DREAM (23 page)

“It’s not like that. This is about money and the fact that you ruined me.” Gideon explains.

“How the fuck did I do that, Gideon? Is it because I gave you everything you wanted? Is it because I catered to you? Just how did I ruin you?” Gable’s voice rises with each question.

“You married her.” He points at me. “I told you she would ruin you. Why the fuck do you have such loyalty to Ulrich Jackson anyway?”

“Because he was a good person. He taught me that you put business and family on the same level. What you give back is what you’ll be remembered for. He changed his life around for his daughter, and I did it for Dad, you, and Mama.”

“Whatever, Gable,” he sighs. “Sign the paper so we all can go home.”

Gable laughs. “You think that’s going to happen, don’t you? You’re so fucking stupid. The second I sign this he’ll kill Dream first, to make me suffer and then he’ll either torture me or just shoot me in the head. That’s what he’s going to do.” Gable steps closer to Gideon. “Oh, and just so you know, in my Will, nothing goes to you. It went to Dream and Mama. So, after I’m dead, Jacob will kill Mama. I hope you and your conscience enjoy that at night, knowing we all died because of your greed.”

Gideon pales and for the first looks scared of Gable. “Jacob promised that nothing would happen to Mama or you.”

“Oh good, then he’s only kill the love of my life and my unborn child. I bet you’re up for Uncle of the Year Award then.”

Gideon flicks his eyes to me and the tears come faster for me. I know Gable is right. We’re going to die the moment he signs it. Typically, I can’t process information when I’m stressed, but right now I’m calm even with the tears streaming down my face.

This is how my life will end. I pray when it ends, Gable, Bruce, and Leo get out of here. I hope Mrs. Stones lives a full life and takes over JE with pride and I know she will.

I have heard your life flashes before your eyes when death is immanent. I remember Dad pushing me on the swings in our backyard, all my massive birthday and celebratory parties, and the look on his face when I graduated. I thought about the first time I kissed Gable and the first time we made love. That love was in his eyes the first time I met him.

Look at us now. Our lives will end with a gunshot in the back of a building. Will anyone ever find our bodies? Will we have a proper funeral for everyone to get closure? Will Gideon and Jacob ever be brought to justice for our murders?

“Here.” Gable scribbles on the paper and shoves it into Gideon’s chest, causing him to stumble back. “Fuck you, Gideon.”

Gable gazes down at me, still on my knees in front of Jacob. “I’m sorry, Baby.”

I smile at him through my tears. “I know. I love you, Gable.” It comes out as a whisper because I barely have a voice.

“I love you, too,
Birdkill
.”

I gasp and my body reacts before I can think. I drop to the ground and I cover my head as best as I can. I hear gunshots and people yelling, but I don’t move. I’m not sure if it’s shock or what.

“Dream, go with Larissa.” I hear Gable yell and glance up as Larissa grabs my hand. She has a gun in her other hand and all I can think is run. “Dream, go with Larissa, now!”

Since my hands are still bound, I reach for her with both hands and I kick my shoes off as we race for the door.

“This way, Dream.” Larissa and I sprint down the hall and as we come to the corner she stops me. She motions me to be quiet and I glue myself to the wall. Larissa holds the gun in front of her and searches the corner. She looks like an action movie hero, and she moves with ease.

“Let’s go,” she whispers to me and takes my hands. We run down the short hallway and out a side door.

I’m stunned for a moment because we’re outside. We’re in an alleyway. I’m about to ask what’s happening, but a black car pulls up and Larissa shoves me into the backseat and yells for the driver to drive. He throws the car in reverse and spins out of the alley and onto the main road.

“Gable.” I whip around and look at the back tinted window.

“He’s getting out.” Larissa pats my leg. “Just breathe.”

“What? What’s happening?” I yell at her. “I thought you were with Gideon.”

“Listen to me. When we get back to Butler Mansion, we will tell you everything.”

Oh no. Not this shit again. I can’t handle this right now. This won’t end well.

