14. Gabriel
14
Gabriel
T he elevator doors slide open, and we see Lena waiting by Dominic’s fancy apartment door. He must’ve called her to explain the whole thing and see if she could help. Lexi throws herself into her arms, bursting into tears. Sobs wrack her body as Lena hugs her tight. A few minutes pass, Lexi’s cries turning into shaky breaths. They head inside and sink into the living room couch, taking a moment to catch their breath.
“Come here, girl. You can’t take it seriously. You know Lucas is an arrogant, spiteful asshole.”
“God, Lena, it’s like I keep reliving the same nightmare scenes from the past. I left my hometown and came here to be invisible and left alone. Now I’m being made fun of, again, by people who don’t get me or give a damn about me. I’m like a circus freak. That’s what Lucas has turned me into.”
Her voice breaks mid-sentence, a fresh tear slipping down her cheek with each shaky word. The hurt in her eyes is raw, bigger than just what’s happening right now. There’s something else there, a secret that she won’t open up about, so I can protect her. But Lexi’s like a puzzle box full of surprises. Every day feels like cracking open a new secret compartment, another piece of her story .
“And Gabriel wants us to pretend we’re a couple and go public. More exposure, more humiliation for me,” Lexi continues, turning her anger at me.
How the hell did I become the bad guy?
Lena waves me over and then heads to the window, leaving Lexi’s side.
I kneel beside Lexi, trying to find the right words to stop the flood of tears. Handling women crying was never something I was good at. I’ve had clients cry in front of me before, but I always stayed professional, putting a wall between me and their emotional storms. My job was keeping them safe; their feelings were a whole other department I never dared enter.
But Lexi… Lexi feels different. This tiny, fragile woman stirs something deep within me, an intense desire to protect that I’ve never felt before. Seeing her so vulnerable breaks my heart, and I can’t just stand by and do nothing.
I cup her hands gently, searching her eyes until they meet mine. When I see a flicker of recognition, I take a deep breath. “Lexi,” I say softly, “what you’re going through now comes from your past; I can’t change the people or the experiences you’ve had before you met me. But you’re not alone anymore. You have me now, and I won’t let anyone hurt you. Please let me in, make me a part of your life, and let’s tell everyone that we’re together. I promise I’ll take out anyone who dares to lay a finger on you. This is what my life is about. It’s what I got trained for and what I excel in—the best protector at your service. Let me take care of you. Please.”
The tremor in her hands melts away as she pulls back, wiping a stray tear with the back of her hand. Her eyes meet mine, and I hold her gaze, the awkward kneeling forgotten as a wave of protectiveness washes over me. At six feet three, I tower over her, but right now, all I want is to make her feel safe.
“Okay,” Lexi finally says. I know she felt this moment we just had. It finally feels like I’m getting through to her. I get up and grab a box of tissues from the coffee table. She wipes her nose, takes a deep breath, and looks up at me. “How do you want to do this?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a quick nod from Lena. A silent message of support from Lexi’s best friend gives me a sliver of hope. I think I just gained an ally in my fight to win over Lexi.
As I’m about to talk about my plan, Dominic walks in. “Hey there, Green Eyes,” he chirps, walking over to Lexi and throwing his arms around her in a friendly hug. “Don’t let that guy from the lobby get to you. He’s a clown; we kicked him out of the hotel, he’s done.” He sets her down carefully, surveys the room, and gets his phone out. “Guys, shall I order some food for us? Something sweet to lighten up the mood? Some coffee, maybe?”
Dominic has become a master at handling women in crisis. Maybe the years in the spotlight running the family business turned him into a smooth operator. It’s a far cry from the hot-headed and armed-to-the-teeth guy I used to know on missions.
Unlike Dominic, I’ve struggled more with adjusting to civilian life. Navy was the only life I knew until two years ago. Once in a while, I think about the troubled, arrogant teenager I used to be. Unloved and abandoned by everyone, I joined the Navy to avoid going to prison. It took me two decades to become the man I am today. Now, Lexi is challenging everything I thought I knew about myself.
“I could go for some cannoli’s,” Lena says. “Lexi, let’s get something to eat, relax and make plans,” she encourages her .
“Maybe later when we go to your room. Now, I’d like to hear what Gabriel’s plan is. I need to know what my life will be like from now on; I need some stability,” Lexi says, turning to me.
“Sure. I’ll send the sweets over to Lena’s room,” Dominic says. He makes a quick call to give instructions, then turns back to us. “I don’t know about Gabriel’s plan, but I’ve already come up with a few ideas myself. I talked to Alice, too. She handles my PR. She’s great at what she does, you know,” he says, leaning into Lexi with a reassuring smile.
“You can count me in, too,” Lena cuts in. “I have contacts at all the big tabloids. Let me send them some photos and a little update on you two. By tomorrow, everyone will know you’re a seriously loved-up couple!”
