Gabe looked at me. “I think we are dealing with two different sets of people.”
I felt the blood drain from me as I whispered, “And they want two different things.”
No one responded.
It was true. Not only were we worrying about someone kidnapping me, but also someone trying to kill me.
Trent picked up a few of the pictures, looking at them with new eyes. Gabe came and sat on the couch.
This was terrible. Worse than I imagined. Who wanted to hurt me? Why? What had I done to elicit such an emotion from them?
I felt Gabe’s finger under my chin as he brought my lavender eyes to meet his green ones. “I’m not leaving your side. Our children will be born with all this shit behind us. No one is going to hurt you.”
“I hope so.” My voice lacked conviction.
“I swear it.”
Shortly after the revelation, I went to my room to think. It took me a while to fall asleep after Gabe’s insights, but eventually exhaustion won out.
After I woke up from my nap, I was still nervous what the future held and scared what this new player’s end game was. One thing I prided myself on was being a good person. To want to kill someone seemed as though it would have to be something so terrible it would drive a person crazy.
I gasped. “Candy.”
I threw the covers away and ran to the kitchen.
Gabe was sipping coffee at the kitchen table. “Hey there, sweetheart.”
“Does Candy know about me?”
He walked up to me and put his hands on my shoulders. “I don’t know. While you were sleeping I made a list of possible suspects. She’s at the top.”
“Of course you already thought about it.”
He removed his hands from my shoulders and placed them on my cheeks. “I’ve thought of nothing else since I had the realization. Nothing. Trent’s team is on it.”
His eyes moved to my lips and I felt myself lean in closer. “Do you think it’s her?”
“I don’t know. We’re looking at Commander Taylor’s men. They may be holding a grudge for him. I’m not sure. Jack De Luca is still at the top, even though nothing else has turned up on him that connects him to the accident or notes. It’s almost like he’s being framed to take the fall for this. From the charges that were brought up, threats like this don’t seem to be his style. They are all interconnected somehow; I just don’t know what the common thread is besides Alex.” His forehead moved closer to mine. “I’m going to keep you safe.” His hand moved to my stomach. “And our babies. I’ll figure this out.”
“I know you will.”
Our lips moved a little closer when the door opened and I took a hasty step back, breaking the connection. Nonno walked in and it felt like I had been caught doing something naughty.
“Hey, Nonno.” My voice was a little off as I thought about Gabe’s mouth being close to mine.
“Hey, sleepyhead. Glad to see you’re awake. Let’s sit. My old legs are tired.”
The chairs made noise as we scooted them out. I sat next to Gabe. He smiled into his cup of coffee. I knew it pleased him having me near. It pleased me. During our breakfast the other day, I had barely acknowledged him.
My lips turned upward as Nonno looked between us. “How’d the doctor’s visit go?”
Gabe remained silent and looked at me to answer. No one knew about the twins yet. Was I ready to share? A slight tip of his head told me Gabe was leaving it up to me. “The doctor said everything looks good. He wants me to keep resting.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I’ve been worried about you and the little one. It’s going to be a special day when I get to see my great-grandchild. Your parents would be so happy.”
Happiness filled my heart. “Yes, they would. I can’t wait to get home and start planning the baby room. I found the paintings Dad made for me when I was a baby before the art show. I plan on hanging them in the nursery.”
Plus, it would be nice to have a project on my hands to occupy my time. Maybe a mural on the wall.
Nonno cleared his throat. “Speaking of home, I’ve decided to return to mine.”
Alarm shot through me. This wasn’t part of the plan. “Nonno, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He held up his hand. “I’ve spoken to Trent and Gabe about this while you were sleeping. We are going to take the necessary precautions. Trent has a friend who is going to head up my security.”
“Nonno…” I turned to Gabe, seeing Nonno was resolved in his decision. “Don’t you think he should stay? He should stay, right?”
There was someone out there trying to kill me. I wanted everyone I loved close to me.
Gabe leaned forward and took my hand. “For safety? No, I don’t as long as the necessary precautions are taken. We’re working on you getting home, too.”
When Gabe put it like that, it made it a little less scary. I ran my fingers through my hair when Gabe leaned over. “I’ll be in the hallway if you need me so you and Nonno can talk.”
“Okay.” I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to leave as I watched his retreating back.
The door clicked. My eyes were transfixed on it as I thought of what to say to Nonno to convince him to stay. There was another reason I was afraid for him to leave that scared me to admit.
