4. Lexi
4
Lexi
G abriel literally dragged me out of the Casino. Why the hell did he have to be here tonight and ruin everything for me? I was supposed to be with Lucas now. I could’ve gotten him to fess up. The plan was to take him home, let him pass out in my arms, and then search the place for the evidence I needed. Damn it, Gabriel, you just had to be the hero!
“I needed to get you off the stage before he started talking trash.”
“Talking trash about what? What were you so afraid of? He was wasted. No one was paying any attention, anyway; they couldn’t even hear him. If you hadn’t butted in, I would’ve just kissed him and left the stage with everyone cheering. But you had to cause a scene, didn’t you? I could’ve handled things my way.”
A look of stunned disbelief washes over Gabriel’s face. Yeah, I didn’t want or need rescuing. I can manage Lucas.
“Why don’t you leave the risk assessment to me? I’m better at it; I’ve been doing it for years. We should’ve kicked Lucas out sooner. He’s been a liability ever since he stepped foot inside. I only allowed him to stay because of Peter and because…”
The air gets thick as he pauses, his eyes slowly burning down my figure. It’s that look again, that look that seems to wash over my thighs and my breasts. Because of me, is what he meant ?
“Dean, get a car out front so someone can take Lexi home.” He sounds pissed off. You’ve got to be kidding me. He’s the angry one now? And what am I supposed to be — baggage he has to carry around?
“Stop telling me what to do! I don’t need a car,” I snap, my voice clipped. Maybe he finally gets it.
“I won’t let you drive yourself home or get a cab.” He stares down at the phone in my hand like it’s a ticking time bomb, ready to snatch it away with a patronizing sigh. Seriously?
I walk down the alley, but he’s right behind me. God, the audacity… Who does he think he is, acting like he has a say in my life? He doesn’t.
“You won’t you let me? Get a grip!” Why is he suddenly acting like an asshole? And silly little me, thinking we had a moment earlier when we danced, and he finally let his guard down and acted like the perfect gentleman and a man I could actually trust.
“I’m not going alone. My friend is coming to pick me up. She’s in a bar nearby, waiting for me to text her. It’s just around the corner.”
I head for the parking lot where Lena left her car, open my phone and send her an audio message on WhatsApp. “ Hey, can you come to the car? We’re going home. It’s just me .”
“I’m going to meet Lena alone. Please don’t follow me.” If he dares to stop me, I swear I’ll scream.
“I’m not following you.” His voice is calm. “Look, it’s late. Let me walk you to your car, so I know you’re safe.” This whole princess-prisoner routine is giving me a headache. Pick a lane already!
His eyes seem sincere, though. Maybe he really wants to do the gentlemanly thing. He’s the one who’s been taking care of me tonight, after all. Well, he also purposefully held me back from being near Lucas, pissed him off, and pushed him to act out. But hey, when was the last time two guys fought over me? Never, that’ s when.
“Can you ask your team about Lucas, please? Is he okay? You can wait with me until Lena comes if you want to.” Not only does he want to, but he walks so close I can practically feel his breath on my neck. I agreed with Lena that she’d be close by, waiting for me in case Lucas got drunk, and I walked out with him so she could drive us to his place. I had a plan. Damn it. Mr. Let me do the risk assessment just had to butt in and ruin it!
Gabriel takes off his jacket and drapes it over my shoulders. “Dean, what did you do with Lucas?” he asks his team through his earpiece.
Oh, God… “ What did you do with him? ” I can just see Lucas shoved into a car trunk and hauled to a gritty interrogation room, where they douse him with buckets of ice water to wake him up. They don’t look like thugs, though. Plus, there’s also Peter. They respect him and probably work for him. I know the name of the company that handles all the security for Peter’s business, but I don’t know if Gabriel is part of it. I’ll figure everything out first thing tomorrow, including the infuriatingly bossy, grumpy, and ridiculously attractive Gabriel.
