Page 45 of Gabe (Blue Team #2)

“Mom. Dad. This is Gabe.” I introduced them.

My dad tightened his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer.

Some might think it was strange I was introducing my parents to the man I loved while he was unconscious in a hospital bed but I didn’t. I wanted them to get to know Gabe even if it was through his friends while Gabe slept.

I heard my mom clear her throat and sniff a few times before she humored me and played along.

“Gabe. A good strong name,” my mom started. “I’m Jenny London and it is a pleasure to meet you.”

My dad did not play along. Instead, he immediately started drilling Zane.

“You’re positive my daughter isn’t in danger.”

“I’m positive, Mr. London.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Why don’t we step outside and take a walk?”

My father all but shoved me behind him. Zane didn’t miss this—not that he missed much—but my dad wasn’t hiding the fact he was protective. Which also reminded me; I was gonna catch his ire that I hadn’t called him when I first got myself into this mess.

Damn .

“Joe,” my mom called. “Go take a walk with Mr. Lewis.”

My dad didn’t move so I did. I stepped in front of him and put my hand on his bicep. Once his gaze came to mine I smiled.

“Everything’s fine. Go talk to Zane. He’ll answer all your questions.”

“After this, I want you coming home with your mother and me. We’ll make arrangements for your apartment to be packed up and shipped back to Milwaukee.”

I knew this was going to happen. It was part of the reason I hadn’t told my parents I was in danger.

Side note: as I could get lost in my head for hours and dwell, my mom could do the same but she did with worrying. As I was an overthinker, my father was an over-reactor. He was protective over my mom and me and I’d always loved that until he became overbearing and tried to take over.

And that was where I knew he’d take it, hence my not wanting to call. Anaya meant well, was very worried about my state of mind, and did what she thought was right. Now I needed to do damage control before I lost my temper.

“Dad. I know you’re trying to look out for me but I’m not moving to Milwaukee.”

“We’ll discuss it after I speak to Mr. Lewis.”

I didn’t miss the firm, tight, I-am-your-father tone. But I wasn’t sixteen asking to borrow the car. Nor was I seventeen asking to extend my curfew. There would be no discussion.

“I love you, Dad. I appreciate you coming here to check on me but I’m not moving to Milwaukee. Period.”

“You’ll feel differently after you go back to the hotel with your mother and me. You’ll get a good night’s sleep and you’ll see the wisdom in moving home.”

I felt my torso jerk back and as hard as I tried to contain it I couldn’t. That poison Zane had talked about churned in my stomach until I saw a haze of red.

“I’m not leaving this room.” I was aware I sounded like I was possessed. I just didn’t give a shit. “I was trying to be respectful and nice but what I really meant was, I won’t be talking to you about my future living arrangements because I’m a goddamn adult and you’ll treat me as such. ”

“Evette,” my mom whispered.

“What? I am a grown woman. Two days ago my ass was tied to a fucking chair. This was after Gabe was shot, we were drugged, then taken hostage. That man right there saved my life. Look at him. Look at what he went through for me . He took it so I wouldn’t.

And Dad waltzes in here and thinks I’m gonna go to the hotel and have a nice snooze in a comfy bed then wake up tomorrow and think, gee I think I should move home so my daddy can take care of me and leave Gabe.

Um. No. Hell no. I will be leaving Riverton. But I’ll be moving in with Gabe.”

I should’ve stopped my tirade. I knew it. I knew I was being a supreme bitch to my dad. The man who’d shown me nothing but love my whole life. But I couldn’t stop. All the pent-up bad stuff bubbled over until I wanted to lash out and hurt someone.

What was wrong with me?

“He saved my life, Dad. That man right there loves me so much he let that happen to save me.”

“Actually,” a voice croaked. “You saved my life.”

My eyes drifted closed and my body locked tight.

Scratchy. Coarse. Rough.

Music to my ears.

“Evette, honey.”

Raspy. Unused. Abrasive.

Beautiful.

I finally got my wits about me and turned.

And there lying in the bed looking up at me through swollen lids were the most beautiful, soulful, magnetic pair of brown eyes.

“Hey.”

I scooted closer to the bed and picked up Gabe’s hand. His fingers wrapped around my palm, and with surprising strength—since moments ago he was unconscious—he tugged me closer.

“You all right?”

And cue the tears. Thankfully, I didn’t break down into out-and-out hysterics but the waterworks were definitely on full blast.

