Page 37 of Fragile

“Not good enough. I need to know.”

I tugged my arm, suddenly confused. “I don’t understand. I’ve been working for the last few weeks and it never bothered you before.”

I was confused and a choked sound left my mouth as he tugged me closer and lowered his face into mine.

“Well, it bothers me now. A girl was attacked at a Tube station the other night. Don’t you read the news?” he stated angrily.

“I, no. I didn’t realise.”

Gabriel’s expression then softened as he pinned me with an intense gaze, his eyes roaming over my face taking in every feature.

There was a clanging sound from behind him which broke that connection as Asher huffed. “Let her go, man, she’s going to be late,” his brother said as our eyes met over Gabriel’s shoulder.

My skin started to tingle at Gabriel’s touch and I lowered my gaze away from the blazing heat in his. After a beat or two, Gabriel released me and I drew a breath of relief into my lungs. I felt his touch everywhere to the point where my nipples had hardened against my top.

Raising my head, I swallowed nervously as he crossed those impressive arms over his chest. How my mouth didn’t water was anyone’s guess. I stood there, eating him up in silence; unable to hide my ogle.

Gabriel’s lip curled into a sneer. “See something you like?” he said.

Heat stung my cheeks and I lowered my gaze to the floor, not knowing what to say. The sharpness in his next words brought my head back up.

“Go on then. Fuck off and earn me some money,” Gabriel sneered with a flick of his head toward the lift. “What time do you finish?”

“After midnight.”

“I’ll send Marco to pick you up,” he informed me.

“No, it’s fine, honestly. I won’t take the Tube, I’ll get a taxi.”

Gabriel stood watching me for a beat longer before he said. “See that you do.”

After a helpless glance at Asher, I put one foot into the other and left the apartment, with a lump the size of London in my throat and confusion flooding my thoughts.

Six

Gabe

I had vaguely suspected Leonie had a job, but I’d assumed she worked in a shop or a café; somewhere mundane. When I’d caught her about to leave the apartment out of usual working hours, it had troubled me. During the day, London thrived with opportunity and promise, but at night time, its offer could be very different, especially to an attractive female travelling on her own. Luckily, we lived on the right side of the city, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a bad guy around every corner.

In plain terms, it was better to be safe than sorry. If you must go out at night, don’t do it alone. I was a firm believer in safety in numbers.

And Leonie worked in a pub; the very place people went to unwind. Sure, not everyone who fancies a drink is going to get smashed off their tits; but for every socially adjusted customer, there is one that isn’t.

Leonie’s demeanour was so sweet and pure, I just couldn’t imagine her behind a bar serving cockney pissheads. The thought wound me up like a motherfucker and I was annoyed with myself for not knowing where she worked. I had been so self-involved in celebrating my victorious results, that I hadn’t paid enough attention to what she did with her evenings. I’d asked Asher but he said he couldn’t remember the name of the bar, the lying little prick.

I allowed that protective feeling to roll through me. Yes, the aim was to keep her at arm's length and not act upon the attraction I felt toward her, but I still needed her to be safe.

The news was on the TV in the background and I grabbed a couple of plates. Glancing across, the story of the attack on the Tube was on again. Using the remote, I turned up the volume; guilt entwined with worry flooding my insides.

Ash came to stand beside me. “Messed up, isn’t it? Heard she’s OK though,” he said with a mouth full of food. I’d be surprised if there would be anything to serve with the number of times Ash had carried out his usual test taste.

“Do you think she’ll be OK?” I questioned.

“Who? Leonie?” Ash said with a puzzled expression.

As usual, my brother didn’t give me a straight answer and I longed to punch him in the balls. “Yes. What time does she usually get in?”

“Late, but not late late.” My brother's stupid code started to piss me off.

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