“Lucas is fine. One of our guys is driving them home,” he reports back. I wonder if he’s as harsh with his employees, too.
“Them? Who’s them ?”
“Anita showed up on the way out. She’ll look after her brother. He’ll be fine. It’s not the first time he’s made a mess of himself. But you should know that.”
Well, I didn’t. And what’s that got to do with anything? Shit. Is this him scolding me right now?
“Huh, you’re one to take the moral high ground! It must’ve rubbed off from your friend Anita. You two seemed tight.”
He smiles, obviously amused. Shit. I sounded jealous. Anita is a conniving bitch who will walk all over people to get what she wants. But maybe that’s his type. Not some small-town girl who needs to borrow dresses from her friend.
Lena’s car pulls up right next to us. She gets out, and her eyes light up as she sees me. She’s always had this contagious energy that makes everyone around her feel better. In moments like this, I truly appreciate having her in my life.
I see her puzzled face when she notices Gabriel next to me.
“This is Lena, my friend I told you about.”
“Right, Dominic’s fan,” Gabriel replies. I wonder if Dominic is still listening to our conversation. Lena would go berserk if she knew the one and only Dominic Monti thinks she might have a crush on him. The thought makes me chuckle.
“Hi, I’m Lena. Not sure why Dominic Monti is in the same sentence as me,” she says, reaching out her hand. Gabriel shakes it gently and introduces himself. “Gabriel Ross.” Lena turns to me while still holding her hand in his. “You know, Gabriel is the one who…” I try to explain, but then realize I’m not sure who he actually is.
“…her protector tonight,” he answers for me.
“Well, hello, stranger,” Lena chirps, then winks at me. Not now, Lena.
“Dominic also says hi,” Gabriel adds, smiling.
Lena gives me a questioning look. “He means Dominic Monti. He can hear everything we’re saying through Gabriel’s earpiece. Dominic’s at the event we came from. They’re friends. It’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it later,” I try to wrap it up.
She looks confused but gets in the car. I take off Gabriel’s coat and give it back to him before I join her.
“Thank you. For the coat, I mean. And for a few things you did tonight. But not for everything. Anyway, thanks,” I stammer. I didn’t think I’d be this nervous in front of him .
Gabriel smiles. “Will you text me when you go to bed?”
“Is this you asking for my phone number?” I ask, ignoring the bed reference.
“I already have it.” Of course he does. He already knows way too much about me. And he’ll probably keep digging. I have a nagging feeling his interest in me won’t end tonight.
“I’m just asking for permission to be in touch. Here, I’ll text you my number. It would be great if you’d let me know you made it home safely.”
He’s asking for permission? What a joke. I ignore it and hop into the car. But then I look back and see him standing alone on the sidewalk, watching our car drive away, with a hint of sadness and worry on his face. Or I’m just imagining things.
What does Gabriel think he’s protecting me from ? And how much does this man know about me? It all goes back to Peter. I’ll find out tomorrow.
“God, Lena, you won’t believe the night I’ve had. Let’s just go.”
“Who’s Mr. Smoking Hot? And how do you know Dominic Monti? Where were you? I thought you’d be with Lucas by now.”
Lena keeps bombarding me with questions as we take off, leaving Gabriel in the driveway. Just a few steps away from where I spent two of the most incredible hours of my life, and I can’t even put it into words for her.
“Just drive, please. Gabriel’s looking. I can’t talk when he looks at me like that. Let’s just go.”
“Okay, okay, we’re leaving.”
Lena takes off, tires screeching, and we quickly get caught in the busy city traffic. It’s almost midnight, and there are still a lot of cars on the street. Lena lives about half an hour from the Casino, by the sea, in a house she inherited from her grandma, in an old but cool part of the city. And I crash at her place, but I’m more like a long-term house guest until I get back on my feet.
Lena’s like a sister to me. She’s been my friend since primary school, and she’s the only one who knows where I come from and who I am today. She’s part of the mission that brought me to this city.
