Page 55 of Forever Mine

“The fuck I didn’t! Jesus, woman, I’ve made my intentions with you crystal clear. Making sure you’re safe is my top priority right now. Marcus is bad news. I can feel it in my bones,querida,” Gabriel says calmly, but the heat in his eyes and the subtle tremble of his hands tells me he’s holding onto his patience by a string.

“Oh, please. You just want a quick fuck. You’re like all men. You like a challenge. Once I give in, you’ll be done with me,” I shout as angry tears fill my eyes. I’ve never cried as much as I have within the past few months. Even everything that happened to me as a teenager in Texas didn’t make me this emotional.

“Do you really think that,querida? Do you really think so lowly of me?” Gabriel whispers, stunned.

“It doesn’t really matter what I think. You men are all the same. Thinking you can make decisions for us frail women. How on earth could we survive without you?” I snarl derisively.

“Querida, I know you can take care of yourself. I know you’re a strong and independent woman. It doesn’t mean youhaveto. You can let someone else shoulder your burden.”

“I’ve been fine on my own for years. I’ll be fine now. Step away from the door, Gabriel. I’d like to leave,” I say as I square my shoulders in defiance. Gabriel’s posture deflates as he lowers his eyes from mine and moves to the side. I wrench open the door and run to my cubicle to grab my needed things before returning to my car. I don’t look back at Gabriel. I would have seen his crestfallen expression and one tear sliding down his cheek if I had. If I had looked back, I’d have known to trust him. But in typical Monica fashion, I ignore my heart and let my brain rule the roost.

Two weeks pass before I force myself to head into the office again. I’m both relieved and sad when I don’t see Gabriel’s car in the office parking lot.

“Hey, stranger,” I hear from the kitchen.

“Hey, Chase,” I respond.

“How have you been? Haven’t seen you in at least a month,” he says.

“Yeah, working from home mostly right now,” I explain.

“Gabriel said your apartment burned down. Where are you staying?” Chase asks.

Just hearing his name makes butterflies erupt in my stomach.

“With my best friend and her family,” I say.

“Well, I’m sorry to hear about your apartment. I’ve got a friend on MSPD, and he said they’re thinking it was arson.”

“I know,” I answer. Liam and I talk regularly. While employed through the county sheriff’s office, he has friends with Mountain Springs Police, and he’s always kept an ear to the ground for anything Mountain Springs related.

“My guy said it looked like it was very much targeted at your apartment,” Chase says pointedly. Well, that’s news to me.

“Who is your ‘guy’ at MSPD?” I ask.

“Matt Turner. He and I went to high school together.”

Matt has been my contact with MSPD and the investigation. He’s also weirdly ingrained in all of our lives, as he was the officer who reported to Liv’s condo when it was broken into. He’s a nice kid. I keep forgetting that Chase is from here. He and Matt are a few years younger than me. Jailbait.

“Why were you talking to him about this case?” I ask.

“I told him I work with you.”

“He really shouldn’t be sharing details about the case with you. You know that, right?” I ask.

“It’s public knowledge, Mon. I read a news article the other day that said the same information,” Chase answers.

“Send me the article,” I tell him as I turn and head to my desk.

“You got it. Glad you’re okay.”

“Thanks,” I mumble as I set my purse on my desk and pull out my laptop. By the time I’m logged on, Chase has forwarded me the article in an email. I click the link to a Colorado Springs news channel, and it lists everything Chase just told me. Lovely. While Liam had hinted that arson seemed the most likely culprit, it’s hitting me harder seeing it in print. I close the article and shake my head to remove the negative thoughts. Nothing I can do about the investigation now.

Liam took me over to the apartment about a week after the fire, and I was able to see firsthand what was left. I’ve never been one to feel connected to physical objects, but it still bummed me out to see the destruction. A couple of my grandmother’s things were ruined, and that was the most devastating part of the entire ordeal. However, I found a couple of her pieces of jewelry still intact and a photo album that somehow survived. I had forgotten that Em made me buy a fireproof box for important documents a few months ago, so I was incredibly relieved to find my birth certificate, my realtor license, and many other hard-to-replace items were safe.

I’ve had hardships over the past fifteen years, but I’ve also remained optimistic about what Idohave. I may not have blood family, but my chosen family is amazing. I’ve never known the kind of support I receive from the crew here. It’s mind-boggling to think that if Dan hadn’t cheated on Emily, we wouldn’t be where we are today. She’s the happiest I’ve ever seen her. Well, when she’s not a million months pregnant and growling. And while my life has been a tumultuous roller coaster, I love my life. I love living here. I’m happy and content. Most of the time.

I finish my work and grab my things before heading into the parking lot. I abruptly halt when I see Marcus leaning against my car door.

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