I could almost hear Gabriel’s self-assured smile, and it made me shiver. What was he thinking? He didn’t know my biggest secret, so I didn’t have to worry about him spilling that. So what was he dangling over Lucas’s head?
“You come from a big family, Mr. Rain?”
Again Lucas didn’t answer him.
“Guy like you,” Gabriel persisted. “Lots of money, proud family name. You strike me as a guy who would want kids.”
My blood ran cold, and I was suddenly unable to breathe. He wouldn’t.
Cedes saw my reaction, but since she couldn’t hear their conversation, she had no way to know why I was overcome by panic.
“What’s wrong?” She crouched in front of me, taking hold of my clammy hands. “Jesus, Secret, you’re freezing.”
I wanted to tell her to shush, but I couldn’t move even to speak. My whole being was trained on hearing what Gabriel said next.
“Of course I want kids,” Lucas said.
“I hope you don’t want them with her.”
Son of a bitch. He was really going to do it.
“What are you talking about?”
My feet remembered how to function, and I stumbled through the door so quickly I almost tripped over myself. I stopped next to Lucas, our sides touching, but the warmth from his body did nothing to stave off the cold I felt.
“Gabe, don’t.”
Gabriel smiled at me, and there was a twinge of sadness in the turn of his mouth. It was as if he didn’t want to be saying the things he was saying. So why didn’t he shut the hell up?
“What’s he talking about?” Lucas repeated the question, this time to me.
“You gonna tell him, Temple, or should I?” Gabriel winced as he spoke.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked him.
“Tell him,” he commanded.
I wanted to vomit. He was insisting I share something with Lucas—a stranger to me—that I didn’t want to remember myself. My fear transformed into rage, a hatred so big it felt like a living entity. The glare I fixed on Gabriel did nothing to dissuade him.
“Do you want kids, Secret?” Gabriel asked. “A big pack of rugrats underfoot?”
“Don’t,” I warned.
“Want to be a mom? Start a family with the billionaire here? He looks like good dad material. Think of the nice blond Aryan babies you two would pop out.”
“Gabriel, shut up.”
“Too bad you can’t.”
I froze. Lucas went rigid. We both stared at Gabriel. I didn’t know what Lucas was thinking, but I was wondering if there was any way I could get through the bars and throttle my ex to death before someone stopped me.
“God-fucking-damn you, Gabriel Holbrook.” I slammed my hands against the bars, rattling the metal. “I hope you go straight to Hell.”
Gabriel slumped down on his mattress, looking downright ashen. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I already am.”
Once I had my gun and knife back it didn’t take much convincing for me to let Lucas drive me home. I might not remember him, but it was plain he knew me, and I owed him an explanation about what had happened at the station.
I had to admit Lucas must know me well because he let me sit in silence the whole ride home. A pretty yellow BMW convertible was parked in front of my apartment. The owner was either brave or stupid to leave such a nice car in my neighborhood overnight.