23. Lexi
23
Lexi
I wrap my entire body around him, arms and legs and all, clinging as if I couldn’t live without him. As he buries his face in my neck, a delicious ache blossoms in my chest and spreads like wildfire down my spine, his hand stroking lazy circles on my lower back. It’s the most comforting sensation I’ve ever experienced.
Together, we sit in a silent embrace, lost in our world. I can barely keep my eyes open as I soak up this perfect moment of connection and intimacy.
Nestled in his arms, I feel a sense of belonging I’ve never known before. It’s as if I’ve finally found my home here, the missing puzzle piece of my soul—a place where I feel completely accepted and loved, where I can simply be myself.
We stay in each other’s arms, feeling the warmth and comfort of our embrace as time stands still. His breathing slows down, soft and steady. Cradled in my arms, he drifts off to sleep.
I gently adjust my injured hand. I’d forgotten all about it earlier, during sex. The endorphins did their thing, but now I feel the pain again.
“Why aren’t you sleeping?” Gabriel asks, feeling me stirring beside him .
“My hand hurts a little. And there are so many thoughts running through my head. It’s not easy.”
He strokes my forehead, flips me over, and cuddles up behind me, his large arms wrapping around me in a comforting embrace. I place one hand over his, on my abdomen.
“I’m here with you now,” he says. “Let’s go to sleep. There’s nothing we can do until morning. But you need your rest.”
“I don’t want to think about tomorrow. Who knows what I’ll need to face?”
“These are your memories talking, Lexi. They’re still haunting you. That’s why I wanted to help you relax and take your mind off things tonight. Didn’t you say that helps?”
“I’ve always felt better when I spent the night with you. It’s been easier to sleep. But that’s the problem, Gabriel—it’s addictive. And it’s not what I had in mind when I came to live here with you.”
He squeezes me tighter, kissing my bare shoulder. Naked in his arms, I’m afraid that if I move, the spell will break, and something bad will happen. The memory of the accident and that awful man who caused it floods back into my mind as vividly as if it were yesterday. I wish Gabriel could see the real me and not be frightened. He’s accepted me so far and put up with everything I threw his way, and it’s the first time in my life a man has done that for me.
“It’s not that easy, Gabriel. I can’t just forget and let go. I get stuck in this loop, reliving it over and over. It happens when I pass by a hospital, hear a loud car noise, look in the mirror and see the scar on my lip, or see my dad limping or wincing in pain after a long day on his feet, thinking I don’t notice. I’ve spent my whole life hating, regretting, and hiding this suffocating fear I can’t seem to escape. ”
I can hold back the tears when I tell him because the fear fades away when I’m in his arms. I can’t escape the memories, but with Gabriel, I can at least escape the sadness.
His fingers spread open, finding the sensitive spot below my belly. He lifts one leg over mine, his voice a husky murmur in my ear. “I’ve got you. Let me take care of things now.”
He presses his fingers into me as if to make sure that I’m here, that I exist. And to reassure me he’s real, too, and brand me with his presence. It’s impossible not to notice him—towering over me at six feet three, cradling me, engulfing me, protecting me.
“Lexi… I love you,” I hear him whisper, his voice husky and thick with emotion. We sit in silence for a few moments. His breathing gets calm, gently brushing my hair as he exhales.
My man falls asleep peacefully next to me. I snuggle up closer, closing my eyes and letting the sound of his peaceful breaths wash over me, carrying me off to sleep as well.
***
I slept so well, curled up in his arms, that the rest of the world faded away. But as the first rays of sunlight peeked through the curtains, a knot of worry tightened in my stomach. The danger I’ve pushed aside for a stolen night of peace is back.
Shrugging off the unease, I showered, made coffee for both of us and toasted some bread. I got used to his place and where everything belongs. I got used to feeling good.
