Page 96 of Stepson

"Hi there, I'm looking for Gabe. Have you seen him?"

The black man, whose name I can't remember, turns and smiles at me. He has soft, kind eyes, and I instantly know I can trust him.

"He was here, yes, but I think he left. The Jeep is gone and—"

"Was he here to see Pearl?" I blurt out.

He cringes, looking as if he’s been backed into a corner. "He was, yes."

I blow out a shaky breath and try to fight the tears burning my eyes. If this man hadn't confirmed it, I wouldn't have believed it. Gabe wouldn't hurt me like that, would he?

"He wasn't here for long, Bentley." He tries to comfort me but it isn't working.

"Do you, um, know where he went by chance?"

He shakes his head while he rubs the back of his neck, looking sad that he can't help me out.

"I'm sure whatever is going on between you two will be just fine. Gabe needs space from time to time, but I'm sure he'll be home before you know it."

I appreciate his efforts to calm my racing thoughts, but I know they won't completely evaporate until Gabe is back at our new little apartment. Not knowing where he’s at is killing me.

“Thanks. If you see him again, let him know that I’m not upset with him and that I just want him to come home.”

He winks at me. “You got it.”

I walk back to Maggie’s car and get in, taking several breaths before I nearly burst into tears. Gabe can be freaked out as much as he wants, but I need to see him. We need to work this out.

Gabe’s phone rings next to me on the passenger seat, and I lunge for it, praying it’s him somehow calling me. Kurt’s name lights up the screen, and I instantly deflate in my seat. I want this call to be from Gabe so badly that it’s a huge let down when it isn’t.

“Hi Kurt, I’m on my way to your office now.”

He chuckles. “Perfect. I’d like to get this paperwork figured out before the end of the day.”

“Okay, but um, Gabe isn’t with me.”

“That’s fine. I just need you actually.”

Not sure what exactly he wants to go over with me, I imagine it has something to do with my divorce to Marcus.

“See you soon?”

I nod but realize he can’t see me. “Yes, I’m heading to you now.”

I’ll figure out where Gabe is later, but right now, I need a distraction and this is perfect. We hang up, and I’m about to pull away from the curb when a large black Cadillac SUV blocks me from doing so. I slam on the brakes and curse at the guy.

"Excuse the fuck out of you!" I scream out the window, but swallow hard when several rough-looking men jump out and storm toward me.

They’re all huge and covered in tattoos and not one of them looks friendly. I sink into my seat as I look in the rearview mirror, seeing how I can get myself out of this, but I’m trapped.

One of the men knocks on the window before he makes the action to roll it down. I shake my head, fearing for my life when he gives me a warm smile and holds his hands up in surrender.

"We're not going to harm you, Bentley. We want to talk to you about your boyfriend Gabe."

At the mention of Gabe's name, all logic leaves my mind and I roll the window down. The man reaches in at lightning speeds and grabs the back of my neck before he slams me back in my seat. Alarm bells go off in my head, and as I almost scream, he covers my mouth.

"Your boyfriend owes us some money, sweetheart. Do you know where we can find him?"

Tears blur my vision as I shake my head. I’ve never seen these men in my life and have no idea who they are or why Gabe owes them money.

---