Page 20

Zion

SixhourslaterIzelscans the wooded area, searching for something. I wish she would just tell me what or who she is looking for. But I don’t bring it up, not wanting Izel to shrink back into herself. She’s more delicate than she lets on. Just something about her makes me want to protect her, to keep her safe.

I keep close to her, opening my mouth to tell her we can come back in the morning, when there's more sunlight. But I stop when my eye catches movement off to the side. Like second nature my hand grabs my gun from my leg holster while my other hand reaches for Izel.

It doesn’t take long for Izel to see where I’m pointing my gun, my breathing evening out as I take proper aim. Ready to pull the trigger. Only I’m stopped when whoever it is cries out, “Izel.”

“Gabriel?” I can hear the tears in her voice as she whispers. Pushing my arm away from her, she moves to stand in front of me.

“Izel, stop!” I hiss, pointing my gun above her head. Which, truth be told, it’s not exactly that hard to do since she’s so much shorter than me.

She doesn’t answer me. Instead, she lets out a sob as she and this Gabriel person run towards each other. The moment they reach each other, Gabriel pulls her into a hug, both falling to the ground.

My chest tightens as I have no idea who this is. The raw thought that this could be a boyfriend, a lover, someone she has an emotional connection to dawns on me. Here I’ve been obsessing, wanting Izel, almost lusting after her. And she’s been unavailable the whole time.

Not that she even gave me any indication that she was looking or even available. I mean for fucks sake she was locked in Zander’s basement like some dog.

I can hear both of them crying, and Gabriel’s arms are wrapped around Izel as her face is pressed against his neck.

Leave. She found what she needed. Now just go.

Except for some reason I once again am unable to walk away from her. I can’t even turn my back to give them a private moment. I need my eyes on Izel. I’m unable to look away.

“Are you okay?” she asks, finally peeling herself away from him. Gabriel releases his arms but doesn’t stop touching her arm.Izel grabs his cheeks, brushing her thumb over his jaw. My vision almost blurs from pure rage coursing through my body.

“I’m fine, I’m okay.” Fuck. He even smiles at her.

“Don’t lie to me, I’ve been worried about you. Are you sure you’re okay? You’re hungry, aren’t you?” she asks, turning towards where I’m still standing, gun in hand ready to take him out.

Gabriel hasn't noticed my presence until then. He jumps up, standing in front of Izel protecting her. But that’s my job, and I won’t have him protecting her from me.

Raising the gun once more, I hate the idea of hurting her if I miss. But I need to eliminate him. He’s the threat.

“Who are you?” Gabriel growls, voice full of venom. I don’t say anything, I never do.My finger moves towards the trigger.

Izel shuffles to her feet, ignoring Gabriel’s poor attempts to stop her from moving around him. Her eyes narrow in my direction, but they don't quite meet mine.

“Izel, get behind me. He has a gun,” he hisses, grabbing at her arm.

“A gun?” She turns her head towards him before returning to me. How can she not see the gun in my hand? I’m basically waving it in their faces. “Oh, have mercy,” she mutters, throwing her hands in the air. Marching towards me, she stops all but two inches from me, before waving her hand in the general direction of my gun.

“Put that thing away,” she grunts. Turning towards Gabriel, she holds her hand out for him. “Come on.”

“I’m not going anywhere with this psycho,” he says, waving a hand at me.

Well, I don’t want to take him anywhere, anyways.

“Don’t be silly, Gabriel. Let’s go, he’s not going to hurt you.” She once again holds her hand out to him.

“Izel!” he hisses. “He’s crazy. He’s wearing a fucking mask for fucks sake, and that gun is still in his fucking hand!”

“Language! I didn’t raise you in a barn!” Izel growls, stomping her foot. “And you,” she says pointing her finger in my direction. “I said put that dang thing away, now please.” I tell myself I switch the safety on and put my gun back in the holster because she says please. But I’m a fucking liar, because just her simply asking me is the reason. My eyes shoot to Gabriel, eyeing him. There’s no way, there can’t be a way she has a child. Because he is grown. I mean, he’s taller than her only by a few inches. I can’t see much in the dark, but if I have to guess a shade darker blond.

“You have a kid?” I ask before I know better.

Both Izel and Gabriel's eyes swing towards me, Izel finally looking me in the eye. Only both of them are disgusted by my question.

“Her?” He points.