Page 55 of Every Broken Piece

Chapter fifty-one

Gabe

S he’s quiet on the long drive home. I know I gave her a lot to think about, and I can only pray that she thinks hard about what I’m offering.

But in the end, it’s up to Tess what she decides to do.

It’s always been up to Tess. I’m just the poor fool sucked into her orbit and am now hopelessly in love with a woman who’s taken to running like it’s an Olympic event.

She has my heart and if she runs away with it then so be it. Hopefully it will lead her back to me some day. Or maybe it will convince her to stay and put down roots with me.

Eventually she falls asleep. I pushed the boundaries of her endurance, and she finally succumbed to her exhaustion.

My phone vibrates and I quickly answer it, taking it off the car’s speaker so it doesn’t wake her.

“This is Gabriel.”

“Mr. Strong, it’s Detective Hardwick.”

That heart that’s no longer mine drops to my stomach. “Detective. I take it this isn’t a social call.”

“I have news.”

I glance at Tess. She should probably hear what Hardwick has to say, but I don’t want to wake her and if it’s bad news I’d rather tell her myself. “I’m listening.”

“The man who attacked Ms. James is named Ryan Carter. He’s from the O’Malley crime family out of Chicago.

Seems Sandra Jansen was a small-time dealer for them but was caught skimming some of the profit.

Good news is Ryan was called back to Chicago, so I don’t think he’s a threat to Ms. James any longer. ”

“I sense there’s more you’re not telling me.”

“There is. Sandra Jansen was caught trying to break into Ms. James’ apartment. A neighbor called the police. Sandra was a bit out of control and was taken in for a psych hold. Unfortunately, she was released a few days later and we don’t know where she went.”

My jaw clenches. I pulled Roger from Tess’s building because there was no need for him to be there if Tess wasn’t there. Now I wish I’d kept the team in place.

“What are you doing about finding her?”

“We’re working on it.”

“And Carson? Are you arresting him for attacking Tess?” I bite my words out, keeping them low so I don’t wake Tess when what I really want to do is put my hand through the windshield.

“We’re working on that too. He’s protected by the O’Malley’s so that adds a layer of difficulty.”

I squeeze the steering wheel, my gaze cutting to Tess when she shifts positions, bringing her wrist up to her chest.

No one knows where Tess is. Even Hardwick doesn’t know. All the same, it wouldn’t be difficult to find her. It’s not like where I live is a secret. I have to remind myself that she’s protected. My apartment building is secure and she’s always with me.

“You’ll keep me updated?” I ask.

“Of course. But it’s my belief that Carson and the O’Malley’s have moved on. Twenty grand is not that significant when they’re funneling millions.”

“Maybe.” Maybe not. I’m not taking a chance that the O’Malley’s forgot about Sandra and the money she owes.

I gently shake Tess awake when we’re securely in the parking garage of my building.

The rest of the drive home was tense as I continuously checked my rear view for a tail.

Hardwick assured me Carson was in Chicago, and I doubt Sandra Jansen has the wherewithal mentally, physically, and financially to get herself to Denver.

I feel like we’re safe for now, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let my guard down.

“We’re home, Spitfire.”

She opens those gorgeous tiger eyes and blinks. A slow, sleepy smile tilts her lips, and, in this moment, I’d give everything I own if she’d tell me she’ll stay with me forever.

“Hey, you.” I smooth her wild, windblown hair from her face.

“I fell asleep.”

“I wore you out. We shouldn’t have stayed so long.”

She straightens and unbuckles her seatbelt. “I loved every minute of it. When can we go back?”

My heart fucking soars that she wants to make future plans. “Whenever you want.”

I grab the cooler while Tess slides out of the car, still blinking the sleep from her eyes.

With a palm to the small of her back I lead her to the elevators where my handprint opens the lift that shoots us up to my apartment. “Remind me to have your prints added.”

Her gaze slides away from me. She bites the corner of her lip and my stomach drops.