The smell of coffee fills the air as I make my way to the bedroom. Gabriel opens his eyes, taken by surprise. “Wow, you’re all dressed already? What time is it? I swear I didn’t hear a peep. ”
“It’s seven,” I say softly, placing a steaming mug on the nightstand. “I used the other bathroom so I wouldn’t wake you.” That’s the one next to his study. The no snooping rule is no longer a thing. He never brought it up again.
“Nothing beats waking up to coffee. But you’ve got too many clothes on, and I don’t like it. Where’s the ring? Why aren’t you wearing it?”
“It’s right there on the nightstand. We’re inside. I didn’t think I needed it.”
Gabriel reaches out, takes the GPS ring, and puts it on my finger for the second time. “Don’t take it off again, please,” he says, almost pleading.
“Not even when we make love?”
“Never. Get used to having it on. Promise me.”
I offer a quick, almost apologetic nod. He rises a little in the bed, leaning a toned forearm on the post, and takes a slow sip of coffee, holding my gaze for a beat too long. He’s right—I’m ready to go in my jeans, his oversized shirt loosely knotted at the waist, and well-worn sneakers. I was going to ask him to hang out with me at the beach for a bit. Early summer mornings on a deserted beach are so romantic, with a gentle breeze and calm waves—peaceful. And that’s how today feels.
“I made us some toast. I can whip up an omelet, too, while you shower.”
He throws me a disappointed look and then hops out of bed. “I won’t take long. Count me in for the omelet. I don’t know about the beach, though. We’ll negotiate.”
“You’re such a grump,” I yell, shamelessly checking out his well-defined, tight ass as he struts off. His tan, defined back muscles ripple as he walks, showing off his strength and agility. I just love how his veiny, strong arms move with surprising grace. He’s naked, he’s handsome, and he’s been glued to me all night.
He turns and flashes me a smile, running his hand through his hair. “We should do something about this habit of yours of contradicting me.”
“We really should,” I say with a serious face. “The first step would be for you to get used to it,” I add, walking to the kitchen to fix breakfast. There’s a quiet and homey vibe to this morning. I could get used to it. Good is the easiest to get used to. I can’t help but smile and giggle when I remember last night.
I grab some utensils, eggs, cheese, and… all I need is to just get started. I take a quick look through the massive glass doors of the living room that face the sea, and then I get closer. The beach is not too far. I can just smell the salty breeze. Maybe I can talk him into it.
A sudden, piercing cry rips through the air. It’s a pitiful whimper, full of pain, like a tormented soul crying out for help. My heart pounds wildly against my ribs. A tense silence follows, broken only by the rasp of my breath. Then, the sound comes again, closer this time, seeming more desperate. Whatever creature is out there, it’s in pain. Taking a deep breath, I decide to go out and check.
Maybe it’s just a stray, scared and hurt. Perhaps a dog got caught in the yard fence, or maybe there were other traps set up by Gabriel for intruders. I can’t ignore the raw pain in that cry. I try to go outside, but the house alarm goes off, drowning out everything else.
I ignore it and tiptoe outside, trying to find out where the animal noise came from. As I reach the far corner, I see a small, furry ball on the ground. It’s a little dog, with his fur messy and knotted, like someone threw him over the fence. He has big, sad eyes that seem to cry out in pain, and his whole body keeps shaking. I kneel beside him, gently stroking his fur. Then I pick him up in my arms. The little dog lifts his head a little and licks my hand with his wet tongue.
I hurry back inside as Gabriel shows up at the door, wearing only his jeans, and shouts, “Get in! It’s a trap. You shouldn’t have come out.”
“No, it’s just a dog. There he is.” I point to the little bundle in my arms. Gabriel reaches beside me, wraps his arms around me, and looks around, scanning the area. He taps the phone with one hand and turns off the alarm.
“Run inside the house immediately. It’s an ambush.”
I don’t get what he means, but I make my way to the door.
A sharp crack, followed by a brief whistling and a distant, echoing thud, cuts through the air. I spin around, my heart pounding, desperate to figure out where it came from. Then I see Gabriel, gasping and groaning, clutching his shoulder. Blood wells up between his fingers, staining his shirt. He’s been shot!
