I don’t have much time to dwell on that thought. Within minutes, a soothing wave of relaxation is sinking deep into my limbs. I fall asleep with my head against Gabriel’s chest, memorizing his strong and steady heartbeat.
I’m groggy when we step into the house, the sleeping pill effective in knocking me out for the full trip back. It takes me a moment to register the yappy chihuahua that greets me. “Whose dog is this?”
“Long story,” is all Gabriel manages to say before Michelle charges forward.
“Mercy! Thank God you’re okay!” She’s about four feet away when she falters, as if only then remembering how badly she betrayed me.
Moe trails behind her, a quiet shadow who used to leave me unsettled. Next to Bane though, he’s as huggable as a child’s plush teddy bear. I was relieved when Gabriel confirmed that he had survived Bane’s attack with nothing more than a flesh wound. I would have felt guilty had he lost his life trying to protect me. I was also glad to learn that Michelle helped Moe by stemming the blood flow and getting Farley there, rather than running and screaming out the door as fast as she could.
With a hard swallow, Michelle says, “We were all so worried about you.”
The animosity and hurt that absorbed me the night I found out my best friend was working with the FBI has evaporated. It may return once this surreal fog that shrouds my new reality—postcaptivity—lifts, but for now I’m happy to see her. I offer her a small smile.
She returns it, though her brow furrows as she takes inventory of the dark purple rings around my wrists. I know she’s wondering how I earned those. Her lips even part as if to ask, but then she hesitates. “I drew a bath for you in Gabriel’s room. It just finished. It’s still nice and hot.”
“In our room,” Gabriel corrects, smoothing a palm over my back. I haven’t been beyond his reach since he settled into the booth at the diner.
“Right. Of course.” She fumbles over her words. “And there are burgers and salads laid out on the counter. Or I can make you a sandwich, some scrambled eggs? Some fruit, too, if that’s what you feel like….” Her words drift as Caleb saunters over. She watches him like a cautious animal after having been kicked.
“I will admit, the traitor’s been the perfect little helper around here, especially with all the extra bodies to feed.” He offers her a disapproving look that counters his praise before shifting his attention to me. The black eye that he came home with that night of the explosion is healing, hints of green where purple used to blemish his skin. “So the beast was killed by the beauty. Can’t wait to hear the full story.”
“I’m in no rush to tell it.”
“No, I guess not.” Caleb’s fingertip grazes my mottled cheek, a deep scowl marring his normally unbothered expression. “We’ll make Vlad pay for this; we promise.”
Right now, all I want to do is hide and not have to face anyone. Certainly not start conversations about revenge.
A child’s laughter pulls my attention to the terrace beyond the living room. It’s mid-afternoon and there is a naked child climbing into the pool, followed closely by a young dark-haired woman. I frown. “Is that my red bikini?”
“Like I said, there’s a lot going on that I need to explain.” Gabriel sighs heavily. His hands curl around my waist and he gently guides me toward his wing.
“So, that’s Puff’s girlfriend, son, and mother by the pool.” Warm water sluices across my scalp, followed by Gabriel’s fingers, gently working the shampoo suds from my hair. “And Puff is the leader of the gang who mules your drugs.”
“Right. And he’s currently serving time in Fulcort. You might have seen him when you were there to visit your dad. He has a large tattoo of a dragon on his face.”
I do remember seeing that guy once. According to my father’s cellmate, Crazy Bob, he was high up in the gang food chain. A young woman was there to see him, maybe the same one who’s now being fed three square meals and top-shelf tequila to mask the fact that Gabriel and Caleb are holding her and her family against their will.
“Puff the Magic Dragon,” I murmur, piecing things together. “I thought he was supposed to be friendly.”
Gabriel flashes a wry smile. “Yeah, well, the Fulcort version, not so much. Especially not after this. I tried to explain that it was either we do it this way and hide them here, or my father loses patience with us and sends men to get them. Or worse, Bane. At least this way they’re safe until Vlad is dealt with, once and for all.” Gabriel caps the shampoo and reaches for the conditioner. He’s been tending to me as a nurse cares for a patient—removing my clothes with clinical hands, lifting me into the deep soaker tub, settling onto the edge where he can delicately wash my body. Even now, mostly clean, I haven’t caught his dark blue eyes wandering over my nakedness once. Normally, he can’t keep his eyes and hands to himself.