A simple thing such as the key to my apartment has her skittish and pulling away.

I didn’t ask her to marry me. All I did was express the opinion that she needs access to my home.

And somehow I fucked up. Damn it. It’s frustrating that I don’t know what will push her away and what will bring her closer.

I’m lost on what I should do and I’m not usually this much of a bumbling fool.

I save million-dollar corporations, but I can’t navigate a relationship with this woman.

Once we enter the apartment I head to the kitchen to deposit the cooler on the counter while Tess stands by the stairs almost asleep on her feet. I need to tell her about my conversation with Hardick but she’s swaying with exhaustion.

“Go on up to bed, Tess.”

She glances up the steps. “Are you going to bed too?”

Does she want someone to go upstairs with her? Or does she want me to sleep with her? Am I reading too much into this? I decide to take the safe route.

“Soon,” I say. “I have a phone call to make.” Don’t push. She’ll retreat. You’ve already pushed far enough for now.

She practically pulls herself up the steps. I stand in the kitchen until I hear her bedroom door close, then release my breath and head into my office to make my phone call.

“Gabriel Strong,” the woman on the other end of the line says when she answers her phone. “It’s been a hot minute.”

I hear cutlery clinking in the background along with the muted sounds of people’s voices. “I’m interrupting. I can call back.”

“Merely a dinner meeting and we’re almost finished. Save me, please.”

I chuckle because I’ve been to the same kind of endless dinners too many times to count. “Where are you?” I ask.

“San Francisco.”

“Closing another deal?”

She hums. “We’ll see.”

“You don’t seem enthusiastic about this one.”

“I’m leaning toward no. Hold on a sec.” I hear her speak to someone, but her voice is muffled.

“I’m back. Told them an offer just came in that I can’t resist. Keeps them on their toes thinking something might torch this deal.

” The sounds of the restaurant recede as she moves through it.

“It’s been months since I’ve heard from you.

I’m not letting you slip through my fingers now.

How’ve you been?” Her voice is warm with years’ worth of friendship.

Vivian Rexford, owner of Virex Global Industries, has been a business partner, a client, and eventually one of my best friends.

Occasionally the press will resurrect rumors that we’re also secret lovers, but Viv and I would never survive each other.

We’re too much alike. Both driven to succeed, both running billion-dollar corporations, neither with the time to keep up with each other’s schedules.

We’re much better friends than we would be lovers.

I hear a door click shut on her end. “What do you need?” she asks, making me wince.

“Do I only call you when I need something?”

“I can read you like a book. You’re very serious right now.”

I sit behind my desk and swivel the chair around to look out at the glittering lights of the Denver skyline. “You weren’t lying when you told your dinner companions that you’ve had an offer. I have a business proposition.”

“Oooh. I love a good proposition.”

I grin because Viv is Viv and always will be. A little flirty, a lot sarcastic, too much sassy, but always there if I need her and always up for a good business deal.

“You own a company I need to purchase.”

There’s a slight pause. “Need, huh? Never show your hand like that Gabriel. You know better. But do go on.”

“TaskGenius. Based in Chicago.”

“Isn’t that the virtual assistant thing?”

“It is.” I’m not at all surprised that she knows of every small business she owns.

“And why would you be interested in TaskGenius?”

I pick up a pen and run it through my fingers. Outside of Jack, she’s my best friend. I can tell her anything, but this I’m not so sure I want to put words to. On the other hand, maybe I need a woman’s perspective.

“Does it matter?” I ask.

“Of course not. I’m curious though. If I remember correctly, they’re profit is minimal compared to the businesses you own. They’re not failing, so it’s not the thrill of turning them around that you’re after.”

“I’ve met someone.”

A very long pause this time. “Ah. Well.” Her voice is subdued, lacking her previous sass. She knows what Cara’s death did to me and she knows that when I say I met someone it means something. “What does this someone have to do with TaskGenius?”

“She worked there, and they fired her because of me.” I tell her about Jack’s great plan to hire a VA for me, that our business texts turned personal and when TaskGenius found out they fired her.