“We’re far enough now. Seriously, what happened?” she finally asks after a few minutes.
“The evening was a fiasco. Mr. Smoking Hot , as you like to call him, is the head of security for the event and followed me around like a hawk the whole time. He knows Peter. I mean, he knows everyone. He’s one of them. And he’s dead set on getting in my way. Gabriel literally carried me away from Lucas just as he was getting drunk enough for me to take him home and search his place.”
“Whoa, slow down there. That’s a lot to unpack. Plus, you left out the part about Dominic Monti. What was that about?” Lena asks, turning her head for a second to look at me. I see that sparkle in her eyes. She hates Dominic Monti for kicking her out of his club, but I think she’s still attracted to him.
“They’re buddies, they do business together, that’s all. Dominic hosted the event. Just so you know, he’s not how you described him.”
“Let me be the judge of that, okay? I know all the socialites in this city and their dramas. We write about them all the time. Why don’t you tell me about this… Gabriel, instead? That’s his name, right?”
“He’s like a puzzle I can’t seem to solve. One minute, he’s barking orders like a drill sergeant; the next, he’s playing the perfect chivalrous date. It’s like he’s trying to be the protector, but in a rough sort of way.”
“How do you mean rough ?”
“He led me around with his hand clutched to my back like I was some property or a lost puppy. Then he yanked me off the stage, not bothering to ask if I wanted to leave. Then, it’s a mad dash through the crowd and out of the Casino. And all that after he danced with me, all close and flirty, when Lucas left me hanging. Like… who is this guy?”
“Make sure you have both glass slippers on. Or else he might show up with one to see if you’re a fit.”
“Seriously, Lena. The man is trouble. And he’s in cahoots with all of them, so there’s no way I can trust him.”
“Seriously, Lexi, relax. They’re all trouble. Just don’t blow your cover, and it won’t be a waste of time.”
“You make it sound like I’m the bad guy, not them.”
Lena tries to reply, but a sudden screech of tires swallows her voice. A jolt throws me against the seat as someone slams into our car. Lena yanks the wheel hard to regain control.
“What the fuck?” she screams, her voice cracking with panic. “Did you see that? There’s a car on our tail; the lights are off. Shit, I can’t hold the wheel straight. I’ll slam into the car in front at the stoplight if these brakes don’t hold.”
“Don’t stop, Lena. Make a right to the center. We’ll lose them in traffic. Maybe we’ll find a police car there.”
“Call the police, but I don’t know what to tell them. It’s not like we can wait for them to come. And I can’t see the license plate.”
The car’s shaking underneath us. We’re well over the city limit, and drivers from oncoming traffic flash us as we hurtle toward the red light.
“Buckle up,” Lena shouts. “I need to go through. Let’s hope to God no one comes from the right!”
I grab onto my seat and frantically check my seatbelt. We hurtle closer to the car ahead. The light’s green, but the distance shrinks at fifty miles per hour: yellow blazes, and the car in front bursts through the intersection. We follow, tires screeching as red explodes in the rearview mirror. Lena’s scream pierces the air. I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing for the sickening crunch of metal.
“We made it,” Lena yells. “We lost them. I can hit the brakes now.” The car slams into the curb, screeching to a stop.
“What the hell was that?” Lena seems fine on the surface, but her voice cracks a little. “Keep the door locked and let’s call the police. There are cameras on the road. They can check for the license number.”
My hands tremble as I fumble frantically through my clutch for my phone. Lena stares at the dashboard, panting.
“Let’s just calm down.” I grab her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry, I’m calling the police right now. They’ll be here soon. We’re not leaving anywhere unaccompanied.” I pull out the phone. Suddenly, a car stops behind us, their headlights blinding us.
“Check the doors on your side, Lexi. Make sure they’re locked. Did you call yet?”
“I’m trying to, but it won’t open. My fingerprint doesn’t work.”