“Yeah, Gabe, I’m all right.”

“Good. Now, what’s all the shouting about? ”

Shit .

“We should call your doctor…”

I didn’t get a chance to finish my thought because Gabe yanked me even closer.

“I’m fine,” he told me and lifted his other hand to brush the tears away. But as soon as he wiped them away more rolled down my cheeks. “My brave, Evette. So fierce. So beautiful.”

I heard a feminine sob and I wasn’t sure if it was from my mom or Anaya.

Ivy and Natasha had taken little Maxine outside to get some fresh air.

Thankfully neither one had pressured me to leave with them so I knew it couldn’t be one of them.

Not that it mattered who was sniffling in the background.

Gabe was awake. He was talking. And he was looking at me.

The room could’ve caught fire and I would’ve ignored it.

“I was so scared,” I admitted.

“I was, too. So fucking scared they’d find us in those woods because I knew you wouldn’t leave me.”

“I told you—”

“I know what you told me and you were right. We’re a team. You had my back and when I couldn’t you got us out of that cabin and kept us safe. Thank you.”

I’d process him admitting he was scared later. Right then I was too happy he was awake.

“I missed you.”

“I was dreaming about you.” He smiled then frowned. “You were arguing with Cooper about eating.”

Oh, no.

“You heard that?”

“Yeah, honey, I did. I was in and out and caught bits and pieces of conversations. Did you eat?”

I clamped my lips closed so I didn’t have to lie.

“Coop,” Gabe grunted. “Please get my woman something to eat. And since I doubt I can get out of this bed you have my permission to cuff her and force-feed her.”

“Permission?” I snapped. “Force-feed?”

And there we were in a stare-down, arguing about food not even three minutes after he woke up.

Thank God .

Thank, thank , thank God.

Gabe was back.

“Fine, I’ll eat,” I said with mock irritation.

Secretly I was elated he was complaining about me skipping meals.

“I’ll eat,” I repeated. “When the doctor comes in to check you out.”

“Deal,” he agreed.

“Deal.”

A throat cleared from somewhere behind me and Gabe wiped away some more tears before he said, “Take your mom and Anaya and go get something to eat. I need a few minutes with your dad and Zane.”

“I think the doctor should check you first.”

“After I talk to your dad.”

“Gabe! You’ve been out two days. Two. You have a severe concussion. Your doctor needs to check you out.”

“Then on your way out tell the doctor I’m awake.”

We went into another stare down. This one because I knew Gabe would turn the doctor away, and with Zane in the room to act as a guard dog, the doctor would tuck tail and run away.

I also knew I wasn’t going to win this argument and I was proven right when Gabe’s hand slid down and around and he cupped the back of my neck, then sweetly murmured, “It’s important I talk to your dad. He’s rightfully worried.”

It was safe to say I was having serious reservations about leaving Gabe.

Panic started to rise. What if he went back to sleep and didn’t wake up for another two days?

What if my dad upset him and it triggered a relapse?

What if the swelling wasn’t gone and too much commotion in the room made him sick? There were so many what-ifs.

“Hey. Hey, baby, breathe.” Gabe shook me. “I’m okay. You’re okay. We’re both good. You did it, you got us here. You can relax now, it’s over. You’re safe.”

I nodded even though I didn’t believe him. I didn’t think I was okay. I felt like I could come out of my skin at any moment.

“Okay,” I agreed, albeit reluctantly .

“Okay,” he whispered then finished with, “I love you, Evette. We’ll get through this.”

That I did believe because Gabe would see to that part.

I leaned forward and touched my lips to Gabe’s like I’d done a lot over the last two days. But when he kissed me back fresh tears fell.

He was awake.

Thank God.

I didn’t look at anyone when I straightened from the bed.

I kept my eyes diverted as I walked to the door.

I kept distance between me and my mom when I walked to the nurses’ station to tell them Gabe was awake.

And it wasn’t until we were at the elevators when my mother had enough of me pulling away did she take charge the way only a mother could and she pulled me into a hug.

The feel of her arms around me felt like home.

“Give it to me, my sweet girl. Let your mama have it.” Her words were muttered against the top of my head and my body bucked in her arms. “That’s it, beautiful girl. Everything’s gonna be okay,” she cooed.

I wanted everything to be okay. But guilt and fear swirled and mixed together until I was so overwhelmed I couldn’t remember what exactly I was scared of.

Everything.

I was scared of everything.

And I didn’t think I’d ever be okay again.