“So this is a revenge purchase? If she needs a job, just hire her.”

Is this revenge? Hell, yes, it is. But it’s also righting a wrong and giving Tess her livelihood back. “She misses her clients and because of the non-compete she signed she can’t poach them.”

“I want to meet the girl that finally softened the hardened and cynical Gabriel Strong. She must be something really special.”

“She is. She’s...” I don’t know how much to reveal without breaking Tess’s trust, but I feel like I’m screwing this up and I don’t know what to do.

“She’s...?”

“She’s had a rough life. She doesn’t trust easily. Honestly, she doesn’t trust at all. A lot of people hurt her in the past.”

“You’ve fallen hard, friend. I can hear it in your voice. And for someone you can’t easily bully or charm. Not that you’re all that charming. That’s Jack’s forte.”

“I would never bully her. I just want her to be happy and having her job back would make her happy.”

“Wow.” There’s some fumbling on her end, like she dropped her phone. “Sorry,” she says when she comes back. “I had to check to make sure I was talking to Gabriel Strong and not someone else. Unless Gabe’s phone was stolen. How do I know it’s really you?”

I grin. “I know enough of your secrets. You want me to start listing them?”

She clears her throat. “No need. So, she’s not falling for your charm, huh?”

“It’s more like she’s built these walls to protect herself and she’s afraid to let anyone in.”

“You always go for the wounded ones.”

Viv never met Cara, but she knows the struggles we went through, how I felt like I could never make her happy.

It wasn’t that Cara was hateful or demanding.

The opposite, actually. She was complacent and content.

She laughed and played. We had good times, but underneath was always this ribbon of unhappiness that I could never compete against.

Maybe I do fall for the wounded and maybe I am setting myself up for another heartbreak, but I’m willing to risk it because I think Tess is worth it.

“You need to go slow, Gabe. Don’t push. I know you. You go full steam when you see something you want. That will only scare her.”

“I know. It’s frustrating. I told her I love her, and I scared her. Every time I think I’m breaking through her walls she throws more up.”

“Think of an abused dog. You have to gain that trust back even though you weren’t the one who abused her. Let her come to you. She’ll advance and retreat but once she sees that you’re steady, that you aren’t abandoning her, she’ll come to you, and it will be worth it.”

I lean my head against the back of the chair and stare at the dark shadows of the mountains against the sky. I can do that. I can let Tess take the lead. Good things come to those who wait, right? Isn’t that how the saying goes?

“I can’t wait to meet this special woman,” Viv says.

“I can’t wait for you to meet her.”

“Let me get with my team tomorrow and look at this TaskGenius. I’ll get back to you on an offer.”

“I appreciate it.”

“You know I could just demand they get rid of the non-compete and hire her back.”

“You could.”

“But you want to be the white night.”

“I want to fix the part I broke.”

“I knew if you ever fell for someone again, that it would be special. You deserve happiness too, Gabe. Don’t forget that.”

My throat closes up. “I won’t.”

I climb the steps to my bedroom, my feet dragging. Apparently, the hike wore me out too and I consider myself in better than average shape. But it’s also my conversation with Viv that’s weighing me down.

I loved Cara so much that I felt my heart die the day she died. I swore there would never be another love like that, and I still believe that.

But it doesn’t mean I can’t love Tess. This love is different.

It’s hard to describe. Cara always held a part of herself back from me.

Tess allows her vulnerability to show. Cara hid her sadness.

Tess lets everyone see hers. Cara would never fully open up to me about her thoughts and feelings. Tess lets it all out.

Viv is right. I need to let Tess lead this relationship. By giving her the reins, she’ll feel more in control and gain the confidence she needs to hopefully believe that we can build a happy life together.

I step into my bedroom and stop short.

Curled into a tight ball under my covers is Tess. Fast asleep on my pillow.

Well, damn. Viv was right.

I just needed to wait for Tess to come to me.