Page 8 of Tempting Gabe
“What? Is something happening?” Gable called out from the kitchen and she glanced up to see his strong shoulder that came toward her. "Is everything okay?"
She turned it off and hugged her waist while she stood. "Check your phone."
"You should eat first."
Nausea grew in her stomach while she stared at his pocket and waited. He came up beside her and dug out his phone. Without a word he turned the power on to listen to his voicemail, and she closed her eyes and curled into his arms. "I'm scared."
"We'll find out together." He massaged her neck and listened to his voicemails. His face turned white. A minute later, he hit play and handed her the phone.
The suspect has fled. We have collected more evidence from the house, but your family needs to remain secure until we have arrested Maddox Murdock.
Her stomach churned. He had shot at police officers but escaped without leaving a lead. A headache began to grow. She couldn't handle reality at the moment. She massaged her temples as she stood straighter and stopped leaning on him. "Gabe, tell me something about you. Why did your parents name you Gable. That's not common."
His face twitched for a second, but a moment after he tilted his head and reached out for her hand. "My mother was obsessed withGone with the Wind. My sister is Scarlett. I'm named after the actor who played Rhett. My other sister is named Olivia."
She stared at his palm like she wasn't sure what he wanted, but a second after she took his offered hand. "If she was obsessed withGone with the Wind,why isn't your name Rhett then?"
He winked. "My father refused. The actors were a compromise."
At least he had a cool personal reason for his name other than it was a great-grandparent's name which was always the common answer when she asked her mother why her name was Ashley or why Maddox had his name. Tradition was what her mother had always clung to whenever she was scared about a life-changing event. Her headache lessened from thoughts of her mother. "He compromised on all except your sister."
"Yes, and Scarlett is the dramatic one."
At least his sisters still had their brother to depend on. Again, her stomach felt like she’d drunk gasoline. She tried to ignore it and lowered her gaze. The reality of the news and his voicemail collided into a picture where her brother was still alive. She took a deep breath. "I am sorry for what my brother did to them. Do you need to check the hospital?"
He placed his phone on the table in front of them. "Olivia will call. It's her night to be with them."
If her mother was alive, she'd want to spend every second with her. Her eyes misted while she remembered how her own mother used to give her a pain reliever and pet her hair on days she had been sick as a girl. She'd never have her mother back and it was possible her brother had ruined Gabe’s family too. A cold ice pick jabbed up her spine. "You must want to call her and check in. Don't let me being here interfere."
The moment he squeezed her hand, she felt a warmness that soothed her. "I will soon. Let's eat and then find out."
Again her stomach growled. Perhaps if she ate, she might feel better. She nodded and followed him into the kitchen to gather plates. In sync they put their to-go meals on the porcelain and ate in silence.
As she wiped her face with the napkin and swallowed her last bite, Gabe asked, "How is the Greek Feta Wrap?"
"Delicious." She smiled and watched him finish his gyro.
His phone rang. They both craned their necks and stared into the living area. The air singed with questions. "Go. It might be important."
With a nod, he walked away. She picked up the plates and brought them into the kitchen. She turned on the faucet and ran the hot water while she found the soap and sponge. She wouldn’t listen to his conversation so she cleaned the plates and put them in the dishrack until he walked in and leaned against the kitchen door.
Her heart sped up as he stared at her. She finished the last dish, turned off the water and faced him. "I think you need to be prepared to stay here indefinitely."
Her brother. This wasn't good. She glanced at his phone and saw he had a screen open for her. "Why? Let me see."
He swallowed and turned his screen to show her.I know you’re with my traitor of a sister. Neither of you will be safe.
Maddox knew. She leaned against the kitchen cabinet for support and hugged her waist. None of what happened today made any sense. "How did he get away?"
"Check your email." Gabe came toward her and put his hand on her shoulder.
She felt paralyzed and her throat felt like it squeezed together. Gabe let her go and walked away. She placed her palm on the nearby counter to hold her. A second later, he came back with a laptop and motioned for her to join him near the kitchen island. Her knees felt like they trembled, but she stumbled forward and hoped she walked normal. Finally she leaned forward as he pushed the screen toward her. She looked at the screen and at him with her eyes narrowed until the colors of her email login page blurred together. "Why?"
He placed his hand on her back. "If he's contacted you in any way, we have to know right away."
Exactly what she didn't want to know, but with a sigh she nodded and stared at the screen that asked for her password. "The police will probably suspect me."
Then his fingers tapped against her skin and her body felt slightly warmer. She logged in and the screen changed to the list of her new emails, so she looked away. "You were with me."
