Page 100 of Raine

He jolts forward, his relaxed stance turning rigid. “What do you mean Avernus?”

“He was here.”

“He gave you that?” Gabe points to the bump on my temple, and I nod my head.

“And some.”

“What happened?”

“He shot me up with heroin,” I hiccup, my eyes watering at the thought of him taking advantage of my unconscious body. “I’ve never shot up in my life, Gabe. I’ve snorted, swallowed, drank, and smoked. Hell, I’ve even licked illicit drugs off bodies but I’ve never used a needle.”

He reaches forward and squeezes my knee. “You feel violated, and that’s understandable. But Raine, I need you to tell me what happened so I know what we’re up against and so I can help you.”

Swallowing down the incoming sobs, I begin rehashing everything that had happened since I left him. I explain everything, not leaving a single detail out when it comes to my encounter with Avernus. When I finish, breathless and even more tired than before, Gabe pulls me into his arms and rocks me, humming to me as he does. And I let him, by God, I fucking let him.

“What am I going to do?” I ask sleepily, my eyes shuttering closed, and loving the feeling of his fingers tangling through my wavy locks. It’s a comfort I wasn’t even aware I wanted or would like.

“Ssshh, baby. I think we need to get you into the car so we can drive back to Dana Point.”

“We can’t leave my car here.”

“We won’t.”

“How did you get here? We can’t leave your car here either.” I ask through a yawn.

“I have a driver I use sometimes; he brought me here. His name is Yan.”

“Mhhhmm,” I hum, finishing with the conversation and feeling the lull of slumber pulling me tighter into its grips.

Gabe runs his fingers through my hair once more, then he traces over my eyebrows, down my nose and lastly around my puffy lips before cupping and dwarfing my face in his big hand.

“Sleep, Sweet Girl, I got you.”

And I do. I fall asleep with the smell of cedar and the scent of smoky whiskey encasing me, a feeling of safety surrounding me, and a voice that sounds like angels singing in my head.

Chapter33

Raine

I’m jolted awake, disorientation swamping me until I realize where I am. Looking over to my left, I find Gabe driving my car, and I settle back into my seat, watching the sun set on the horizon. I must have been out for a while.

“How are you feeling?” he asks.

“Honestly?”

“Of course.”

“Like shit.”

He chuckles lightly. “Are you hungry?”

Taking a moment to think about his question, I realize I’m famished. “Starving.”

“Let’s get you something to eat. Anything you feel like?”

“Not really. How long was I out?”

He glances at me through his peripheral, then focuses back on the road. “About four hours. After you passed out, I put you in your car and made sure I had all your belongings before I locked up. Care to tell me what you were doing at the beach house again?”