Page 38 of Untamed Protector

“I’m sorry this is happening to you,” I hear him whispering. His hand brushes mine, sending a shiver down my arm. He laces his fingers through mine, his grip surprisingly gentle. My body tenses, unsure how to react, but the warmth of his touch is weirdly calming.

As if he’s read my mind, Gabriel continues. “Come with me. You’re safe. I can and will take care of you.”

I turn to him, a tear sneaking down my cheek. It’s about to drip onto my lip when Gabriel’s hand shoots out, fast but gentle. He cups my face, his thumb brushing away the tear like it’s nothing.

“This may sound like a cliché,” he continues, his voice a soothing balm, “but I know what you’re going through.” His eyes hold mine with a depth that both scares and intrigues me. Could this stranger, this potential savior, truly understand the burden I carry?

“Are all your clients like me? Do you specialize in people who are in desperate situations?” I work up the courage to ask. His hand drifts down from my cheek, lingering a touch too long on my arm. The heat of his fingers seems to burn right through the thin fabric of my blouse, sparking a shiver that races down my spine.

“My clients go through all kinds of things. You won’t believe the crazy situations I’ve seen. But it’s not just that. It’s also my life experience and my background.”

“Did you ever have to leave to protect your loved ones? Or feel like you don’t have a home anymore?”

“In a way. I never knew my parents. My birth mom dropped me off at the hospital, probably scared out of her mind. I bounced around foster homes for a while, then joined the Navy. It wasn’t easy, but I carved out my own path.”

“I’m sorry. Is there no other family?”

“My brothers from the Navy. Dominic is one of them. And a few of the guys on my team, too. I’m lucky to be surrounded by some incredible people. Protecting others means being willing to put yourself in harm’s way for them. It takes a strong character to do that. And my people are kind of like that.”

“I didn’t really know what Peter meant when he said you’d protect me.”

“You know, I was curious why you said yes to Peter and allowed me to step in.”

“He’s my boss. And I need to keep my job. I still hope this whole thing is a bad joke.”

“It’s not, trust me. Things are getting worse. Help me find whoever is behind this and stop them. Will you do that, Lexi?”

He finishes the sentence, his voice dropping a notch lower as he says my name. Of course, I want this mess to be over. But I don’t want the Maiers to get away unpunished. And if I tell Gabriel everything, he’ll probably be on their side. Something is going on between him and Peter that I don’t fully understand yet. It’s better to play it safe.

“I want to help you, Gabriel. But what more can I do?”

“You can give me information, listen to me, stop being hostile. Can you do that?”

“Of course. Why would you doubt that?”

“I don’t know, you tell me. I’d like to know where your resistance comes from.”

“It’s just because I feel caged in and invaded. That’s all. I’ve been living a low-key life these last few years. Since I got here, things have been on fast forward, and it’s been tough to keep up.”

That was a lie—or maybe a half-truth. I know, and I feel bad about it. Things are moving fast, but I think I can handle it—or so I thought until the threats came.

“Listen, I get that. I also value my privacy, even though I work with many people. I enjoy spending time at my place, the house you’ll see soon. If you agree for me to start the engine,” he says, smiling.

There’s something else that’s bugging me. I can’t stop thinking about what he said to Peter earlier. He seems willing to talk now, so I’ll give it a shot.

“You know, when Peter left the meeting today, he said something about you not normally doing this and that he was grateful. I don’t remember his exact words.” Another lie. I know exactly what Peter said. Maybe playing it coy will get a reaction out of him.

“So, what do you want to know?” he asks.

“What did he mean? What is it you rarely do but you’re doing now that Peter appreciates?”

“It has to do with you.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, I agreed to take on your case.”

“My case. That sounds… ominous. And what exactly don’t you usually do? Like, take clients to your home?”

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