“Nonno, why are you leaving? I don’t want you in danger. How were they able to get the precautions done so quickly?”
He reached his hands across the table, and I put mine in his. “You need this time with Gabe, Willow.” I started to argue when he held up his free hand. “Hear me out, baby girl.”
I nodded and he continued, “I hadn’t met Gabe before he was deployed. All I knew was Alex. And it was hard to see what you’re father had seen between you and Gabe. Your dad said you were two spirits completing each other. In the couple of days I’ve watched you two, I see it. And I think you need this time to find your way back to each other. I’ve spent a lot of time talking to Gabe. He’s a good man. I can sense it. You’re on the cusp of finding each other and I don’t want to be in the way. I can’t be in the way.”
Wow, his words were beautifully frightening. The connection was intense.
I closed my eyes and whispered, “I’m scared, Nonno.” That was another huge reason I wanted him to stay. Being alone with Gabe, truly being alone with him, meant that we were going to be alone… together. My heart was terrified of getting hurt again.
“Love is scary.” He paused and I opened my eyes. “Follow your heart, Willow. I’m not saying you should end up with Gabe. All I’m saying is open yourself up to it. You guys are having a baby together. I know the circumstances around how you became pregnant are questionable. I don’t agree with what Gabe did and he knows this. I can’t imagine what he’s been through either. Alex did a number on everyone.”
I pulled my hands back and played with the edge of the placemat. “There’s a part of me that feels like I betrayed Gabe.”
Nonno watched me with his all-knowing eyes. “And this is why you’re keeping your distance from him?”
“Yes. Part of it. I’m trying to stay away… unsuccessfully.”
He cleared his throat. “That’s why it’s best that I leave. It’ll give you two time to figure things out and follow your heart. Willow, I don’t think you betrayed him. But, I’m not the one you need to tell your thoughts to.”
I knew this was true—all of it. Sometimes the truth was scarier than a lie. “Thank you, Nonno. I needed this talk.”
“If you need anything, I’m a phone call away, baby girl.”
Nonno was my rock and I was grateful I still had him in my life. “I love you, Nonno.”
“Love you, too.”
Nonno left and I sat on the couch, collecting my thoughts alone. What had only been a few days felt like a lifetime. So much so fast.
The door opened, but I continued to face forward with my unfocused eyes as I thought about my conversation with Nonno. Open up my heart. Allow myself to be happy. I knew Gabe
was sorry for what had happened. If I had to deceive someone to protect them, would I?
Unequivocally, the answer was yes. Gabe had made those decisions to protect me until he was able to piece together the mess Alex had brought into my life.
He settled in the chair across from me. “And then there were two.”
“And then there were two,” I echoed with a grin on my face, remembering the first time we were alone. On our first date, we’d met in a restaurant and closed the place down. When we were the last two people there, Gabe had said those exact words.
It was weird. I knew Gabe intimately, but suddenly I was nervous.
“Do you trust me, Willow?” he asked, his voice questioning as if he were afraid of the answer.
“Yes.” I was shocked at my lack of hesitation. But, then I knew it was true, I trusted Gabe fully.
My quick answer pleased Gabe as he stared at me with a gorgeous smile. “I’d like to do something different, if that’s okay?”
That seemed like the perfect idea. “I’d love that.”
He held out a piece of fabric. “Will you put this on? I want it to be surprise. The men are helping me with something I don’t want you to see.”
A surprise. I loved surprises. I stood and turned. “Will you put it on me?”
It would have been easy to tie the fabric over my eyes, but I wanted to feel his touch.
“It’d be my pleasure, sweetheart.” His hot breath was at my ear.
I remained silent, hoping he would kiss me just below my ear. He covered my eyes and secured the black cloth behind my head. Then I felt his fingertips on my neck. They lightly trailed down my arm.
The cloth was thick and completely blocked any residual light.
Involuntarily, I leaned into his chest. His lips came to the top of my head. “Thank you, Willow. I’ll never take your trust for granted. You’ll never have to doubt my feelings for you.”
A warm shiver moved through me as his hands trailed farther down. And then on a squeal I was lifted.
“Gabe!” I gripped him tightly.
“I don’t want you tripping.”
I cocked my head to the side even though I wasn’t able to see him. “Admit it, you wanted to hold me.”
“True. But, I think my excuse works so I don’t scare you off.”