He shakes his head and plants a soft kiss on her lips. Gabriel whispers, “Never. I love you, esclave.”
She buries her head into his chest and whispers, “I love you, Gabriel.”
Gabriel rubs her back and looks over his shoulder at us.
I pull my eyes away from them and lower my cheek to Kade’s chest.
“I'll take her upstairs and come down to clean this up,” Kade says.
* * *
Gabriel looks back at us and then down to the dead body on the floor. “Victor was never here. We need to make sure Ricky doesn’t find out.”
Kade’s deep voice rumbles in his chest. “Of course not. He was never here.”
Olivia
“I want to leave, Kade.” That's all I've been thinking since this morning. I can’t sleep. I’m wide awake, lying on the bed. I’ve been in this room all day while Kade’s been gone 'cleaning up that mess', as he referred to it.
I keep seeing Victor’s lifeless eyes.
I’m not okay.
“Soon, angel.” I shake my head as Kade dries off his hair and drops the towel on the floor.
I was quiet when he came back in. I laid still in bed while he got undressed and went to shower. But I’m not okay. I can’t just be quiet and wait for him anymore.
I need to get out of here.
“I can’t stay here any longer.”
He walks to the bed and stands in front of me. Just being close to him again calms a part of me, but I'm still ready to bolt. I'm done waiting
Kade climbs on the bed and cups my chin in his hand, lifting my eyes so I have to stare into his. It's a motion he does often and usually I lean into his touch, but not now.
He starts to speak, but I interrupt him.
“I’ve never seen a dead man up close before. I can’t. I can’t stop seeing it. And the way he looked at me.” I shake my head nearly violently as the fear comes back, squeezing my lungs of their breath.
“You’ll be alright, angel. I’m here now.” His voice has that calming tone he uses with me, but I don't want to be calmed down.
He walks to the bed and takes a seat next to me. Just being close to him again calms a part of me, but I’m still not okay.
“I’m sorry I had to leave you today. I would have stayed, but I had to take care of that.”
His eyes search mine, but I can’t give him the acceptance I know he wants. I can’t cave into him. I need to leave.
“The only other person I’ve ever seen die is the man you killed that night, and--” Before I can finish, Kade leaves me. He quickly sits up from the bed and turns his back to me, reaching for the towel on the floor and going back to the bathroom.
My body stiffens. “Kade?” I call out for him and move the sheets off of me as I scoot closer to the edge.
He's never done that before, just leave me like that. I start to question my resolve. I think back on what I said and I regret saying it all, although I don't know why. I don't want him to leave me.
As the time passes and he doesn't respond, my heart beats faster with worry. I can't lose him. I need him.
I let out a breath as he comes back into the room. He doesn't seem mad or upset. I part my lips to ask him what I said, but I'm afraid to. I wait for him.
“I’m sorry I’ve done such a horrible thing to you, angel,” he says with sincerity as he comes back into the room. “I promise I’ll take care of you. I’ll make this right.” His voice is firm. But something's wrong. He’s holding something back from me.
