Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
GAbrIEL
T he burn starts as my arms cut through the water. I hit the end, twisting before pushing off to begin another lap. The water is tepid and refreshing. One other person joins me, but we ignore each other, lost in our own worlds. Few people are up and in the pool at five-thirty. The fifty-metre pool is one reason I chose this apartment building, that and my brother’s company built it.
Last night has left me drained. For all my love for my brother, he’s never understood the physical effect being around that number of people has on me. He thrives while I’m smothered.
My mind wanders back to Leah and the previous evening. I called Caleb as soon as I got in.
“All hell broke loose after you left,” he says. “Leah’s two friends came back in and gave Vince and his girlfriend a piece of their mind.”
I can understand her friends. I wanted to give Vince a piece of my mind, too.
“What happened?” I ask .
Caleb gives me a rundown on how Leah’s friends went nuclear on Vince’s ass.
“Then Tristan’s security threw them out.”
“Who?” I ask.
“All of them,” Caleb adds smugly. “But it’s okay. I got the girls readmitted before I left. Vince and his girlfriend have a lifetime ban.”
I grin. Karma can be a bitch, and my brother is a vindictive bastard when his friends are hurt.
I hit the side again, my fingers gripping the edge as I bring myself to a stop. My mind races over Leah’s predicament. I drop my head back and stare at the ceiling, watching the ripples of light as they bounce off the hard surface. My ears encased, the whooshing of the water calms my frayed nerves.
My feet hit the bottom of the pool and I place my palms on the side, hauling myself out of the water and onto my feet. My arm and shoulder muscles protest at the seventy-seven lengths of free-style I forced on them. As my trainer taught me many moons ago, I stretch them out, not wanting to limit my movements for the rest of the day.
I grab my towel and head for the showers. My mind racing with possibilities. I’m a fixer, and I think I have the perfect fix.