AFTER HIS BOYS TOOK AVERY away, Gabriel gave an order to Jacob to let her go at the first light of dawn.
Jacob’s concerned eyes studied Gabriel’s features. Gabriel was still shaking with fury; he looked like someone who’d escaped from a horror movie.
Everyone working for Gabriel knew him like the back of their head. Gabriel was the friendly and conversing type but when he got mad, everyone knew not to mess with him.
Jacob owed Gabriel his life ever since he saved him from some bandits at sea. Gabriel offered him a ride to Beverly Hills, some cash, and another speed boat. Marveled by Gabriel’s generosity, Jacob gave him his loyalty.
He hadn’t regretted his decision.
He’d been surprised to know good samaritans like Gabriel still existed till he got to learn about Gabriel’s dark past.
” Should I inform Gilbert about that b**ch?”
Gil was Gabriel’s wingman. While Gabriel did all the dirty work, Gil cleaned up his mess, making sure no one found out.
It had been a long time since they had brought anyone new to the torture house since Ariana’s lover. It was Gabriel who tracked him to Somalia and brought him to California despite Gil telling him not to.
Gil had hoped Gabriel would stop torturing people and take his father’s advice to see a therapist.
” N- No, if he asks any questions, come up with a good excuse. I have to leave.”
Gabriel nearly fell as he turned to leave. A wave passed through his head, and he began to see everything splitting.
Jacob grabbed his shoulder and asked worriedly, ” I’ll call the doctor and ask for your drugs if you let me.”
” Don’t stress yourself- I’m fine.”
He shrugged off Jacob’s hand from his and walked away, swaying.
Jacob sighed and soliloquized, ” I hope no one runs into him; they wouldn’t live to see the next sunrise.”
Meanwhile, as Gabriel walked back to his home, wheezing, Sydney stood in the kitchen making dinner.
She stared at the spaghetti boiling in the pressure cooker bleakly. Her mind was far from what she was cooking. She’d been thinking about Gavin since she’d left the Hospital despite how much she didn’t want to.
She felt like she was the one infected with the virus. She had imagined Gavin’s body in a cassette, being lowered into the ground.
A sharp voice spoke in her head. You wanted him dead so you should be happy he’d die soon. Be careful what you wish for, haha!
Splash.
The spaghetti had begun to overboil, and the boiling water poured out on her hand.
” Shit!” Sydney jerked her hand away on impulse. She went to the kitchen sink and switched on the cold water.
The whole house was silent except for the running water and the chirring of crickets.
And someone’s uneven breath.
Sydney’s eyes switched from her wounded hand to Gabriel standing by the doorway, staring at her with dark eyes.
Sydney forced a smile as he began to walk to her, ” I didn’t know you were back, I left Ethan and Em-”
His cold hand grabbed her wounded hand a tad too forcefully making her gasp softly.
He traced his thumb gently over the wonder area. Without looking at her, he muttered, ” You are too careless.”
Sydney noticed his tumultuous look. ” Are you okay Gabriel? You look like you ran a thousand miles.”
His eyes met hers and narrowed for a few seconds. She must have not realized she left the Hospital without telling him. Maybe she did or didn’t feel he was important enough to know
” I would have treated your wound myself, but I’m famished; I need to sleep.”
Sydney looked at her hand as he let go of it and then noticed Gabriel’s fist was dripping blood.
He’d incurred the injury from the impact of his fist with the metal pillar.
Sydney gasped and grabbed his hand, ” You are bleeding a lot.”
He snatched his hand away and headed for the door. ” Goodnight.”
” You are getting me scared, Gabriel. What’s wrong.” Sydney switched off the gas and followed him.
He was fine some hours ago, what happened? Sydney thought.
” Please don’t- don’t follow me. Let me be alone for some minutes.” Gabriel breathed.
He was scared she’d see his true colors if she didn’t back off.
” You stay by me when I’m upset, I won’t leave you till you tell me what’s wrong.”
Did she think he was doing her a favor?
Gabriel’s veins bulged, ” It’s not the same thing-”
Another wave passed through his head, making him immobile. He grabbed his hair fiercely when the pain became unbearable.
Sydney halted and stared at him in horror. She’d never seen him this way before. She began to panic, what should she say or do?
In a cautious voice, she asked, ” Ga- Gabriel, are you okay?”
No, he wasn’t; he never has been if she had cared to notice.
Before she reached to touch his shoulder, she asked, ” Do you need to see the Doctor?”
A bomb went off in his head at her words, and as soon as he felt the brush of her fingers on his shoulder, he grabbed her wrist, pushed her to the wall, and pinned her hand above her head.
” I’m fine, perfectly mentally fine, I don’t need a f**king doctor!” He snapped, his whole body shaking.
Sydney stayed silent. Her heart racing in utter shock. She had never heard him utter a vile word before.
As soon as he saw the look of fear in her eyes, he cupped her cheek with his free hand. ” I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have raised my voice.”
” It’s fine… Gabriel, what’s wrong?”
She leaned into his hand on her cheek, her eyes softening with need.
That’s all he ever made her feel. Sexual desire. Lust. Nothing more, nothing special.
His face turned hard as he ran his thumb over her sensuous lips. Sydney felt a jolt of sexual need, she’d forgotten the matter at hand.
F**k her injuries, she was tired of withholding herself.
Gabriel brought his face close to hers, their nose touching. He stared at her eyes while she looked at his lips and nibbled on his thumb.
” Please.” She said in a small voice.
” Why? Why do you keep doing this? Is this all you want?”
Sydney nodded, ” Yes, please Gabriel.”
Gabriel’s lips brushed against hers as he said, ” Don’t make me give in to the devil.”
Sydney thought he was talking about lust. ” Do it, Give in.”
” Don’t be surprised what happens to you.” He pulled away and sucked the thumb she’d been nibbling on. ” As for now, experience what it’s like not to get what you desire. Don’t follow me, I won’t be responsible for what happens to you if you do.”
Sydney watched as he turned on his heels and left, leaving her once again sexually frustrated.
Goddamn it!