The second bullet whistles through the air, its sharp sound cutting through the tense silence, and I stare at him in horror.
“In the house! Now!” he yells as he collapses.
Panic takes over my body, starting in my stomach and spreading fast to my limbs. My knees feel weak, like they’re about to give out. I stumble toward the house, barely able to run, more like crawling. I set the dog down and turn around to check on Gabriel.
Out of nowhere, I get kicked from behind and lose my balance. Then, someone covers my mouth and nose with their hand. A pungent smell fills my nose, and everything goes silent and dark.
I come to my senses later, rattled by the van’s bumps. My head throbs, and everything feels shaky. I’m in a small, closed van, only lit by slivers of light at the edges of the doors. It looks beat up, with a few boxes in the back. Panic surges through me as I realize my hands are tied in front with a tight plastic band. I feel like I might throw up .
Thoughts fly chaotically through my mind, unable to form a logical thread, and I feel overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness. My eyes widen in horror as I realize I’m all alone in this, my dilated pupils absorbing all the surrounding light.
It’s as if I’m trapped in a nightmare I can’t wake up from. My senses are on high alert; every sound is like nails on a chalkboard, every shadow menacing. I scan the cramped interior, on edge for any lurking danger. But the real threat is outside. The van careens wildly, slamming me into the walls at every turn. The jolting motion rouses me, though it also threatens to make me sick. I glance at my hand and see my ring is still there. Gabriel will find me. Unless they’ve killed him. The last time I saw him, he collapsed as bullets started flying from afar.
What if they take my ring? Or search me? What if I lose my only chance of being found? Are they trying to keep me alive or just take me out immediately?
The van stops. I desperately grab the ring with my teeth and stuff it into my mouth. When the door opens, I close my eyes and pretend to have lost consciousness.
“He said we should take her shoes off and check if she has a phone or some GPS tracker on her before we get to the port,” a voice says. So, there’s more than one guy. I don’t recognize Vargas’s voice.
“Let’s go, move it,” I hear another voice. “I can’t leave the car parked here much longer.”
“Maybe we gave her too much. She’s been knocked out for too long,” the first voice says. “I hope she doesn’t kick the bucket. That bodyguard will come after us.”
They know Gabriel; maybe they’ll talk about him, so I know he’s okay. My heart pounds in my chest. They take my shoes and my belt off, checking every seam in my clothes. One man reaches down and searches my bra. My breath catches as his hand lingers, squeezing. They’re pros and know where to look, but they’re still animals with primal instincts. Maybe they’re scared of Gabriel. Maybe that will stop them. I clench my jaw and decide to keep quiet and not fight back, hoping they won’t find my ring.
They finish searching me, slam the door behind them, and the van drives off again. At the next turn, I smack my head hard against the wall and nearly black out.
The car lurches to a stop. I fight to stay awake, my eyelids heavy. A door creaks open, and rough hands grab me, hoisting me up. A few steps later, a loud slam echoes, followed by silence. Heart hammering, I stay put, eyes squeezed shut, head tucked low. Minutes tick by, filled only with my ragged breaths. Finally, I dare to peek. Darkness. A musty smell fills my nose. A faint glow catches my eye in one corner. Sensor lights flicker on the ceiling, like those in a closet, casting brief bursts of illumination before fading again. I test them, giving my arm a small shake. The lights flicker back on, bathing the room in a dim, temporary light.
I stand, blinking in the dimness. This feels like the inside of a container. There’s a large object in the back, covered by a tarp. I pull on it, wincing as the plastic strap digs into my injured wrist—the one Vargas hurt yesterday. Ouch! They tightened it too much. Luckily, my hands are in front. I yank off the tarp, revealing a car that looks just like the sports model I’ve been searching for. The lights flicker off again, plunging me back into darkness. I wave my arms around. Anything to keep those sensors on. It’s hard to see, but reaching right next to the car, I spot the same symbol I saw before—the Celtic knot . Could this be where they’ve been hiding it all along? A container somewhere in the port? Remembering my time at Grain Inc., I try to guess the size of the space. Based on the feel, it seems like one of those big containers, maybe forty feet long, eight feet wide, eight and a half feet high .
