Page 57 of Stalked

My eyes popopen, brightness blinding me for a moment before someone grabs my shoulder. “It’s okay, calm down,” their soft voice whispers to the pounding in my head. “Pup, can you go get him?”

Blinking the blurriness away, I meet Izel’s gaze looking at me. “Glad to see you awake, finally.” She smiles brightly, patting my shoulder before easing back.

“I…what…” My throat burns, sandpaper rubbing against my windpipe. I blink, trying to recall what happened.

“It... it was a whole mess,” she whispers. “The only important thing is you’re alive.”

The door slams open, ringing echoes around my ear, but the moment I see his pale blue eyes, his messy, a little longer than usual, shaggy hair, it’s the only thing that matters. Gabriel. My Little Rabbit.

He chokes on a sob, biting down on his lip. I don’t know what he’s waiting for, but I don’t like that he’s standing there in the doorway, and I don’t like the uncertainty in his eyes.

“Gabriel,” I murmur, my voice cracking. And that’s all it takes; his knees buckle as he rushes to my side. Slamming his body against mine, I grunt in pain, but refuse to let him move. My Gabriel. Questions swarm around, needing answers to what happened. Where is everyone else? Who else was hurt? But none of those matters, not with him in my arms. Him being my only focus.

“To—”

“Shh, it’s okay,” I tell him, kissing the side of his head.

“I thought I lost you.” He sobs, clenching harder to my gown.

“I’m here, I’m right here, Little Rabbit.” My own tears leak down my cheeks, my fingers running underneath his shirt, needing to feel him against me, even if it’s painful. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Gabriel lays his face in my neck, his snores the only thing keeping me calm. After our little crying fest, my doctor came in and gave me the usual run-down. And the little fact that I’ve been in a coma for the past six weeks.

“He stayed with you the entire time,” Dad mutters from the bedside. Looking down at Gabriel, I kiss his head the best way I can without straining or ripping my stitches. “We going to talk about it?”

Glaring up at my father, I’m unsure what to say. I knew this conversation was going to have to happen. I wasn’t willing to let him go. But I didn’t think about how I would actually approach this conversation.

“Tobias, you might have my temper, but you’ve got your mother’s love. I can see it all over your face, so don’t even try to bullshit me.” Dad sighs, leaning back.

“I love him,” I breathe. I haven’t told him that yet, but saying it out loud for the first time, I don’t want to stop. “I love him, and I won’t leave him.”

Dad sighs again. I hate when he does that. And the same expression when he’s thinking is usually never good.

“Just spit it out,” I growl, causing Gabriel to shift and tighten his hold he has on my gown.

“When I found your mother, I tried to stay away. I mean, we saved her from the crate they were moving, and instead of taking her to the hospital, I simply just took her, knowing how wrong it was. But in my head, I wanted her and would do anything to prove to her that she would be better with me than anyone else.”

I have no idea where he’s going with this and even with me frowning Dad continues on.

“I watched her grow and become the woman I began to love, and when we got pregnant with you, I didn’t think I could love her even more. But I did, and every day I fall a little more in love with her than before. I can’t breathe without her. She’s on my mind every second of every day, even when she’s next to me. I have this burning pas—”

“Dad,” I groan, not needing to hear about his burning passion for my mother. It’s gross and so wrong.

“You feel the same for him. You blocked him from being shot. Salem showed up, saving us all once again,” he growls, rolling his eyes. I chuckle, knowing damn well he hates Salem always saving his ass. “Henry died. Todd, the boy’s father, on the other hand… Well, he took a while to die. Zion, Zane, and Kyler had a fun bonding experience with that one.”

Nodding my head, I search trying to remember the events, but it’s all a blur.

“Gabriel was a mess and wouldn’t leave your side. He sleep, let’s say he had a mouthful to say about letting you live. Something he read about online, he said. Something about the Mafia not accepting those who love the same sex…”

I open my mouth to defend Gabriel only Dad waves a hand stopping me.

“I don’t care. I don’t care if you like pussy or cock.” Way to go, Dad. “You can’t help who you love, as long as you treat them well and they do the same. I don’t care, they just have to know what being involved with you means.”

“He does,” I state. I’m not sure if he actually does, but I will help him. I will support Gabriel no matter what.

“Then I support you, Son.” He smiles.

Trying not to let the emotions get the best of me, I nod, blinking down at Gabriel. My heart squeezes, feeling pride knowing he’s mine. All mine.

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