Page 192 of Gabriel
Gabriel ignores him, his honey-brown eyes finding mine.
“She’ll get checked out later,” he says, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Sir, that’s not?—”
Gabriel turns to face him. “You’re not touching her. Not right now. Back off, and when she’s ready, she’ll get checked out.”
The paramedic raises both hands. “Fine. But make sure?—”
“I got it,” Gabriel snarls and turns his back to him again.
Moving forward, Gabriel sits on the wet concrete beside me, and with bloodied hands, he pulls my wet and shaking body into his arms.
“I almost lost you,” he murmurs against my hair, and I cling to him, clutching the fabric of his shirt and curling into his chest. His arms encircle me, and the next thing I know, he’s lifting me from the ground and heading for the doors.
“The police are going to want a statement,” Julio reminds him as soon as he’s within earshot.
Gabriel stops but doesn’t turn around. His eyes remain on mine as he says, “They can have one in the morning. I’ve got more important shit to worry about right now than giving the5-0 a statement. The center has cameras. Tell them to look at them.”
My eyes widen at the reminder, and a small smirk curls the corners of Gabriel’s mouth. “Let’s see Holt worm his way out of this.” To Julio he adds, “I need keys.” Julio nods, rushes over to say something to Deacon, and then returns with a pair of keys in hand. He and Gabriel swap sets before Gabriel starts walking again. As soon as the cold air outside hits my damp skin, I shiver.
“Where are we going?” I ask, curling my face into his shoulder.
“I’m taking you home,” he tells me.
I don’t want to go home. I’m not ready to face my parents. They’ll want to know what happened. And they’ll ask questions. Questions I’m not ready to give them the answers to. But before I can open my mouth to object, he adds, “My home. I want to take care of you. If you’ll let me.”
With a sigh, I nod against his chest, wrapping my arms tighter around his neck. “Okay.”
Some of the tension drains from his shoulders, and when we reach what I assume is Deacon’s car, Gabe carefully opens the door and helps me into the front seat. Taking a blanket from the back, he wraps it around my body before helping me to secure my seatbelt.
“I should probably take you to the hospital,” he says, but I shake my head in a definitive no.
“I’m fine,” I assure him. “I don’t want to go to the hospital. I just …” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “I just want to go home with you.”
CHAPTER 58
CECILIA
As we drive, Gabriel’s hand rests gently on my thigh, a silent reassurance amidst the chaos swirling in my mind. I watch the passing scenery through the car window, my tender cheek pressed against the cool glass.
I lost my spot on the team because of you. I won’t make the mistake of believing that lying mouth of yours and let you take anything else from me.
What did he mean by that?
“Did something happen today?” I ask as we pull into Gabriel’s driveway. “When you got back from Sun Valley?”
He doesn’t answer.
Coming around the car, Gabriel opens the passenger door and scoops me into his arms, carrying me inside.
“I can walk,” I tell him, but my argument is weak as I wrap my arms tighter around his neck.
“You’re not wearing any shoes,” he reminds me.
Right.
Gabriel carries me up the stairs and into his room before depositing me on the bed. He disappears for a few seconds intothe bathroom, and I hear the shower turn on before he returns with a large fluffy towel and an extra pair of clothes.
