Page 19 of Absolution

I nodded. “I don’t think I ever told you, but she lives here. Ran into her about a year ago. I’d been blown away to discover she despised me. Ever since, we’ve avoided each other. Until recently anyway. Now, I’ve found out that the friend I asked to watch out for her when I left wasn’t the friend I thought. Something happened while I was gone, but I don’t know what. I only know he’s getting out of prison soon, and he’s been calling to remind her of the fact.”

“Damn, that sounds like a threat.”

“Exactly.” I clenched my fists. “One she isn’t taking seriously. Which is why I plan on protecting her, because it’s been made clear I didn’t do it years ago.”

“I’m sure you couldn’t have known that.”

“No, but it doesn’t change the fact. The not knowing what happened is the worst part. Gina was my best friend. I can’t help the guilt.”

“Son, you and I both know that nothing can change the past. All you can do is try and fix what’s been broken.”

“That’s what I’m going to try and do.”

“Well, if you need anything, you call me.”

“Thanks, Paddy.”

“Now, go ice your hands.”

I saluted him and then headed into the locker room. The anger was still there, but now it had settled to a simmer. After my shower, I headed back to my apartment to re-analyze the things Josie sent me.

From all the information she could find on Gideon, it looked like he’d had a few interactions with the police beginning shortly after I left, but nothing stuck until the murder trial. The trial itself hadn’t lasted long. Seemed to be an open and shut case. Once behind bars, there was even less to discover about him.

Gina was just as much of a mystery. She’d been almost a ghost until she started working for Bridget. She had no online presence. No social media. Nothing. For someone her age, it was unusual.

In the end, nothing Josie found amounted to shit, and I was still just as much in the dark as I was before. I was also trying to figure out how this Ricci guy fit into all this. He hadn’t batted an eye at Gideon’s name, but he was quick to shut me down when I’d mentioned Carlos Jordan.

Until Gideon was released, all we could do was wait. Something I’d never been very good at.

Chapter 13

Gina

Sonia had draggedme out to another meeting. I always felt better after them, but leaving my house still made me jumpy. I saw shadows everywhere I went. She waited until I opened the front door before honking and waving goodbye after dropping me off.

I closed the door and turned on the light.

“Hello, little rabbit.”

I froze in complete unadulterated fear.

Sitting in the living room chair, ankle crossed over his knee, and leaning back without a care in the world, was the devil himself. His face was half in shadows, his hair shorter than I’d last seen, yet I still recognized him. He patted the armrest with a tattoo covered hand.

“Why don’t you come over here? It’s been far too long since I’ve seen your lovely face.”

My entire body shook, but I remained standing still.

“I said come here!” Gideon barked causing me to flinch.

Conditioned to obey, I began to move, and before I could blink, I stood before him. He rose from his seat, unfolding his powerful frame until he towered over me. I shrank inside myself. He was taller, and much bigger than I remembered.

“You always were an obedient girl.” He raised a hand and ran a calloused finger down my cheek. When I jerked away from his touch, he roughly grabbed my jaw in his palm, and I whimpered. He leaned down to rub his bristled face against the side of mine. He inhaled deeply, and his exhale was hot against my ear.

“God, I’ve missed the scent of a woman. The taste of a woman.” Gideon ran his tongue up the side of my neck. Bile rose from my stomach. I didn’t want to hold it back. I wanted to vomit all over him. If only to make him stop tormenting me.

He stepped back, his hand falling away from me, his gaze running up and down my body, lingering at my breasts, and lower, before returning to meet my gaze.

“I told you I was coming for you.”

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