Dominic’s practically buzzing with ideas, pacing a little runway for himself and gesturing like he’s conducting an orchestra. “Okay, great. So, Lena can cover the big papers, and Alice will take care of social media. Now, for the visual proof. We need some convincing pics, you two. How about lunching at the hotel, maybe chilling by the pool? And hey, a casual group shot with the entire crew wouldn’t hurt. You know, the totally unplanned weekend getaway vibe. Alice will make sure these photos go everywhere. Oh, and to really seal the deal, maybe a couple of selfies at home or the beach wouldn’t be a bad idea either.”
Lexi can’t help but smile as she watches Lena and Dominic bounce ideas off each other. I’m also surprised by those two social butterflies and their game plan. I haven’t been in the media much yet. All my clients come from referrals. I get why all the attention freaks out Lexi, but she won’t be alone. I’ll be right by her side.
“That’s it! I’ve got it. I’m throwing a party,” Dominic says excitedly. “Nothing says I love you like a public Happy Birthday wish from your boyfriend, splashed all over the media. ”
“No, no way. There’ll be no birthday party. That’s not happening,” Lexi cuts in. A shadow flickers across her face, then vanishes as quickly as it came, replaced by a thin smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. She pushes herself up, her fists clenching and unclenching at her sides, and walks away from us.
Dominic and I exchange a confused look as Lena walks over to Lexi, gently touching her shoulder. “Lexi, it’s fine. We’re not going to do anything you don’t want us to. Guys, let’s find something else. It’s not like we’ve run out of ideas. It’s okay. We skip the birthday thing.”
“Sure. We’ll figure something out,” Dominic says, getting back on track. “I’ll call Alice. She’s got the scoop on all the events going on in this city. We’ll find you guys something.”
Lexi heads for the door, visibly upset. “Lena, can we go to your room for a bit? I need a break from all of this.” She walks past me and gently touches my arm, looking like she’s about to cry. “I need to lie down. Please give me a few minutes.” She walks out with Lena trailing behind, waving us goodbye.
As I watch her leave, a pang of regret hits me. I hate seeing her like this. She shouldn’t have to carry this burden alone. I could help her through this… if only she’d let me.
“What was that about?” Dominic asks as the door closes behind them.
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” I’ve been watching Lexi closely for the last few minutes. Something’s off. There has to be another secret she’s hiding.
It’s time for the phone call I was planning to make after the Casino night when Lucas acted like a total moron. I told him I’d break his bones if he upset her, and he ignored me. If he thinks he’s safe because of Peter, he hasn’t been paying attention .
“Gabriel! How’s my favorite bodyguard?” Lucas answers on the first ring, like he knew I was going to call.
“You continue to act like an idiot, Lucas, and that won’t help you.”
“Aw, look who’s falling for the little country girl. You know she also tricked my dad into helping her, right?” I hear his arrogant voice. “She’s more dangerous than she looks. Trust me, you’ll soon be sorry you defended her.”
“The only one who’s going to be sorry is you once I track your ass down. Take down that fucking video of Lexi right now. You have exactly fifteen minutes to do that. And another fifteen to hide, you spineless piece of shit. Because I’m coming for you, I just need to decide if I give you a good beating or crack your skull open. You mark my words. There’s no safe place for you in this world. I’ll hunt you down and make you swallow your venom.”
“You know what you are? You’re nothing but a fucking bully who makes a living by throwing punches. If it weren’t for my dad and your rich friends, you’d be begging on the street like the washed-up war vet that you are.”
Fuck. Lucas is as toxic as his sister. Those two should’ve been put in their place ages ago. Either with my fist or using all the things a dumb bodyguard like me knows about them. I could’ve exposed them or had them arrested for dealing and using. But Lucas is right about one thing. Peter’s the only thing stopping me from putting an end to this messy business.
“Lucas, I hope you’re spewing all that crap as you delete the video and pack up. Be careful out on the streets. I’ll find you.”
I hang up. These scum only understand threats and brute force. I’ll have some of my guys go to his yacht. Like the coward he is, he’ll definitely be hiding out there with the rest of his lowlife cronies. He’ll fuck something up soon, and the police will arrest him. This time, Peter better not ask for any favors. There’s no way Lucas can get away after what he did to Lexi.
Dominic throws me a worried look from across the room. He’s never seen me so upset and angry. Whether on my own or with the Protectors, I usually handle cases with a cool head and a logical approach. The guys call me the surgeon of the group since I’m the one who keeps us focused and moving forward. When things get hectic, I figure out the best plan, cutting through the mess and making quick calls.
Dom’s a really good listener. He can connect with anyone, whether it’s a scared victim or a tough suspect. He genuinely has a strong sense of empathy, making people feel safe enough to talk. This is how he gets to the truth, letting people open up on their own terms.
Damien’s the quiet observer type, so he never misses a thing. He has a sixth sense about people and can figure anyone out in a heartbeat. When things get messy, Damien’s your guy. He takes his time and thinks things through, but gets it done fast, with just pure gut instinct and street smarts. The teammate you want by your side, no matter what.
My phone rings. It’s Peter, who probably wants to talk about the stunt Lucas just pulled. He hired me to take care of Lexi, but now I feel like I have to protect her from their whole family. Peter will always have his kids’ backs, but Lexi only has me. I’m not going to pick it up. Sorry, Peter! I need to figure out what to do next, not babysit that jackass, Lucas.
