get the attention and perks of being a prince’s girlfriend, or they run scared. I didn’t want either to happen. I’m too interested in you to risk losing you before I could see if there was something there.”

  Sloane’s breath caught as he stalked toward her. She stepped backward until she ran into the wall of windows. “And we both know there’s something between us.”

  Sloane looked up into his eyes and gulped. There was something there, but how could that be? But when he began to lower his lips toward hers, the differences seemed to melt away.

  Chimes rang out and Gabe stopped, his lips just inches away. She could feel him breathing and smell the scent of him. She stopped breathing as she waited to be kissed.

  “Someone’s here. We’ll continue this discussion later. In private,” he said, his voice dropping lower before he looked at his phone and pressed a button.

  Sloane blushed red as the elevator opened a few seconds later. She heard hurried footsteps and then a man appeared wearing an FBI jacket.

  “Gabe, are you all right?” the man asked as he wrapped Gabe in a hug and thumped his back. Was it Gabe or Prince Gabriel? She expected the man to be respectfully polite like the detective had been. However, this man, who was tall with hazel eyes and a slightly edgy look to his muscular body, had walked right in and hugged a prince.

  “We’re fine. Ryan, this is Sloane Holiday. Sloane, this is my friend, Ryan Parker. He’s the head of the FBI office here in town.”

  Agent Parker held out his hand and shook Sloane’s with a look of curiosity on his face. “A pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

  “Sloane, please,” she said, looking between the two men.

  “We grew up together in Keeneston and are close friends,” Gabe explained.