Page 20 of Absolution

“How did you find me?”

Gideon smiled, but it was twisted and ugly like his soul. He began to circle me, his finger trailing up my arm, across my shoulders, and down my other arm.

He ignored my question. “You were a bad, bad girl, Gina. After everything I did for you, you turned around and betrayed me like that. You know, I should kill you for that.”

Finally, I found my voice. “Do it. Go ahead, you fucking coward.”

Anything to end my misery.

He faced me again.

“That’s too easy. And hardly any fun at all.” Gideon waggled his finger in my face. “Uh uh. Good try, but it’s not going to happen. I think you need to suffer a little. As does that man of yours.”

He began to pace the room, talking to himself. “Can you imagine my surprise when I got a phone call the other day, telling me that Saint Leo was here? All this time, I thought the bastard was dead. Yet, somehow, he manages to show up in the same town as you. I call that a two for one deal right there.”

I stared at him in shock. “How do you know that?”

Gideon laughed mockingly. “Oh, you stupid girl. I know everything about you. Did you really think you were going to just leave town without me knowing?”

My expression must have shown that’s exactly what I thought, because he began to laugh even louder.

“My god, you really did. And here I always thought you were smart. I knew you planned on running away the minute they read out that verdict, which is why I had my man Carlos trail you from the second you left that court room. He followed you all the way to this podunk town.”

I shook my head in disbelief.

“I hear you developed a nasty little habit while I was in prison.”

My breath hitched when he reached into his pocket and pulled out a clear, plastic baggie filled with familiar white pills. It took every effort I had to pull my gaze from them. I couldn’t let Gideon win. My shoulders straightened, and I stared directly at him, my eyes twitching with the need to wander back to the lovely sight.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” There was a quiver in my voice.

He chuckled, the evil sound burrowing inside me. “Then it won’t be a problem if I just leave them right here, now will it?”

Gideon grabbed my hand and turned it up before prying my closed fist open. He laid the baggie in my open palm, my fingers trembling beneath his, and closed them over it. He leaned down and rasped into my ear.

“Whatever will you do now?” With a kiss to my cheek, he brushed past my frozen body and right out my front door. It closed with a softsnick.

I swallowed, my eyes staring straight ahead. My grip tightened, and the hard edges of each pill dug deep into my flesh. I lost track of how long I stood there, but soon, my legs began to hurt. Shaking myself out of the haze, I grabbed my phone and dialed a number I knew by heart, not caring how late it was.

“Hello?” A sleepy voice answered.

“Bridget, I need Connor.”

“Gina? What the hell? Are you all right?” I heard rustling over the line.

“No, I’m not even close to all right. Gideon was just here.”

“Who the fuck is Gideon?”

There was a muffled curse in the background and then Connor’s voice came through.

“Are you home?”

“Yes.”

“Lock your fucking doors, and call the police. Ask for Webber. We’re on our way.”

I hung up the phone and opened my palm. I’d only need a couple to take the edge off before they got here.

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