Chapter 22

When we pull up to the gates of Butler Mansion they open without putting in the code. Larissa and I didn’t speak a word. I don’t know what’s going on, and I’m in a lot of pain. I want answers, and I need Gable.

Four guards with guns greet me and usher me into the house.

“Dream.” Mama and Mrs. Stones say my name at the same time and wrap me into their arms. That’s it. That’s what broke me. I loudly sob and cling to them and never want to let them go.

“Dream, you need to be checked out by the doctor.” Mrs. Stones guides me over to Dr. Bell in Gable’s office.

Larissa is sitting on Gable’s desk and Dr. Bell is stitching her arm. Larissa gives me a small smile.

“Where’s Gable?” I don’t know what else to ask but that. I want Gable back here and that way I can kiss him, hug him, and then get him to tell me everything that’s going on.

“I lost contact with them.” She hops off the desk. “I know that he’ll be here soon.”

Before I can interrogate her, Dr. Bell pats the desk and I climb up there. Mama comes into the room with a one of Gable’s dress shirts and she carefully slips it on. I didn’t even realize that I had been running around in my bra. How embarrassing.

As Dr. Bell checks me out, my nose isn’t broken only bruised, along with my cheeks. Besides a few hairs pulled, there is no permanent damage to my head. My worst injury is my hand. Dr. Bell wraps it, but tells me that I’ll need to go to hospital and get it x-rayed and set.

“Let’s get you something to eat.” Mama loops her arm with mine.

As we head to the kitchen, I pass numerous men I’ve never seen before, with guns at every window. I’m too tired to even care at this point. All I want is Gable. I sit on the stool and Misha’s eyes are red and puffy. However, she fixes me a glass of red wine and hands it to me without even asking. I take two large gulps, letting the burn of the alcohol heal the scratchiness of my sore throat.

“Do you want to talk?” Mama asks.

I shake my head. “I want Gable.”

Mama nods and rubs her hand up and down my back. Misha asks if I want food and I can’t think of food. I continue to drink the wine. Larissa comes in and I’m grateful for what she’s done, but there’s only one thing on my mind. I know that it seems like I’m losing it, but Gable is what I need to remain sane.

Misha hands a bowl of soup to Larissa, Mama, and Mrs. Stones and refills my glass. The five of us don’t speak. The only noise is the men shuffling around their posts and a few instructions between them.

Seconds turn into minutes that into hours. My anger at not knowing what was planned turns into fear that I won’t see Gable ever again. Hell, I miss Leo and Bruce, too. I aimlessly walk through the first floor, with Mama and Mrs. Stones not far behind me. Larissa is on the phone constantly, trying to obtain information about Gable, but whomever she’s talking to, they don’t know anything either.

