Page 56 of Untamed Protector

“Right. I forgot you already know everything about me,” I say, pouting. “Maybe I’ll come across some money soon; you never know. I might get rich,” I let slip.

There’s no way I’ll get rich anytime soon. But if I could track down the jerk who did this to us—if he’s as wealthy as I suspect, if the court would force him to pay damages if I win the case, and if… well, there are a lot of ifs. If all of this came true, I’d use the money to move my dad and me into a bigger house with a garden and enough space for his workshop. If there’s any money left, I’d use it to get certified and start my own financial consultancy company. As for paying Gabriel for his services… I’m not sure what I’d have left. At least, not in cash.

“You said it was a favor for Peter,” I reply.

“It was at first, but not anymore. I didn’t like the stunt Lucas pulled. So, it’s time to cut Peter off from this case.”

“So now you’re doing this just for me? Why?”

“Because I want to be there for you. From the moment I first laid eyes on you that evening at the Casino, you became so much more than a case.”

“You mean, from the moment you wanted to kick me out?” I tease him.

“I mean, from the moment you dared me to come and face you, and I couldn’t resist. The rest was just fate doing its thing—leading you into trouble and getting me to rush in and save you. And now, I’m all in,” he says, gazing deeply into my eyes.

“And the sex part?”

“You need an explanation for that? It just happened. And it worked out well—you’re not hating me as much now, and there’s a good chance you’ll actually listen to me,” he says, chuckling.

“Why are you so set on getting me to do as you say?”

“Because I need to know you’re safe, Lexi. I know you’re acting brave and detached so that your fear won’t show off. But you don’t have to hide from me; I hear everything you say, but I also see you, feel you. When you said we had sex, I know it meant more than that to you because when we were in bed, you asked me to make love to you. I think we’ve grown close enough for you to trust me.”

Trust. That’s still a foreign language to me. I can see him trying to take down my walls. Being around him is a relief, like finally finding the off switch to the constant worry in my head, but I’ve been through too much. It’s too soon, Gabriel.

“You know what the saddest thing about today was?” I say, steering away from the uncomfortable topic he opened. “I never planned on being in the spotlight, but Lucas’s story is forcing me into it. It’s the same with our fake dating. It puts me out there, and the rumors about my photographic memory will only attract unwanted attention. In the end, I’ll have to leave this city. And take my dad, too. And I love living by the sea.”

Gabriel pulls me in for a hug, saying nothing. What could he promise me? We don’t have a name yet for this thing that’s happening between us. Strangely, what drew us together was danger—his life revolves around it, but not mine. I hate to admit it, but he’s right. We wouldn’t be good together.

“I’ll need to keep my distance from Lena. And that breaks my heart. I only have my dad and Lena,” I say, nuzzling into his chest.

I’m on the verge of tears. But crying would feel like admitting defeat—yielding to those who abandoned me, hurt me, to the person who hit me and left me to die, and to whoever now threatens me from the shadows like a coward.

“Now you have me, and nobody will ever dare to hurt you, upset you, or take advantage of you. Not anymore,” Gabriel says, hugging me tighter.

It’s getting dark. The sun is just a red half-circle with a lion’s mane gracefully sinking into the sea. The wind has picked up, carrying a strong salty scent from the sea. I let one tear escape but hold back the rest—maybe for later, or maybe never.

Gabriel doesn’t say anything. He holds me tight, and we stay like this for a couple of minutes. I feel his heart pounding and his chin lightly resting on my head. He’s trembling slightly, almost imperceptibly. It’s getting colder, and he only has his T-shirt on.

“Let’s go back inside. I don’t want to watch the last bit of sunlight disappear; it’s sad,” I say to Gabriel, pulling away.

“It’s just the cycle of life. Sadness is a part of it,” he answers, pulling me back into his arms.

“Do you want to hang out here for a little while longer? Or is there something else?” I ask, meeting his gaze. He gives a slight nod. And then the question—the one I wasn’t expecting. Not from him.

“How did she die?”

I freeze for a few seconds. Then it hits me. Of course, he knows about it. Gabriel knows almost everything about me—almost. But he doesn’t know how Lara, my sister, died. He can’t know that. I don’t know what it says on the legal certificates. What matters is the havoc her death wreaked in our lives. And that’s all we know—me, my dad, and my mom—the woman who left us behind to escape her pain.

“We were seven. She got sick. A blood disease that drained the life out of her in just a few months.”

Gabriel clasps my hand tightly with his firm grip, his other hand gently stroking my back, allowing me a moment to gather my thoughts. It’s been nearly fifteen years since I last spoke about this.

“We were identical twins, but she was more sensitive, more fragile. She spoke softly, smiled a lot, and tired quickly. That’s how I always knew her. Everyone used to say I was the twin who took all the nourishment from my mom’s womb. It turned out to be nonsense, but as a kid, I believed it. My mom did, too, so she focused all her love and protection on her instead.”

“And your father?”

“Dad was always impartial. He supported and encouraged both of us equally since we were kids. He suffered deeply when she was gone. That’s why I stayed after mom left him. Well, she left us.”

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