Page 198 of Claim Me
Silence drops, and it’s heavy, like something physically weighing over us. Hector holds my gaze for a moment, then looks away first.
"Understood, Mr. Lowen," he says, giving a curt nod.
The man who threw the mug is dragged below deck, still struggling and shouting elaborate curses, but the noise quickly fades.
Ruben and Hector move to speak with the ferry captain, asking questions, coordinating with the police, handling what needs to be handled.
The incident may have been minor, but it could have ended badly. That glass could have hit Blue in the head, knocking him unconscious.
I notice Simon’s gaze on me and he mutters in a strange awe, "You’re a natural at this."
"Nah, they’re just not very good," I can’t help myself, I just need to add a jab at Hector.
"Thank you for your alertness, Gabriel," says Blue, and his eyes land on me with such intensity I blush. His praise is my whole reward, and it tastes sweet.
The rest of the crossing passes without major issues. No one questions me anymore. Pip and Simon keep glancing at me with wide eyes, something close to admiration.
Right before we dock, Hector hands both me and Blue earpiece communicators and, surprisingly polite, suggests we use them, emphasizing that they’ll allow us to stay in contact when needed.
After a moment’s hesitation, I agree, and we both put them on.
Then, unexpectedly, Blue turns to Simon and speaks quietly, but I hear it clearly.
"Get that man’s contact details. Discreetly. Don’t say I sent you. Just tell him you know good doctors who might be able to help his son."
"Yes, Mr. Lowen," Simon replies, blinking, slightly confused. "And what next? Are you pressing charges?"
"No," Blue says simply, and my eyes widen. "He’s a dad loving his son with his whole heart. And drowning in despair."
"Probably, but it doesn't change the fact that he committed a crime. He attacked you…" Simon mutters.
But Blue doesn't respond anymore, he just leans back over his tablet. I stand there for a moment, stunned. I wouldn’t be that lenient myself. Throwing heavy glass at someone’s head is a real threat.
Why is Blue letting it go? Does he actually feel sorry for the man?
That’s when I catch Hector’s gaze.
He’s standing nearby, and he must have heard everything with his alpha hearing. He’s looking at Blue with barely concealed contempt, like he sees that decision as weakness, not strength.
I feel the rage rise in me again, my jaw locking up. Because I see it the opposite way. To me, it looks like strength. Like restraint. Like being a bigger person. Hector’s contempt feels like the actual weakness.
When we dock, everything moves efficiently. We step off the ferry onto a narrow pier. A transport ATV is already waiting, the driver watching us approach.
I shift a little closer to Blue, scanning the shoreline and the nearby buildings, aware of the security team behind me and the fact that they’re waiting for my slightest mistake.
But I’m not gonna make one. I stay sharp as I take my place in the vehicle.
BLUE
The conversation with Gomez, whom I personally recommend as the new warden of the facility, isn’t particularly engaging. The man is agreeable to a fault, but he refuses to take responsibility for anything. He keeps emphasizing that everything wrong here is the result of the previous warden's misconduct, while he himself runs things flawlessly. Listening to his ongoing explanations, I find myself drifting toward boredom. Nothing meaningful is going to come out of this approach. A masterclass in deflection.
My thoughts drift toward Gabriel, without any real intent on my part, as they’ve lately started to do by habit, endless reflections and analysis of us, of him, of my emotions, sorting them out in my head, sometimes just going in circles.
At some point, I catch muted voices through my earpiece, the one linking me to the security team. I raise my hand slightly and adjust the volume with a discreet gesture so I can follow what’s being said.
It seems that while Gabriel was standing out in the hallway with Hector and his group, someone approached him and is now trying to negotiate a meeting with me.
Fragments of the exchange reach me, competing with Gomez’s self-serving monologue.
