Page 10 of Stalked

Tobias

Fucking Antonio. The balls on that guy, thinking I would just give up where my aunt lives. Little does he know Salem is already watching his every move. Like I said, she doesn’t trust the Italian, and I guess we shouldn’t either. Between trying to find Billy, that fucking rat that’s been stealing my damn containers of weapons, figuring out how toget close to Gabriel without sounding like a complete stalker, and now having to deal with the Italian, along with the cartel that was making a deal with Billy and Nathan, it never fucking ends.

But first I can see Gabriel. Just to make sure he’s okay, and breathing.

Pulling up a block from Gabriel's art studio, I climb outside, checking my phone once more making sure he’s still there. Sure enough, he is. Pulling out a cigarette from my suit jacket, I relax the moment I inhale the nicotine.

My feet eat up the sidewalk leading to the studio. It’s not until I’m near the door that I hear someone grunt. A muffled scream, and then something breaking. Throwing my cigarette down, I shove my weight against the door. Thankfully, the old door is nothing and breaks easily. My eyes drop down to Gabriel. I only know it’s him because his shaggy blond hair is a mess, blood covering his entire face. The fury I feel ignites, zeroing in on the fucker that’s standing above him.

Billy.

“Fuck,” he gasps, backing away from Gabriel. My little rabbit.Mine.

I don’t give Billy time; I pull my gun out from my holster and shoot him between the eyes. He doesn’t deserve a quick easy death, but one glance down at Gabriel, and I see he doesn’t look good. Yanking my phone up, I dial Kyler as I kneel down next to Gabriel.

“Da,” he answers, breathing heavily.

“I need help,” I whisper, my heart beating too fast for my liking. I’m normally good in these situations. But I can’t breathe. Everything in me freezes and it feels as though I’ve been hit by a semi.

“Location,” Kyler snaps, turning more serious than he was seconds ago.

“His studio.” I take a deep breath, hating that I press two fingers to his neck. Checking his pulse, I wait and continue to wait. It’s faint but I can’t move my hand away. I can’t. I need to make sure he’s still alive.

What feels like hours later, heavy footsteps fill the front of the art studio.

“Tobias?” Kyler’s voice fills the empty space. “Shit, what happened?” he asks, kneeling beside me.

“Billy,” I growl. I don’t take my eyes off Gabriel, knowing if I do, if I look at Billy, my restraint will break and I’m barely holding on.

“He alive?”

“Barely,” I whisper.

“Alright, come on. Let’s get him to the house. I’ll call the doctor to meet us and call the clean-up crew to take care of him.” Kyler is talking and walking, moving faster than myself. I don’t know what is wrong with me, but I can’t focus. I can’t focus on anything but the look of Gabriel's bloody face. His breath comes in short and labored.

“Tobias!” Kyler yells, snapping me into action. Wrapping an arm around Gabriels’ back and legs I lift, carrying him outside to Kyler’s truck, praying to a God that I wasn’t sure if I believed in or not, but praying he saved Gabriel.

8

Gabriel

My head is going to explode at any minute. I can barely open my eyes, and squinting only makes the pain worse. I groan, settling my head back onto the pillow. The memories of Billy breaking into my art studio flood back. Him punching me, getting kicked over and over again. The begging and pleading that he would stop, only my ex didn’t. No, he continued hurting me. The pain was unbearable. I passed out.

I vaguely remember the gunshot, the voices. I don’t know who it was, they merge together with the splitting headache I have. But I remember them. Both men, both saved me, somehow.

Just asI think about trying to open my eyes again, a door opens and closes. Two sets of heavy footsteps fill the silent room. My body tenses, not knowing what to expect.

“Damn, he's still asleep?” one of the men says.

“I had the doctor give him something to put him to sleep.” That voice is so familiar, I just can’t place it.

“Interesting, well now that he’s here… what do you plan on doing with him?” That’s a very good question. One I would like to know as well.

Only the other, the familiar voice doesn’t say anything.

“To–”

“Shush,” he growls, causing the other to stop talking. I frown, wanting his name.

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