Page 72 of Kiwi Sin
Gabriel
I punched the code into the gate, waited for it to roll back with a clanking of steel, then headed down the drive feeling good. I’d showered, I’d shaved, and I’d changed, and at last, I had a plan. It only took courage, and I had courage. Or if I didn’t, I’d get some.
I was also early, but that was all right. I could sit at the kitchen bench and watch Oriana cook, ask her what she was doing and why. I needed all the cooking help I could get, and maybe she’d like knowing more than me about it.
Around a corner, the loose shingle spattering against the tires, and I was frowning, because I saw a flash of white where there shouldn’t be one. I slowed, looked, and there it was. Another ute, older than mine, parked behind the far garage, where it was nearly hidden. Rust spots on this one, too, and no attempt to keep the contagion from spreading.
Valor’s ute.
What the hell?
I sped up, then, because I saw him. Next to the porch, in front of the yurt. Somebody with him. Too close.
Oriana, shrinking against the boards. He was crowding her, his hand in her hair, and he was holding something to her lips.
I was out of the ute, jumping down, and running. Behind me, I could hear more tires on shingle, but I was already there, grabbing Valor by the collar, pulling him off her.
Oriana, shaking. I barely saw her, because I had both my hands on Valor now, and then I was hauling my fist back, ready to hit him. The red mist was covering my vision, and all I could see in the center of that red tunnel was his face. Not smiling now. Shocked.
My fist didn’t land. A hand on my shoulder instead, pulling me back, and a deep, urgent voice. Gray, with one hand on me and one on Valor, saying, “What thefuck?”
Oriana said, her voice high and breathless, “It wasn’t Gabriel. It wasn’t. It was Valor. He came … he came … and Gabriel pulled him off. He pulled him away.”
Gray said, “What the hell is he still doing here?” His voice, for once, not controlled. A roar.
I said, nearly panting with anger and self-disgust, my hands wanting to reach for Valor, to beat him, “My fault. My fault. He must have stayed behind when we were packing up for the day. Or he fell behind, because I saw him get into his ute and start it up. I didn’t pay attention, though. I didn’t count everybody leaving, because I was in a hurry. My fault.”
Valor didn’t say anything. He just smirked, and I wanted to wipe that smirk off his face.
“Maybe,” Gray said, “but he’s the one who did it.” He looked at Oriana. “Are you all right?”
She nodded, a quick jerk of her head, her arms wrapped around herself. In her pretty apron, all blue flowers, and her pretty yellow dress, the front of her soft hair twisted at the center parting, pulled back and fastened with neat holders, framing her white, shocked face.
The door banged, and Priya was on the porch, asking, “What’s happening?”
Oriana turned her head and said, “It’s fine. Go take out my cake. It’s going to be too dry.” Her voice was still shaking, but she was trying to make it stop. Not reacting like a child. Reacting like a woman.
Priya said, “I took it out five minutes ago, when it tested done. What’shappening?”
I told Gray, keeping my voice controlled with what felt like the biggest effort of my life, “I need to help Oriana.”
He let me go, though he still had a hand on Valor, and I took another step. Two, and I was taking the wicker trug from her and setting it on the porch, then putting my arms around her, because how could I do anything else? She hesitated a moment, then buried her face in my chest and clung to my shirt. I felt her shaking, knew she was crying, and thought,How could I not have watched him to make sure he left? Why didn’t I warn Gray about what he is?And felt, for the first time since I’d left Mount Zion, despair. That in spite of all my care, all my effort, I’d failed.
Another car coming down the drive now. A cherry-red Mustang. That would be Daisy, home from work.
“Wait,” Oriana said, pulling back, dashing at her eyes with the heels of her hands. “Gray, wait. I need to … I need to tell you something.”
Gray said, “If you’ve got something to say, I’ll listen. Let me throw this arsehole off my property first, though.”
* * *
Oriana
“No,” I said. “I need to … He has to hear, too. He has to know I said it. I can’t … I can’t let him hold this over me anymore, or let it burn a hole inside me, and the only way is if I’ve told.”
Gray looked at me, then at Gabriel, who was still holding my hand as if he were anchoring me, his body between mine and Valor’s. Being kind, always. Being protective. Then Gray looked at Daisy, who was coming up the drive, then starting to hurry, as if her nurse’s senses had picked up trouble.
Gray said, before Daisy even got there, “You don’t have to tell us. I’ll sack him anyway.”
