Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 138522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
I scan the room, taking in the full-sized bed with navy blue comforter, and Ansel Adams black and white photographs on several walls. There’s a doorway to a bathroom, I assume. Another to a closet. There isn’t much else, not even a dresser.
Abbie still hasn’t moved and I approach her, laying my hands on her arms. She twists around to face me. “Gabe,” she whispers.
I look down to find her holding a velvet ring box. I frown. “What is that? What’s wrong?”
She opens it and shows me a diamond solitaire that I know from my mother’s similar ring must be a cool half a million dollars. “What are you showing me?”
“My ring. This was my wedding ring.”
Unease slides through me. “Are you telling me you didn’t leave with nothing?”
“I’m telling you that I gave this back to him. It was on my bed. He was here and the message is clear, don’t you think?”
My blood runs cold. He’s telling her and me that’s she’s his and he’s not going to let her go. He’s dangerous. My jaw sets hard. And he doesn’t know how dangerous I can be.
Chapter forty-seven
Gabe
Gabe
“Have you checked the other rooms?” I ask softly.
“No, not yet.”
“Don’t move.” I release her and walk to the closet, checking inside the tiny space, and wondering what she did with all the clothes she had as a billionaire’s wife for five years. I head to the bathroom, also tiny with no tub. I grimace. No one can hide in this tiny space. I turn back to find Abbie sitting on the end of the bed with that damn ring box in her hand, but at least she’s shut the lid. She doesn’t look at me and I take a step toward her. She stands up and throws the box, crashing it against her wall. “I hate him!” she yells. “I hate him!”
I close the space between us and pull her to me. “We’ll end this.”
“I’m going to end this. I’m going to end it, Gabe. I’m done playing with this man. You know what this is. His message is clear. He owns me. He can get to me anytime.”
And I can get to him anytime I want, I think.
“Here’s what’s clear,” I say. “He’s not being advised by my father before he makes these stupid mistakes, because my father would tell him to back off. He’d tell him that he doesn’t want to poke this tiger.”
“He is the tiger.”
“You underestimate me, but I forgive you. Just another reason for you to go to the office with me tomorrow.” And a reason for me to reconsider how much of me I’ve hidden from her. I cup her face. “You’re coming to stay with me. Pack enough to be with me at least a week.”
“That’s your answer?” she demands. “Dive deeper into this? Get more involved? No. My mother told me to distance myself from you to protect you. She was right.” She shoves on my chest. “Go. Go now, Gabe.”
Her mother.
Her mother knows how dangerous this man is and she wants her to send me away? She should be asking me to keep her close, which is exactly what I’m going to do. “I’m not going anywhere, Abbie. And leave that for him. If he wants to come back and get it, he can. You won’t be here when he does.”
“I’m not—”
“Staying here.” I tilt her face to mine. “You’re coming home with me.”
“I can’t do that.”
“You can. You will. Listen to me, Abbie. I’m not trying to control your life. I’m not trying to take your freedom, but he is. He has. And you’re with me now. We’re together.”
“We are?”
“Yes. We are. Do you agree with that?”
“Do I agree?”
“Yes, sweetheart. Do you agree?”
“Since you asked. Yes. I agree.”
“Good. You belong with me.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt, Gabe.”
“I won’t. That’s a promise. Come home with me and Dexter.”
“You and Dexter?”
“Yes. Me and Dexter.”
She gives me a sweet, little smile but it doesn’t quite make it to her eyes. “I don’t think you hear me when I tell you that he’s dangerous.”
“I do. Crystal clear. And that’s why you’re going home with me. And one day, maybe you’ll feel comfortable telling me what he did to put fear in your eyes.”
“If you know what he is, you should know.”
“I want to know from you, about you, and I don’t believe your mother knows, or she wouldn’t be sending me away.”
“Gabe, I—”
I kiss her. “Can take care of yourself. I know. But then who’s going to take care of me and Dexter?”
Her eyes soften. “You.”
“You,” I whisper. “Hurry. Pack up. I’m going to go downstairs and look for some booze. Point me in the right direction.”
“Your apartment. I don’t have any.”
“My apartment. That works for me.” I run my knuckles down her cheek before turning away.