I no longer have any doubt that Vargas is fully behind this. I look around and see a table and two chairs next to a wall. Was he coming to visit his car? What a weirdo!
I move to the other side of the car, at the back of the container. Suddenly, I hear a groan as a man faintly gasps when he senses me next to him.
I crawl toward where the noise is coming from. There’s a person curled up on the floor, leaning against the wall. Quickly, I go next to him and spit the ring into my hand so I can talk.
“Are you okay?”
“Lexi? Is that you?” I hear Lucas’s muffled voice. “Lexi, where are we?”
I don’t know what to say. Looking at Lucas, I see a nasty, bleeding bruise blooming on his temple. Quickly, I slip the ring back on my finger, hoping I can hide it if someone walks in. Grabbing a scrap of Gabriel’s shirt, I dab at the blood around Lucas’s eyes. Cradling his head in my lap, I wipe as gently as I can. The stupid light sensor flickers off again. Hunched low, it can’t detect my movement. Suddenly, I remember the chairs a few feet away.
“Can you walk? Are you hurt?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t know what’s happened to me,” Lucas mumbles as his head lolls to the side, and he slumps unconscious. I scoot out from under him and gently pull him toward the table. The sensor light flickers on again, but it’s still dim. I manage to get close to the first chair and try to wake Lucas.
“Come on, Lucas, help me get you up. Can you hear me?”
He doesn’t move. Panic starts to rise, but I force myself to check his pulse. It’s faint, but it’s there. I gently lower him to the cold floor, desperate to find something soft for his head. My wrists are throbbing, and I see blood where the strap has been digging into my wrist. Every time I stop moving, the stupid light goes off! I’m exhausted, and I can’t see anything around me that can help–just that damn car, a useless hunk of metal. I pull Lucas close, rest his head on my lap, and try to talk to him calmly. “Hang in there. We’ll find out what happened and get out of here. Just hang in there, okay? Promise?”
I never liked Lucas, but I never wanted him dead. And definitely not when he’s stuck with me in a container with barely any light and hardly any air.
My eyelids fight to stay open. The nausea won’t quit, and the metallic tang of blood makes my stomach churn. Sleep feels like a tempting escape, but I know it’s a death trap. With a shaky breath, I push myself upright against the wall, scraping for anything to trigger that stupid light. The sound of screeching metal grates on my nerves, sending shivers down my spine. And then the world lurches—the entire container jerks violently upwards.
God, no. Not the Harbor Black Hole! Are they shipping us out and dumping us like trash at the bottom of the sea? With one move, Vargas could get rid of everything—me, the car, even Lucas. Strange. Lucas was always on my list of suspects. And now he’s lying unconscious next to the damn car. What if the walls are too thick for Gabriel to track the ring’s signal? What if he’s hurt or, worse, dead, back at his house? Then I’m truly done for. The car that nearly took me out will now take me to my grave, deep in the sea.
The container stops moving, and it feels like it’s being lowered to the ground. Maybe it’s being loaded onto a ship. That’s it, then! This is how we meet our end. I sit next to Lucas again and lay his head on my lap. I can at least try to shield him from any sudden movements of the container.
All I can do is pray for our souls .
With a bone-chilling sound, the door of the container creaks open. Bright light flows in from outside. I shut my eyes without thinking, then try to keep them partially open to see what’s happening. Quickly, I bring the hand with the ring to my mouth, trying to hide it.
I see someone coming my way, pulling me out from under Lucas and lifting me into his arms. It’s Gabriel. He says something, but I can’t hear it; I just see his lips moving. Then, darkness and silence.