20. Gabriela
Chapter 20
Gabriela
“T hat bio quiz was intense, don’t you think?” My gaze meets a pair of blue eyes looking down on me as I put my quiz on the professor’s desk.
“Uh, not really. But I stayed up studying all night after I got home from work. So maybe that was my advantage.” I shrug, then flick my gaze to him with a playful smile.
“What’s your name?” His voice follows behind me as I exit the class and head toward the library.
“It’s Gabriela.” The hallway is crowded, and part of me hopes he gets lost in it behind me.
He doesn’t. Moving ahead of me, he spins around, walking backwards so he can talk to me as we make our way out of the building. “I’m Christian. I’ve seen you around campus with your friends.”
Pushing through the double doors and stepping into the quad, I let out a breath. “Nice to meet you, not to sound like a dick or anything, but I have a table reserved in the library to study, so I’ve got to go. I’ll see you in the lab.” I take off and hope that he catches the hint.
“I need to study too! Mind if I join you.” Yes, I mind.
I quicken my pace, hoping to shake off Christian, but he matches my stride effortlessly. “Actually, I do mind,” I reply curtly, hoping my bluntness will deter him. But to my dismay, he doesn’t take the hint.
“Come on, Gabriela, we can study together. It’ll be more fun,” he insists with a charming smile. I roll my eyes when he looks away. I highly doubt that it will be fun to have this guy stare at me while I try to study for my lab test.
“I work better alone,” I retort, trying to make it clear that I have no interest in studying with him. Yet he keeps trying…Where is Joaquín when I need him?
Here I am, wishing my bully was here to scare off a guy. That’s a new low, Gabby.
“Well, I can be quiet and focused, I promise,” he says as his voice drops low and attempts to be seductive. I let out an exasperated sigh, realizing that I wouldn’t be able to shake him off. Just suck it up for a little bit. Maybe when he sees what a bore it is to study with me, he will go away.
“Fine, but no distractions,” I finally concede, hoping that he’ll at least adhere to that. We entered the library together, and I led him to the table I had reserved. As we settle down, I can’t help but wonder if this study session will turn out to be more than I bargained for.
* * *
“Can you just stop?” I hiss at Christian, trying hard to not cause a scene in the library. “You really need to stop.”
His hand grazes my knee from under the table, and I want to throw up. Christian is pushy, and from the moment we sat down at the table, he has been doing everything he can to touch me. I pull my phone out and send the “unknown” number a text.
Tu reina te necesita.
Not even a second later, he responds.
What’s wrong?
Un canalla de mi clase de biología me siguió a la biblioteca. Ahora no deja de tocarme. Ojalá estuvieras aquí para protegerme.
“Who are you talking to?” Christian glares at me, drawing my eyes up to his. The look in his eyes scares me, like he would hurt me if he got me alone.
“My sister’s care worker.” Dropping my eyes back to the text message.
Parece que quiere hacerme dano.
After no response, I realize I am in this alone. “Look, I have to go. My sister is having a rough day, so I’m going to be missing class. I’ll have to catch you later.” I shove my notebook and textbook in my bag and sling it over my shoulder. With a fake smile, I take off for the doors.
Walking quickly, I look over my shoulder, and he’s following me. Fuck! I turn and run down a row of bookcases, hoping I lose him in the library. I weave through the maze of bookcases, my heart pounding in my chest. I can hear the sound of my own breath as I try to stay quiet, praying that he won’t find me. Panic courses through my veins as I realize I am trapped in this confined space with him.
I spot an empty study room up ahead and make a beeline for it, hoping to hide out here until Christian gives up. Running through the open door, I let out a breath, thinking I’m safe.
“Caught ya!” He exclaims, grabbing me by my arm.
“Let me go!” I thrash in his grasp as he pushes me further into the dark study room.
“Come on, pretty girl, I promise I won’t make it hurt.” The sound of his zipper being dragged down has me beating against his chest. Christian lifts my shirt, exposing my bra, and pulls the cup down, palming at my bare breast. “Such perfect tits.”
The light flickers on, and before I have a chance to look around Christian’s towering body, a fist connects with the back of Christian’s head with a loud crack.
“Fuuuuuck!” Christian shouts, releasing me from his grip.
“No, but I’ll make it hurt.” Joaquín pulls Christian backward by the collar of his shirt, landing punches all over his body.
Christian stumbles and falls to the ground, groaning in pain. Joaquín stands over him, his fists clenched and his face filled with rage. “You think you can just touch her?” Joaquín growls, his voice dripping with anger. “Don’t you ever touch her again.” Joaquín straddles Christian’s body, grabbing him by the shirt and pummels his face. “Don’t talk to her—don’t even breathe in her direction, or I will fucking kill you.”
I take a moment to catch my breath, grateful for Joaquín’s intervention. Trembling, I step back, keeping a safe distance from Christian. Joaquín turns to me, concern etched on his face; he lets go of Christian’s shirt, letting him thud against the floor. “Are you okay?” he asks, his voice gentle yet filled with urgency. “Did he…” Fear all over his face as he sees my shirt pulled up and my bra pulled down. I look down and adjust my bra, shoving my breast back in and pulling my shirt back down.
I shake my head, tears streaming down my face. “No, he didn’t. Thank you,” I manage to choke out. “Thank you for saving me.” He stands up and closes the distance between us.
Joaquín’s expression becomes softer, and he reaches out gently to wipe away my tears. “No one touches you but me.” I melt into the touch of his palms on either side of my face, wanting so badly for him to keep touching me like this.
“But, why did you save me?” I ask, searching his eyes for... anything—love, maybe tenderness.
“I guess I have a thing for saving the Ruiz’s girls from danger.” He shrugs, helping me step over Christian’s body that lies in a heap on the floor.
“What about him?” I point.
“Fuck that puto ,” Joaquín spits at him, and in a mumble that I don’t think he meant for me to hear. “ Eso es lo que le pasa por joder a la reina. (That's what he gets for fucking with the queen.)”
That right there solidifies my suspicions that he is my stalker. I immediately feel safer knowing that it’s him.
Together, we walk out of the study room, leaving Christian battered and defeated on the floor. We make our way to the library exit, where Joaquín watches as I walk to the parking lot, and he waits until I get in my car. Before taking off, I text the unknown number.
A real king saved me. Not words on a screen.
I look up at Joaquín, hoping that he pulls his phone out to see that I sent the number a message. But he doesn’t. He stands there with his hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans, waiting for me to take off.