21. Veronica #2
“And have you paid it yet?” He shakes his head from side to side again. “That’s what I thought. If they had evidence, they would have already sent it out or threatened you with proof.”
“But what if they really do? What if it’s not a bluff?” he asks with worry.
“They don’t, trust me. If there’s one thing Victor taught me, it was how to call a bluff.
He would always say, ‘Someone who threatens twice is a liar.’ He showed me exactly what he meant by that a few times.
He told me that you only ever threaten someone once, and that if you have to do it again, you give them an example of your threat.
The next time they don’t listen, you perform the threat. ”
I drop my hands from his face and close my eyes momentarily as unwanted memories of him flood my mind and a shiver runs through my spine. Gabe must sense it because his hands suddenly settle along my arms as he rubs up and down, bringing me back to the moment.
I open my eyes again and smile at him. “It’s how he knew if someone was lying to him.
If they kept threatening but never actually did anything about it, it’s because whatever they claimed they had or would do was bullshit.
” I place my hands on his chest. “They might know about it, but they don’t have any proof, Gabriel.
Trust me. No more money, no more taking their calls. ”
“But what if we turn out to be wrong?”
“We aren’t. I can feel it in my gut. Someone told me not long ago to stop living in fear of someone else. To stop letting them control my life.” I cup his cheek once more.
“He sounds like a really smart guy.”
“I think he may be.” I smile, leaning in and kissing his lips. “I just hope he takes my advice.”
He kisses me back, brushing my hair behind my ears. “Okay, no more money.” His shoulders drop as his body loses tension, like a weight has finally been lifted off his shoulders.
“Thank you for telling me,” I whisper against him.
“Thank you for being patient with me.” He pulls me back in for another kiss. “Although I may be a ball of nerves for the next few days.” He chuckles.
“That’s okay.” I’m expecting it. At least until he realizes I’m right and nothing comes from their threats. “I know a few ways to calm you down.” I feel him harden beneath me as I begin to kiss down his neck and rock my hips slowly. These two men have turned me into a starved woman.
“Mmm, I like where your mind is going.” He holds my hips, helping me grind against him.
“Am I interrupting something?”
We stop moving and look back to the door, finding Noah leaning against the door frame with his arms folded over his chest and a smirk on his lips. His sweat-soaked shirt sticks to his deliciously thick muscles.
“Nah, our girl was just hungry and needs to be fed.” Gabe smiles and scoots us over to the side of the bed with me still over him. He lifts us with ease and chuckles. “You really are lighter than a hockey bag.” Then he begins to walk toward the door and out into the hall.
“Wait, where are we going?” I’m confused why we can’t just have sex in his room since we’re already all here.
“I just said I was going to feed you.” He laughs and carries us down the stairs while Noah heads for his room, likely to take a shower.
“That’s not the kind of feeding I wanted!” I whine, which only makes him laugh harder. I can even hear Noah from inside his room laughing as well.
NOAH
~ One Week Later ~
“Do you guys mind if we stop at my place before heading over to Morgan’s? I want to grab a change of clothes since I’m spending the night here,” Veronica calls as she comes down the stairs with her shoes on and purse hanging off her shoulder.
The whole gang is heading over to Burkley’s place for dinner. Greyson is supposed to propose to Emma today. And if all goes well, she’ll say yes, and we’ll be celebrating their engagement at Clay’s house.
Emma is still in a funk since Maddison’s passing, still hardly leaving the bed and functioning.
She’s spiraling into a depression, and Greyson is starting to freak out.
Originally, he had planned to propose at their launch party this weekend.
But with her state of mind, he thought proposing earlier might get her out of depression in time for her and Cecilia’s grand opening.
Cecilia has been picking up the slack with the rest of the girls’ help to get everything ready and moving for the launch party and their first day of work. But she can’t do it all on her own; she needs her business partner.
“Yeah, of course. You can even pack up all your things while you’re at it and just move in.” Gabe shines a blinding smile at her.
She stops in front of him, patting his chest. “One thing at a time, Pretty Boy. One thing at a time.” She steps away and heads for the elevator.
Gabe leans in, hands in his jean’s pockets. “She didn’t say no.”
I chuckle and shake my head at him, then follow after Veronica.
We take Gabe’s Porsche over to Veronica’s condo, since my car only fits two. We’re just turning onto her block when she pushes her head between us from the back, arms bent and supporting her body on either side of our seats.
“You know…” she starts, then smiles devilishly at me. “If we ever have a baby, you’ll have to get a new car since yours is only a two-seater.”
My eyes grow wide as Gabe hits the brakes hard, sending us all flying against our seatbelts, except for Veronica, who doesn’t seem to be buckled in. I quickly put my arm in the way, stopping her from flying out the windshield.
“HOLY FUCK! I’m sorry. Shit, fuck, sorry. I just… I think I just came in my pants.” Gabe shuts off the engine and turns in his seat, beaming at Veronica. “Is it time? Are we really having this conversation now? Because I’m ready. I’m so, so ready.”
He practically bounces in his seat with excitement. “We can do it right here, right now. Or in your condo, since we’re already here. I’m going to put so many babies in you, Vixen. Fuck, I’m hard just thinking about it. I can’t wait to see you all swollen and emotional.”
“Jesus, that turned scary real quick,” I mutter, still shocked from what Veronica spurted out of the blue.
Gabe glares my way. “There is absolutely nothing scary about a pregnancy. It’s one of the most beautiful moments in a woman’s life. Don’t say shit like that, she might take it back!”
Veronica suddenly bursts into a high-pitched hyena laugh, holding on to her belly as she falls back into her seat. I swear if there was more room back there, she’d be rolling all over and kicking her feet in the air. “Oh my God! That was hilarious! I should have filmed it.”
I give her a reproachful look. “This is funny to you?”
She takes a few deep breaths as she steadies herself and sits back up properly.
“Oh, come on, it’s a little funny. I just wanted to see his reaction.
I mean, look at him.” She nods toward Gabe.
“He’s like a big golden retriever puppy all excited to chew on his new toy.
” Gabe narrows his eyes at her, and she quickly places a hand over her mouth to suppress her giggle.
“Look, now he’s pouting because we took away his toy. ”
I can’t help but laugh as I watch Veronica giggling her heart away at Gabe’s expense.
“I hate you both,” he declares as he faces forward in his seat and crosses his arms, sulking like a child.
Veronica goes to the back of his seat, her arms coming around to hold him. “Aww, no, you don’t. I think you still like me very much.”
“You’re right, I think I do. But only because you’re fucking hot and I really want to fuck your brains out tonight.” He turns, grabbing her head and kissing her.
“Way to make that sound romantic, Pretty Boy.” She laughs against his lips just as her phone begins to ring.
She pulls back and takes it out from her purse, frowning as she sees who’s calling. She quickly answers it and puts the phone to her ear. “Hey, Nate.” Nate? Who the fuck is Nate? Nathan? And if so, why the fuck is he calling her?