Page 74 of Wolf.e
“Of course,” Ax answers immediately. “Sorry, bro, guess we gotta do a better job of keeping that scum outta here.”
“Seems so,” Dell says, trying to sound authoritative but fails.
Layla makes her way over to me and looks out the window at Gabriel.
“I don’t know what this is with you two but you’re safe with him. Let him take you home,” she whispers as she hugs me.
She follows Ax out the door with a “text you in a bit” and I turn to face Dell one last time.
“You sure, Brinley?” he asks, and I don’t miss the double meaning of his question. Whether or not I’m okay and whether I feel safe to go with Gabriel.
I look between Dell, standing in front of me, and Gabriel through the window. One represents the life I had before—predictable, safe, boring. The other, although maddening, represents the unknown. Oddly enough, it isn’t even a choice. I grab my purse.
“See you Tuesday,” I say to Dell.
With one last glance to Layla and Ax standing by his bike I’m out the door, climbing onto the back of Gabriel’s. He hands me my helmet over his shoulder. I put it on and the anger I feel mixes with something else, something deeply satisfying as I wrap my arms around his waist and breathe him in for the first time in five days. He brings a hand down over mine and squeezes.
I’m still angry but the odd thing is I’ve never felt safer.
Chapter 36
Brinley
The moment we pull into my driveway I’m mentally making notes for myself. I get off the bike without a word.
Number one,call a security company and have them here in the morning.
Two,maybe get a dog? Yes, that’s what I’ll do—a Doberman.
I unlock the front door with the keypad as a prospect pulls my car into the driveway followed by another member in a pickup truck. I head straight inside, slam the door, lock it behind me and lean my back against it.
I hear Gabriel’s voice through the open window talking to the prospect. I close my eyes and pray he just leaves. I don’t need him banging down my door. I need to save myself a little bit of dignity here. The weekend we spent together was…there are no words, but when he just stood at the edge of my bed and looked at me like he was done with me, that feeling is still way too fresh. Stupidly, for a split second while we were together, I thought maybe—just maybe—Gabriel felt the same way I did,like there was nothing on earth that could ever feel as good as he could. Like our bodies were made for each other. Stupidly being the operative word.
I make my way through my house into my kitchen and fill a glass with water. As I’m about to take a sip, I hear the access to my keypad beep, followed by the horrifying sound of my front door unlocking.
He has my code? How?
Gabriel makes his way into my kitchen and tosses the key to his bike onto the counter. He says nothing, standing on the other side of the island. Knowing he can enter and exit my house any time he wants makes him seem even bigger, more intimidating.
His eyes drink me in like it’s been almost painful to be away from me. I push the smoldering feeling of his gaze from my mind. He’s been hurt, blood spots are visible through his white T-shirt on his shoulders, and I realize glass from the windows breaking must have cut him.
I fold my arms over my chest and do my best to appear as frustrated as I feel. The moment his eyes meet mine, I struggle because he melts me with that gaze.
“You can go,” I tell him. “And I guess I need to change my code.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “Go pack some things; you’re coming with me for a while until I can make sure you’re safe. I thought I could keep you safer if I stayed away from you. I was wrong.”
I put my hands on my hips. I still really don’t like being told what to do. Someone has been doing that my whole life.
“The only way to show that Foxx guy I’m not of any interest to him is for you to leave and not come back. I told him youwere just a one-night stand. I’m pretty sure he believed me,” I lie.
Gabriel moves faster than I have time to prepare for and both his arms cage me in against the counter as he towers over me.
“Pack your shit or don’t pack your shit, either way you’re coming with me. This isn’t a discussion,” he says, looking down at me. His body is so close to mine that it instantly ignites my own muscle memory, like he’s a phantom limb I’ve been missing. I look away from his eyes and fight with everything in me not to feel the pull that tethers us together. Gabriel’s hand comes up and tilts my face with a finger under my chin.
I push his hand away and watch as his jaw sets.
“You left a week ago and I haven’t heard one word from you. I don’t see you out at your other conquests’ houses making sure they’re safe, why me?”
