Is it just in my head or does he sound disappointed?
“Sure,” I tell him as I catch a glimpse of a man walking down the dock, the outline of his body lit by the lights of the house beyond. “That’d be great.”
Unease tightens inside me, constricting tighter and tighter as we get closer to the landing. Until we get close enough that I can see Brody standing on the dock. I swiftly deposit my empty bottle in the trash and slide out of Gabriel’s sweatshirt, tucking it neatly on the seat next to me.
“You good?” Gabriel growls as we approach the dock.
“That’s my husband,” I reply. My eyes don’t leave Brody’s. He looks fuming.
“That’s not what I asked.” The instance in Gabriel’s tone has my eyes snapping to his.
The blue of his irises is alight with something dark I haven’t seen before. He looks angry, but not with me.
“I don’t have to leave you here, Allison.” He nods reassuringly, his gaze boring into me as if he can see past my carefully constructed façade. “Say the word and I’ll turn this boat around.”
I swallow down my words before they can leave my mouth. As much as I’d like to run, that’s not who I am anymore.
I am not weak. I am in control.
I plaster on the fakest smile I can muster and throw my shoulders back. “I’m fine. My husband is waiting for me.”
For a beat, he stares at me. His eyes piercing through me. He seems to be debating something. Then he turns away and steers the boat to the dock.
I stand on unsteady legs and maneuver to the side of the boat. Brody doesn’t meet me. He stands stock still in the middleof the dock, hands on his hips, eyes looking down at me. When he doesn’t move to help me, I begin to hoist myself out of the boat.
“For fucks sake,” Gabriel mutters under his breath before jumping the edge and landing on the deck. He offers me an outstretched hand which I gladly accept.
“That’s my wife’s hand you’re holding.” Brody’s angry voice cuts through the cold air. The sun has all but set now and the night is quickly closing in around us. “Who the hell are you, friend?”
Gabriel doesn’t take his eyes off of me, making sure I land safely on the dock and am settled before releasing my hand. I immediately miss the warm strength of his calloused fingers beneath mine. His eyes narrow and a flash of something dark flits across his features before it’s replaced with a smile.
“Your wife was lost. I just gave her a lift back to the dock,” he says in a cool tone as he turns to face Brody. He places himself between me and my husband.
“Ali,” Brody’s cold eyes narrow in on me, “get the fuck over here.” His tone leaves no room for argument.
I let out a long sigh before taking a step down the dock. Then another. A warm hand wraps around my wrist, squeezing slightly before letting go. Gabriel’s reassuring gesture doesn’t go unnoticed, even through the darkness I can see my husband’s gaze flare with fury. He’s possessive, but only when it suits him. As soon as I’m within reach, he strikes out.
“Ow!” I shriek as his hand clamps around my upper arm. His grip is bruisingly tight. “Brody, you’re hurting me.”
He drags me to his face, so close I can smell the alcohol on his breath. “And you hurt me when you act like a bitch, Ali.”
I feel his presence at my back before he speaks. Brody is too busy seething with rage in my face to notice the figure looming above us.
“Let her go,” Gabriel growls. “Now.”
The water beats against the dock, the sound echoing through the darkness surrounding us. There’s a slow pause as the world seems to still momentarily. And then chaos erupts.
“How dare you embarrass me like this in front of my family,” Brody balks as he lets go of my arm.
I’m so momentarily relieved to be free of his bruising grip that I don’t notice his hand reeling back until it’s too late. I don’t have time to block the blow. The back of his hand and fingers strike my cheek fast and hard, sending me falling backward in shock. The pain isn’t immediate, its blossoms slowly into a blinding throb as I fall, my body tumbling as pain and shock propel me back. I stick out my hand to catch myself but it’s too late. My elbow collides with the wooden planks of the dock. Pain shoots down my arm and throbs in my face.
“Motherfucker,” someone seethes and I look up in time to see Gabriel closing the distance between himself and my husband.
He grabs Brody by the collar but my husband is a snake. Swifter than should be capable for someone as drunk as he is, my husband’s fist flies out, striking my new coworker in the jaw. When Gabriel’s head snaps toward me from the blow, he no longer looks like himself.
My vision is blurred from pain, tears pricking my eyes, and yet I can still make out the Devilish grin that spreads across his face. Blood pools against his lip, staining his teeth. His eyes seem to glow red and I have to blink several times to try and clear my vision. He brings a hand up to his cut lip, scooping a drop of blood with his thumb and licking it with his tongue. Red flashes in my vision. He winks. Nausea rolls through me and the world seems to spin.
And then he laughs. A slow, sinister laugh that sends a shiver down my spine.
