Page 133 of Claim Me
"It’s alright, Simon, but yes, that’s exactly what happened. Gabriel saved me."
"You’re so calm, I’d be falling apart…" Simon mutters.
Then Detective Arnold speaks up. "Mr. Lowen, could we talk privately for a moment?"
"Of course, let’s step into that room," Blue says, glancing at me and making a reassuring gesture when I move to follow.
They close themselves inside, and I lean against the wall, squeezing my eyes shut as dizziness washes over me. Fighting mode is finally fading completely, and the adrenaline crash, along with my weakness, is getting stronger.
I stand there for a good ten, maybe fifteen minutes, braced against the wall. Disturbed employees pass by now and then, their hushed, excited conversations filling the hallway, heads bent together, whispers everywhere. Many of them glance at me with curiosity.
But I only want one thing, to lie down and close my eyes.
Finally, when Blue comes out, I must look paper white, barely able to stay upright. I see concern on his face.
"Gabriel, are you okay?"
"Not so much… I really need to lie down."
"The detective also wanted to speak with you, but I asked him to postpone it because of your condition."
I barely have the strength to nod.
"Okay, I’ll wrap things up for today. Give me a few minutes and we can go."
"I’llgiveyou everything you ask… within my power," I whisper, even as my head nearly drops to my chest. Blue doesn’t comment, but his eyes linger on my face for a moment before he gestures to Simon, who steps out of the assistants’ office into the hallway.
They exchange a few quick words, Blue pointing at something on the tablet, probably his schedule, but I can’t focus anymore.
I’m drifting, almost falling asleep on my feet. Finally, Blue finishes with Simon and turns back to me.
"Let’s go. Everything’s taken care of."
We get into the elevator, and I move like I’m in a fog. We go up two floors and make our way to the penthouse.
Blue stays silent, walking straight to my room. I follow him without a word, my head stubbornly drooping toward my chest.
We step inside, Blue throws back the covers, and I shrug off my jacket and pants, leaving myself in just my boxers. He turns toward me, his gaze moving over my body.
"Blue, I don’t want you far away, I want you close, I want you safe. When I sleep, my talent doesn’t work…"
"I will be close, don’t worry. Get some rest."
I lie down on the bed, and to my surprise, Blue pulls the blanket over me, leaning slightly over me.
"Sleep well, Gabriel. Thank you for everything."
"No, I should be thanking you… for not firing me even though I keep breaking your rules."
"Apparently I don’t want you tostopbreaking them badly enough…" he replies in that same enigmatic way, a faint, almost melancholic smile appearing on his face.
Tucked in like a kid, I close my eyes and start drifting off…
BLUE
What I’m doing can only be described with one word: insanity. And irresponsibility.
I was only supposed to talk to him occasionally. Casual chatting. That was the plan, wasn’t it?
