Page 24 of Gentleman Wanted
Chapter Ten
Gent
Gemma tried to hide it. But she was afraid. It wasn’t that she said anything out loud. She didn’t need to. After living with her for so long, I knew that look on her face.
When Gemma got frightened, she got fidgety and quiet. And I fucking hated it.
Hated that she was scared again. This shit was meant to be over. I had promised her it would be over if we came home.
Fucking Young Blood had played us all. Acted like a friend and a brother so he could betray us, and he had made me out to be a liar.
I had promised her she would be safe.
Shaking my head, I cocked my head to the side. Listening to the quiet sound of Gem singing Bobby to sleep. She couldn’t hold a tune to save her life, but she always did it.
“Gem?” Silently I padded to her bedroom. I knew she would be over Bobby’s cot. She would be finishing her song even if the lad was asleep. It was just what she did.
Slowly she turned, a small uncertain smile playing over her lips. “Hi.” She whispered. “He’s asleep.” She said it like she had no idea what to say to me.
For a second, I stared at her. And then I reached out my hand to her. “Come here.”
“Gent?” Her fingers curled around mine. They were cold and I brought them to my lips, using my breath to warm them.
“Come here,” I said again. With a gentle tug, I drew her to me. Wrapping one arm around her waist, I kissed her fingertips. “It’s going to be ok Gem. I promise.”
I really hoped that this would be a promise I could keep.
She sagged. All the fight went out of her. “I’m scared Gent.” She sobbed into my chest, and my grip on her tightened. “What if he comes after Bobby? What if…?”
“Sssh, baby.” Rubbing my chin against the top of her head I tried to soothe her. “No one is going to touch Bobby. Or you. I won’t let them, ok? The Aces will find him, and …” I trailed off.
It wouldn’t do to say out loud what the Black Aces would do to the man who they had thought was one of their own when they caught up with him.
“You are both safe.” Tilting her chin up, I met her eyes. “Go and take a bath, Gem. I’ll make us some food.”
The smallest of smiles lifted her lips. “You are going to cook?”
Ducking down, I pressed my lips to hers, chuckling. “I’m going to order us food. Either way I am going to feed you.”
***
We ate the Chinese food I ordered in silence. Gem didn’t even put the TV on. We just sat there, our plates on our laps.
“I mean it Gem, I will protect you and Bobby with my life.” I couldn’t take the quiet anymore. Slowly I leant forward, moving the plate from her knees so I could make her look at me. It was obvious she didn’t believe me.
Slowly she turned her head, her eyes glinting in the light from the kitchen. Her sigh was loud. An exasperated sound. “That’s the problem, Gent… I don’t want-”
Moving without thinking I covered her mouth with mine. Silencing her. My tongue snaked into her mouth. For a moment, she hesitated and then one of her arms went around my neck, holding my head to hers so she could deepen the kiss.
It was me that broke away first before leaning my forehead against hers.
“If you are going to finish that sentence with some shit about me feeling responsible, then don’t bother. I know that you and Bobby aren’t my responsibility. But I want you to be. I want us to be a family. So stop with all the doubt. I’m here because I care about the pair of you.”
“Ok.” Her voice was tiny. An uncertain sound.
“Ok?” My eyebrow arched.
“Ok.” This time her voice was louder. She rolled her shoulders and the cracking sound was loud in the silence. “I know you care for us. I care about you as well.”
