“For me to what, leave? Because if that’s what you want, I’ll be on my way.” I snap, my emotions rolling from one to the next. I’m being unreasonable, bratty, but I can’t stop myself.
“You know that’s not what I want. I went to Wesley’s house.”
Tears well in my eyes. Wesley would know if Milo made it out of there. They were best friends. Wesley was in deep with everything Milo did.
“You had to hurt him?” I croak.
Looking down at his hands, he’s silent for a few seconds before capturing my gaze with his soul-shattering eyes. “Pain is a common motivator when it comes to getting information out of people. It’s the easiest way.”
“How bad?” I don’t know why I care. Wesley and I were never close. He was scared of Milo and the beast I brought out in him.
“He’s dead.” My lungs seize. He killed him? The man before me is a murderer.
“I’m not sorry about killing him, Willa. He was a piece of shit. Had a fucking teenage girl naked in his room while some woman videoed him with her. Fourteen years old.” The muscles in his jaw tense. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry about your brother. I know you loved him in some way, and for that and only that, I’m sorry you’re in pain.” He moves toward me, wrapping me in his hold. My shoulders drop as tension bleeds out of me. I feel safe, content, and desperate to be in his arms.
He strokes my cheek so delicately with the pad of his thumb, the tears spill over, leaking onto his fingers. My heart stops beating for a tender moment as he leans down and kisses my forehead, inhaling my scent.
Tears dry on my cheeks, leaving an angry irritation in their wake. What happens now? There’s a sense of pure relief knowing Milo is gone, and that causes guilt and fear to surge within me. I’ve never been on my own before, and now that Milo is gone, I won’t need Gabe’s protection. He could kick me out at any time. Where would I go? I have nothing. Nowhere. No one. A cold, empty hole opens in my chest, threatening to suck me inside, swallowing me whole.
Gabe went to shower a while ago and hasn’t come back downstairs. I miss him. He’s in the house, and I miss him. It’s insane. Is this hero syndrome? Attracted to the man who saved me?
The lonely ache continues to build as I take the stairs on my tiptoes and creep down the hall to his room. The door is open, and my breath catches in my throat at the view of him laying on top of the covers in nothing but a pair of boxer briefs. His skin is colored with ink, flowing flawlessly over the tight muscle. I knew he would be beautiful under his clothing, but he’s so much more. Breathtaking. “It’s rude to spy on people.” His gruff tone is playful, but my stomach knots all the same.
Moving into the room, he observes me without speaking. His chest begins to rise and fall like he’s struggling for air. Reaching the bottom of his bed, I climb up and crawl across the mattress until I’m next to him. “What are you doing, Willa?” It’s almost a plea.
“What I want to do.” Curling my body around his, I sigh. His strong arm wraps around my back, and we just lay there, two souls seeking comfort—connection—warmth—peace. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but right now, here with Gabe, in his arms, is bliss.
Thirteen
Gabe
Small fingers stroke over my chest. Long, slender legs entwine with my own. Fuck, it feels good. Too damn good. My cock has been hard all fucking night. It’s going to burst with all the blood pumping to it.
“Morning.” She beams, looking up at me. There’s a new light in her eyes, a burden lifted. How the fuck does she look so beautiful and put together this early in the morning? “Hey,” I manage to grunt out.
“Do you miss being in the armed forces?” she ponders, tracing the tattoo of my tags across my chest.
“The brotherhood. I miss that.” I shrug. Her fingers tickle over my flesh as her warm body pushes against mine. It’s fucking torture.
“And this?” she asks, tapping the scorpion on my ribcage.
“Face your fears.”
“You’re afraid of scorpions?”
“Have you ever been in the desert?” I raise a brow.
She giggles, shaking her head, sending her uneven hair swishing in her face.
“And this?” she breathes, running her palm down the snake curling around my hip, dipping across my pelvis. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I want to pin her to the bed and bury my fat cock inside her, make her drip all over it, spasm around it. Grabbing her hand before reaching the real goal, I move her away from me and get to my feet.