“Damn it. Let me do it.”
Lena reaches for her phone. Terrified, we watch the other car pull up. Their lights are still on, and we see a man walking over and waving at us.
“Make that call now, Lena.”
The man comes up to our car and signals for me to roll down the window. As he lowers his head and leans in, I recognize Dean, the security guard from the Casino—one of Gabriel’s men.
“They’re gone. You’re safe now. Just open the window. Are you okay?” Dean says.
What the hell! What is he doing here?
“Do you know this guy?” Lena asks. “Don’t open yet. Let’s wait for the police to get here first. ”
“He’s from the security team at the Casino, at the entrance. I talked to him.”
“I don’t care. There are freaks everywhere. Don’t open. Check under your seat; I have a baseball bat there. Grab it and show him you mean business.”
“What the hell, Lena? What do you mean, show him the bat?”
“Don’t make me get down there and pull it out myself. I’ll start the car and see if I can back up into them. You show him the bat. We’ve got this. Hold on tight.”
She slips the key back in just as Dean presses his phone against the glass, the screen facing me to show Gabriel’s name.
A gut feeling tells me to trust him, but my hand snags the baseball bat under the seat, anyway. I crack the window open just enough for the phone to squeeze through. “Slide it in,” I growl. Lena grabs the bat from me like she’s about to whack a pi?ata, holding it up as Dean raises an eyebrow, unsure how to react.
“Don’t even think about trying anything funny, dude. I swear I’ll smack your fingers,” Lena yells. I close the window and press the speaker so we can both hear.
“Gabriel?”
“Lexi, it’s Gabriel. Dean is there to protect you. I sent him to watch your back. Peter told me everything.”
His cool and steady voice makes me shiver—the same kind that ran through me when he held me close on the dance floor. I’m still scared, but hearing him is strangely soothing to the storm brewing inside me. And somehow, all I want this second is for him to hold me in his arms again, his hand warm and steady on my knees, anchoring me before my legs turn to jelly. God, Lexi! I force a breath in, praying my voice won’t squeak like a rusty hinge as I try to answer him calmly.
“Okay. So, what do I do now? ”
“Dean will see you home safely. One of my guys will guard the house tonight. Have you called the cops?”
“Not yet.”
“It’s okay, there’s no need. We’ll take care of it.”
“Who’s we ?”
“I’ll explain tomorrow at Peter’s office. Just settle down, get a few hours’ sleep, and we’ll talk.”
“Okay, tomorrow. I’ll hang up now. Oh, and thanks, I suppose.”
I hear him grumble, something that sounded like a no problem, before going back to his bossy tone. “Text me when you’re home. See you tomorrow. Give the phone back to Dean now without hanging up.”
I crank the car window down and give Dean his phone back. He starts talking to Gabriel, but I can’t make out what he says as he’s got his back to me.
A few seconds later, he turns around to us. “Hi again, Lexi.”
“Hi. Dean, this is my friend Lena.” She drops the bat at my feet and reaches out her hand. “Hey. Sorry for that earlier. And thanks. What happened? Who was in that car, do you know?”
“Our guys tailed them, but the car disappeared into the alleys. We’re gathering more information now. My colleagues are searching for it. I’m here to see if you guys are okay. Can you drive?”
“You bet! This is my car, and no asshole is going to scare me,” Lena says. “How do I get out of here? Are the tires stuck on something?”
“It’s okay. You can back up. We’ll make room for you in a minute, and I’ll tag along behind you.”
“Great, thanks,” Lena chirps, like we haven’t just been through hell and back. I’m still hyped up from all the adrenaline, my heart pounding like a drum. There’s no way I’ll forget the last fifteen nightmare minutes anytime soon. I hardly ever forget anything, as much as I’d like to, sometimes.
Once we’re alone, Lena grabs my hand before she starts the car.
“I think it’s time you took those threats you got seriously. This is getting insane.”