"Leave," Brick leans in. He's a few inches taller and wider than Greenwald.
"Are you threatening me?" Greenwald postures.
"I'm advising you to leave," Brick corrects him. "There is a difference."
Greenwald assesses him, looks at me. I shake my head and cross my arms over my chest for good measure. "You're making a mistake. The next time I come back, I'll have an arrest warrant."
His words hit. I'm not used to being threatened by cops… well, not anymore anyway.
Greenwald leans in awkwardly, his fist still held tight by Brick. "You know there is a man looking for you, willing to pay a lot of money for any information."
"That's enough." Brick's hand slides from the detective's fist to his wrist and bends it. There's an uglycrack, followed by Greenwald's loud scream.
"That's assault," he bellows. "On an officer."
Brick raises his arms, "So arrest me. I'm sure your bosses will be very interested to learn of your dealings with a certain member of the MC."
What the actual fuck?
Are they talking about Razor? That's the only explanation for his comment about the MC.
"Fuck you," Greenwald cradles his broken wrist and retreats. "You'll regret this. Both of you."
Brick turns to me and asks, "You okay, Audra?"
"Yeah." I blink a few times, stare at him, then nod. Good thing I was about to leave anyway. I'm pretty sure Greenwald will be back. Suddenly, the protection Gabe offers seems even more welcome.
Gabe picks me up promptly at five. The moment he knocks on the door, my heart stutters. Actually stutters, which is ridiculous. It's just a door. Just a man. Just…
I open it. And instantly, I forget how to breathe. Gabe stands there like he's stepped out of a completely different world. Immaculate suit, dark and perfectly tailored, not a single crease out of place. Everything about him is controlled, precise… expensive. He looks like he doesn't belong anywhere near this place. Like the house itself should apologize for existing in his presence. It feels like I've forgotten how good-looking he is during the last few days. Enough to take my breath away. Enough to form a huge lump in my throat at the thought that this man is here. For me. A man like him, who could have any supermodel in the world, has come to pick me up.
I'm just glad I'm wearing a nice dress. Not as nice as the clothes he bought me, but… decent enough.
"Audra."
My name rolls off his tongue, low and smooth. It's just a name, but coming from his lips, it sounds like so much more. As much as I want to find smugness in it, something to hate, there isn't any. Only the sound of his voice, wrapping around my spine and pulling tight. His eyes lock on me. Dark. Focused. Blown wide. All pupil. He takes me in like he's committing every detail to memory. His face gives nothing away. No judgment. No approval. Nothing. Just that steady, consuming attention.
My stomach flutters again. Harder this time. I haven't felt like this in… I don't even know how long. Too long.
"Are you ready?" he asks smoothly, stepping back just enough to give me space.
I nod.
"Do you need anything from here?"
"I…" Damn, what happened to my voice? It's all squeaky, and I don't seem to be able to find any words. I clear my throat. "I've packed a few things, mostly for Mom."
I point at a suitcase in the corner. One suitcase. Pathetic? Right? I've been saying that a lot lately about myself and my life.
He takes the suitcase in one hand, not bothering with the rollers, and my hand in the other. Outside, a blacked-out Escalade is idling, back doors and hatch open.
I tug on his hand, suddenly scared, "Gabe. Wait."
He stops and looks at me with his piercing blue eyes that would remind me of a glacier if they weren't so intently directed at me.
"I… what are we doing? What… where…" Again, I seem to be at a loss for words.
He puts the suitcase down and cups my cheek with his hand, caressing it with a featherlike touch. "We'll do whatever you want to do, Audra. We'll take this as slow or as fast as you want. But let me be perfectly clear about one thing. You're not coming back here, not ever. And you're not going to stay anywhere where I'm not around for more than a few hours. Does that clear your questions?"
