Page 43 of Forever Mine

“I told the hospital staff I didn’t want him here. But, Gabriel, I don’t feel safe with him. I don’t know what to do,” she whispers.

“I’ll handle it,” I tell her as I move her off my lap. I stand up, head to the door, and dramatically throw it open before pushing Marcus to the opposite hallway wall. I wrap my hand around his throat and hold him there.

“What the fuck, man?” he hollers.

“Let me make this perfectly clear. You are not to see Monica ever again. Don’t look at her, don’t call or text her, and certainly don’t speak to her. If I find out you even looked in her direction, I will end you and make it look like an accident. Do you understand me?” I snarl as my hand pushes against his windpipe.

“She’s mine, asshole,” he rasps.

“The fuck she is. She is her own person, and no one claims her, least of all you. Leave the hospital now, and don’t return,” I whisper menacingly.

“She’s gonna stay with me. She needs a place to stay,” Marcus says defiantly, and I tighten my hand on his throat.

“I will pay for a fucking hotel room before I let her go anywhere with you.”

Marcus looks at me as his face reddens due to lack of oxygen and anger. Finally, he gives me one quick nod, and I release his throat.

“Leave.”

“You’re gonna regret this, asshole,” he says, gingerly rubbing his throat.

“I highly doubt that.”

Once I see Marcus on the elevator, I return to Monica’s room. She’s asleep, but when I approach the bed, she stirs.

“Will you stay with me tonight, please?” she asks.

“Always, querida.”

She scoots over on the bed and pats the empty space. I resist the urge to chuckle. I’ll take any opportunity I can to cuddle with Monica. As soon as I stretch on the bed, she moves her head to my chest and lets out a relieved sigh. I rest my face on her hair.

“Will you stay with me? At my house. I want you safe,querida,” I whisper.

“Okay.”

Well, that was easier than I thought it would be. One step closer to convincing Monica that I’m not like other men she’s dated. I’m the exception, not the rule.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Monica

I didn’t expect to wake up in Gabriel’s arms, but that’s precisely what happened the following morning. I’m beginning to see that Gabriel is in a league of his own in regard to men. Everything he says he’s going to do, he does it. I’ve never known such support from a male. It’s incredibly refreshing.

Neither of us moved the entire night, except we’d been holding hands, our fingers intertwined against Gabriel’s heart. I relish in the steady beat of his heart against my hand. Gabriel stirs and leans down to place a tender kiss against my forehead.

“How are you feeling,querida?” he asks, his voice deep from sleep. He has such a sexy morning voice, especially when he calls mequerida. Makes my girlie bits sing.

“Okay, I guess,” I answer.

Before we can say anything else, a nurse pops in.

“Oh, good, you’re awake. I’ve already got your discharge paperwork ready. The doctor just asked that you have someone with you for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours in case you need help,” the nurse says.

“I’m her person,” Gabriel says proudly with a crooked smile. I can’t help but giggle. “I’m honored to be your person,querida. Nothing to laugh at.”

“You sound a little too thrilled to be in this position,” I tell him.

He shrugs.

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