“Let’s call Damien and debrief about what we found out,” Dom proposes.
“There’s one more thing I need to take care of before we talk to Damien. I’m not done with Lucas yet. That video was the last straw. ”
It’s Saturday, so not all my guys are operational, but this is a top priority. When Dean’s out, Mike takes over, so I decide to call him.
Mike picks up immediately. “Hey, Gabe. What’s up?”
“I need you to send a couple of our guys down to Lucas Maier’s yacht. I heard he’s throwing a party tonight. Oh, make sure our agent Glenda goes there. Tell her to bring her A-game style—Lucas won’t know what hit him. And remind her to keep her phone close when she’s next to him. I’ll talk to our hacker and have him brief her about what to do. They’ve worked together before. Once she’s done with the job and leaves the yacht, give the cops a heads-up about the drug use. Talk to your friends. I want the yacht raided by midnight. Okay, Mike?”
“Got it, Gabe. I’ll let you know how it goes.”
“Thanks, Mike. And one more thing.”
“I know, boss. It’s Saturday, so everyone will be out partying. It’s already taken care of. I got a guy to watch over Iris. If she goes out tonight, she won’t be alone.”
“Did you check that other thing I told you, Mike?”
“Yeah. That boy’s parents are clean, not even a parking ticket. I think they’re just hanging out, being kids.”
“I sure hope so, Mike. Thanks, great work. Keep me posted.”
Dominic plops himself down on the couch, but I’m way too wired, pacing like a lion in a tiny zoo.
“Man, I’d never want to get on your bad side,” Dom says with a smirk.
“Wait, I’m not done. I still need to brief our tech wiz,” I say, pausing to make the call. “Hey, Glitch. Can we talk, or is it too early?” It’s almost noon, but these guys are night owls.
“It’s okay, Gabe. What’s up? ”
“I want you to take Lucas Maier off all social media. Shut down all his accounts. Glenda’s going to his party. You guys work together to make sure she gives you access to his phone. He posted a video today, some bullshit about one of our clients. I want it deleted from everywhere. And I want you to cut off his signal for twenty-four hours so he can’t call anyone, and if someone calls him, make sure it’s redirected to a call center or something like that. You got this? By midnight.”
“Sure thing, Gabe. My pleasure. The guys’ a tool.”
“I want this guy totally cut off, so all he can do is go on the yacht deck and howl at the moon. Oh, and go through his phone and see what other shit he has in there. I think he might’ve sent some threatening letters to our client, too.”
“Okay, boss. When you say client, do you mean like a… woman client? What about your rule? I’m just saying…”
“Just take care of it, Glitch, and leave the rest to me.” I hang up. My team knows me well. Well, rules are there to be broken. Or at least bent, sometimes.
“Yeah. Keep saying that if it makes you feel good, buddy,” Dominic answers. Shit. I said that out loud.
***
Next, we get Damien on the phone. He says he’s been digging up information on Lexi. Nothing significant, except for a complaint she filed five years ago about a car accident in her hometown that left her father seriously injured. She got banged up, and the driver ran away. It looks like they half-assed the investigation. Some documents are missing from the file, and the statute of limitations will expire in three weeks if the police can’t find the driver, the car, or any evidence for further investigation. The pages that describe the car are missing from her statement. Yet another secret Lexi is keeping from me.
Before hanging up, I ask Damien what he knows about her family and if her parents are biological. He says he needs more time to investigate and will get back to me.
“Do you think she’s adopted?” Dominic asks.
“Did you see her reaction earlier when we talked about throwing her a birthday party? That was strange. It’s the only reason I can think of. She’s obviously keeping things from me, so I need to check.”
I text Dean and tell him to find a quiet spot and call me. My phone rings a few minutes later. “Hi, Gabe. Is this about the last update report I sent?”
“No, but I want to know more about Lexi’s father’s health. What problems is he dealing with specifically?”
“He’s doing okay, considering his condition. It doesn’t seem like he has anything chronic, at least nothing he’s taking medication for.”
“What do you mean, his condition?”
“Oh, I thought Lexi told you. Her dad’s missing a part of his left leg. It’s cut off somewhere above the knee. He wears a prosthetic.”
Shit. That must be incredibly hard for him. It makes perfect sense why Lexi has such a hard time trusting people. I can only imagine how this must have affected her.
Just as I’m about to tell Dominic, the phone rings. It’s Damien bringing news, I hope.
“What have you got for me?” I jump right in.
“She had a sister, a twin, who died when she was seven. They’re her biological parents. That’s all, Gabe. ”
Lexi’s past is coming to light. The accident, the devastating loss of a sister, and her father’s disability—it’s heavy stuff for someone so young and fragile.
I need to gather all the intel from Dominic and Damien’s sources. It’ll take a while, but we’re getting closer. I’ll find out who’s behind the threats she’s been getting.
One question that burns in my gut remains unanswered: Lucas could be a total idiot, but what if someone else is pulling the strings? And what if the source of this threat isn’t some faceless enemy but a ghost from her past, someone with a chilling connection to the secrets Lexi desperately wants to bury?