Page 12 of Tempting Gabe
"Let us know if anything changes," Harrison said.
Conner stared at Olivia who blushed and turned her attention toward their mom.
Gabe needed to get Megan out of here before anyone asked him about them. He had no answers at the moment other than he wanted to spend more time with her and there was no way she was a willing spy for her brother. He shook his father's hand and once he finished, he turned and hugged his mother one more time. "Mom. Dad. I'm glad you're good."
His father said, "Take care of Megan, Gable. In turning in her own family, she chose to do the right thing. I admire courage in a woman."
Wise wordsthough his father lived in a different era with his comments sometimes. Gabe choked on his thought. "I will, Dad."
With a yawn, his father said, "Come back tomorrow. We're both tired, but we want to talk at length with your pretty woman."
How he didn't blame Megan at all was exactly what he always expected of his father. He nodded and said, "Yes sir."
"Your father seems nice." Megan followed him to the door.
"Now." He nodded at his friends who waited in the hall. He'd speak to them tomorrow about the jobs they were doing for him. Right now, he held out his arm that she latched onto from the simple gesture. "Growing up he was demanding. Age has mellowed him."
As they cleared the first door and headed to the elevator, her face went white and she stopped midstride. Then she tugged his arm. "Wait."
"You're pale." He placed his hand on the small of her back.
She pointed toward the elevator corridor with a lot of people who passed each other. "My brother. He was just there."
He glanced everywhere but saw no sign of Maddox. With all the people, it was hard to see everyone. He turned her around and walked her toward his parent's room. "Let's get back. Olivia and Conner and Harrison are there."
She nodded and tugged on his shirt. "Call 911."
He picked up his phone and dialed as he glanced at Megan's pocketbook. If Maddox was here, he knew they were here. He opened the door to hold it. "Conner, guard the door."
His former Marine friends all stood taller and on edge while he explained to the police.
Harrison ensured his parents beds were together and asked, "What's happening?"
Megan answered his friend at the same time he talked to the police. "Maddox is here."
"What's going on?" His mother asked with a yawn.
Megan hugged her waist, but his mind raced. "This is all my fault."
"How?" Megan placed her hand on his back the moment he hung up the phone. He stared at his mother and father who held hands.
The image of standing in the desert as he reached for Maddox. In that flash, Belle screamed and he turned. A second later in his memory the explosion rocked and he fell backward. When he had looked for Maddox, he was gone.
"This is not your fault. I'm sure you did everything you could." Her words brought him back to the present.
His friends guarded the door until the police knocked.
After the police took their statements, and they went to check, Megan whispered to him, "I should have put him in a mental institution or something. Now I'm afraid of what he'll do and afraid of what happens if he's not arrested."
He reached out and took her hand. "You're with me now. I'll keep you safe."
It seemed too soon as his family and friends and Megan huddled together to play cards. Minutes ticked past until his sister put her hand down and said, "The police are back."
The officer nodded. "We've checked the halls and have police assigned everywhere. We haven't seen Maddox Murdock. He must have escaped."
Or he knew he couldn't get through his defenses. Again he glanced at Megan's pocketbook. If he wanted to track someone he'd use their phone. He hugged his parents and placed his hand on his friend's back to "Harrison, you're in charge of my parents. Stay in contact with the police. He cannot get to them."
He picked up his hand of cards and said, "Relax, Gabe. Go home with your girl. I've got this."
