Page 8 of Gabe's Obsession

Maggie had been a professor until a big scandal had gotten in her way and drove her back home and into the arms of her first love. However, her research into the BDSM lifestyle had eventually proven useful when she'd begun receiving invitations to teach seminars here and there at some of the big colleges across the country.

Levi had returned after more than ten years away and hooked up with Tori. Although they hadn't set a wedding date yet, she expected something soon. Tori's daughter Hannah wouldn't stop questioning them about it and Levi had fallen so head over heels for both of them he wasn't about to make either of them wait long.

Mason on the other hand, what a mess. He'd somehow gotten mixed up with a reporter named Rebecca, who despite her poor choice of profession was far sweeter than a grump like him deserved. He'd recently rescued her from living in her car and if not for the current drama surrounding their family, he'd have probably disappeared with her by now.

Despite being the CEO of their father's conglomerate, he hated public attention and guarded their secrets like a crazed mad dog.

Her family.

What a joke.

"You all still believe I'm guilty, don't you?" Her shoulders sagged under the weight of it all. The idea that every one of them assumed her guilt had taken root inside her and she'd allowed it to fester for weeks by not talking to them.

"It's not that simple, Nina. The circumstances that night..."

"How can you say that when none of you know the circumstances? You got there too late, remember?"

Tucker visibly winced at her words.

With tears threatening to spill, Nina regretted returning to this house. She'd made her escape. She should have kept going.

As if reading her distress, a familiar warm hand touched the small of her back and without thought she automatically leaned into it, once again closing her eyes.

Gabe. Always her rock.

A man who didn't take no for an answer, but didn’t push her for something she couldn't give either.

A different kind of guilt and regret rose up, threatening to consume her. She could hardly remember a time when he wasn't in her life. So much so that she couldn't even pinpoint the moment she'd fallen in love with him.

Just that she had.

Not that it mattered. If there was one lesson she'd managed to learn over and over in her life, it was that love definitely wasn't enough to conquer all. Not family, not childhood, and certainly not death.

"Nina, we have to know what happened. Surely, you understand that. My mother is sitting in jail. She refuses to tell us anything. You are our only hope to save her. Victor needs something—anything—that might help."

"You think I don't know that?" she choked on a sob, barely able to look at Tucker. "If I could remember I would tell you!"

"Shhh, Nina. It's okay." Gabe hooked her waist with his free arm and turned her toward him, tucking her into his side.

"No. it's not," she mumbled into his shoulder.

"Nina—"

"Shut up, Mason," Gabe said.

"Excuse—"

"No, seriously," Gabe's tone hardened. "I let you talk me into this against my better judgment and all it's done is hurt her. This isn't the way."

Nina pushed at his side, forcing herself to let go of her usual Gabe safety net. "You don't have to talk for me. I'm not a child anymore."

Gabe's eyes narrowed on her and a chill swept across her skin. "I definitely know you're not a child." He scrubbed his hands across his face. "Believe me, Iknow. But you doneedprotection. Wait—" He held up his hand. "I know you want to argue with me, you always do, but for once just listen." He turned to the rest of her family. "All of you need to listen. This is a serious situation and trying to force it isn't going to work. It takes time."

"We don't have—"

"Too fucking bad. Look, I get how you feel. You all love your family. No matter how strange it is. But in this, I amheradvocate and only hers."

"I think you're overstepping your bounds. This is a family situation."

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