Dr. Bell gives me a couple of painkillers for my hand, since I refuse to go to the hospital until I know Gable is home safe and sound. Soon, I feel myself falling into sleep.

~~~

I jolt up into a sitting position. I heard something. Is it Jacob? Is he coming back for me? I finally realize, from the dimly lit room, I’m in our bedroom. Where’s Gable? His side of the bed is still untouched.

I swing my feet to the floor and my hand is throbbing. I need to give up and go to the hospital before I do any real damage to it. The alarm clock reads six in the morning and my heart sinks.

What’s happening with Gable? Why isn’t he here with me? Doesn’t he know that I need him? Is he still alive?

The last question brings the tears. If he’s gone, I don’t know what I’ll do. To think a few months ago I didn’t even like him, and now look at me. I’m praying for his safe return to our lives and me. Then I’m going to yell at him until he tells me what the hell is going on.

I’m still in my skirt and Gable’s dress shirt, but I don’t care as I pad barefoot to the kitchen. The men are still guarding the windows and I wonder if they slept. I receive a few nods, but nothing more. Larissa is sitting at the breakfast bar when I walk in.

“Hey, I was going to come wake you.”

“Do you know something?” I rush to her side.

“Gable and Bruce are at the police station.”

I gasp and cover my mouth. He’s alive. “Is he okay?”

She nods. “He’ll go to the hospital later after he’s finished with his statement. I’ll need to take you to give your side of the story. I didn’t take you last night because I figured you needed to be here first. I’ll get in trouble with that.” Larissa shrugs.

“Will you tell me who you work for now?”

“FBI.”

“What? I thought you were going to be a lawyer.”

“I was planning on it, but I changed my mind and ended up going to the academy.”

“Why?” I sit down next to her.

“Being a lawyer wasn’t for me. Then one of my step-dad’s friend and I began talking and the FBI was a good fit for me.”

“So, you were like, undercover, then?”

Larissa nods. “At the Wall’s Ball, my boss and I came up with the plan. Since we had been watching Jacob for so long, we knew Gideon had been helping him in some way. Soon, I was fake-dating Gideon.”

“I knew it. I knew Gideon wasn’t your type.”

“And Gable’s yours?” She gives me a pointed look.

“Yes, he is,” I answer her. She smiles. “Tell me the rest.”

“Not much to tell.” She shrugs. “I started dating Gideon to get closer to Jacob and his operations. It worked and the paperwork that I saw from you helped more. The way you talked of Gable, I knew that he was legit now. Gideon verified that, too. Jacob had big plans to take over Gable’s shipyard. I truly didn’t think that he would do it on his own. My unit director and I figured he would contract it out.

“Then Gideon started running his mouth about how Jacob wanted you out of the picture because of your dad. I guess there’s a lot of bad blood there?”

“I guess, because I don’t know the story.” I knew some of the story, but I’m cautious on what to tell her. She is the FBI. “I guess he wanted Dad’s help and he wouldn’t give it.”

Larissa nods. “I figure it was something like that. Well, do you want to head to the hospital? Gable can meet us there and you can give your statement. I can wake Mrs. Butler and Mrs. Stones.”

“No, don’t wake them. We can go, but where’s Jacob and Gideon now?”

“Jacob’s in the hospital. Apparently, Gable fucked him up badly. Gideon, Aven, and the other security guards are in jail waiting on lawyers and arraignment.”

I nod and wonder how bad Gable really hurt Jacob. Deep down I hope it’s bad even though I know I shouldn’t think that way. I need to get to Gable. Larissa calls for Trent and he appear, ready to take us to the hospital. The three of us load up into one of the several black Mercedes in the driveway. I don’t talk to any of them as he drives us. I keep repeating in my head that I want Gable. When I see him, then I’ll know that it’s okay.

We pull into the hospital entrance, and two male nurses are waiting for me with a wheelchair. I want to inform them my hand is hurt, but I refrain and sit down. Larissa follows me while Trent parks the SUV. I’m wheeled through the lobby and into an examine room. A doctor comes in and asks questions about my hand. Larissa answers most of them, and I let her because I’m too tired to argue.

After a few x-rays, I’m told several bones are broken and I’ll have to have pins put in to help heal my fingers. I’m equipped with a sling and we wait for the specialist to come in and give the final word. I lie on the hospital bed and ask Larissa again where Gable is.

“I know he has to be done by now.”

“I’ll call him again.” She stands and steps into the hallway.

I know I’m becoming a whiny child because I keep asking for him, but I need to see for myself that he’s okay, and I want him here by my side.

“Dream.” I look up and Larissa is coming back in, pulling the curtain back revealing my husband. “Ta-da.” She says as if she made him magically appear.

I begin to sob without even meaning to as I look into his blue eyes. He comes over and wraps his arms around me. The Miller Harris cologne is faint, but still brings me comfort.

“Oh, Dream.” He inhales my hair. “Baby, don’t cry. I’m here and you’re safe.”

“I wasn’t.” I push him back with my one good hand and raise my voice. “I’m not safe.” The rage has hit me. I’m glad he’s all right, but he doesn’t know what I went through. “I was almost raped.”

And there it is…

My fear has been announced out loud and I begin to shake.

“I was alone and in that horrible room with Jacob trying to touch me.” I hear Larissa step out of the room, but my eyes are still locked with Gable. I see his lip is stitched up and there are noticeable bruises on his face and throat.

“Baby, I never wanted that to happen to you. I tried…” He chokes up and there are tears in his eyes. “I tried to get to you. We all did. I swear it.”

“Did you know Larissa was FBI?”

He shook his head. “It wasn’t until she told me at the warehouse. I really thought she was with Gideon.”

“Jacob touched me, and he took my wedding ring.” I sob harder. “I kept yelling for you.” Gable hugs me close to his body and tries to calm me, but I can’t stop the tears. I’m mad that he didn’t save me, but he’s here now. I feel the wetness from his eyes on my neck and feel his shoulders shaking. Now, I’m trying to calm him down.

“Dream, I used all my strength to get to you. I did” he weeps. “I pushed and kicked, but I couldn’t get to you. I heard you screaming, and I didn’t know what he was doing.”

“Gable.” My heart breaks because I know that he had tried to save me. He would have killed Jacob had he been closer to him. “Larissa told me that you messed him up.”

“He’s in a coma. I bashed his skull in. The doctor doesn’t think he’ll last the night.”

“Good.” I stroke his cheek and kiss his lips.

“Dream, are you?”

I know what he’s asking. “I’m not pregnant, Gable. I was lying in hopes that Jacob wouldn’t rape me.”

“It worked. I didn’t think you were, but you were convincing.” Gable nods.

“Someday we will be, but definitely not right now.”

“I know.” He kisses me again. We break apart when the doctor comes in and tells us that I’ll need surgery. I had already figured that I would have to because of the x-ray I’d glanced at. My fingers are a mess.

“When can you do the surgery?” Gable asks.

“In a couple days,” he says.

“No, today. She needs her hands repaired today.” Gable orders him.

“Gable, I’m sure he has other patients.” I hiss at him.

“I’ll double your fee if you can do it today.” Gable ignores me. The doctor’s eyes go wide.

“Let’s me see what I can do.” He stands and heads out of room.

I don’t even argue with him. I continue to bask in his touch and we both lie in the hospital bed. He tells me that his injuries aren’t bad. Leo had it the worst but he and Bruce are all fixed up and heading back to Butler Mansion to rest.

“Your mom is there.”

“I know.”

“She hasn’t said anything about Gideon, yet.” Gable remains quiet. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“What’s there to talk about? Gideon helped kidnap you, didn’t try and stop Jacob from almost raping you, watched me and my friends get our asses kicked, and ran away like a scared child when the FBI made their breach. What did I miss?”

“He’s still your brother. He’s still her son.”

“He’s nothing to me.” Gable sits up and I know he’s battling with his words. “I protected him for so long, and this is how he pays me back? I gave him everything, Dream. There’s nothing I wouldn’t have given him.” He runs his hands up and down his face. I see that they are also beaten and bruised.

“He’s your brother, Gable. I know this must be hard.”

“It’s not. Now, stop talking about it,” Gable growls at me. I sit back and I’m not sure how to act. He’s never used that tone with me in that way.

The doctor comes in and tells us that I can have the surgery in a couple of hours. Gable tells him he will make sure he get his money and leaves the room. I’m in there alone and I’m not sure how to act. Gable left me.

I didn’t mean to push him, but I know how much he cares for Gideon, no matter how much of an ass he is. Trent comes in and asks if I need anything. I want to say bring Gable back in here, but I shake my head.

It’s not too long before nurses and other staff come in and out, prepping me for surgery. I worry I won’t see Gable before I’m wheeled back, but right before they take me he pops his head over the rail and kisses me.

“Will you be here when I come out?” I mumble in my twilight drug state.

“Always, baby.” He kisses me again and I close my eyes.

~~~

My hand is throbbing and I feel like I should call for the doctor to come back and cut it off. It would be much simpler than this excruciating pain. Gable was by my bedside when I woke, but then he left again. Mrs. Stones is by my side right now, with Leo outside my door. The man is a machine. He told me that no one else watching over me but him. He looks horrible, but I can see him through the crack of my open door.