Chapter 151: Held Hostage By My Own Fears

Gabriel's POV

The vibrating sound came first.

Then the soft thud of my phone against the desk as it lit up again.

Clairessa was calling for the tenth time this hour.

I tried to look away, tried to focus on the reports in front of me, but my traitorous

heart wouldn't cooperate. I reached for the phone, tempted to toss it into the

drawer and forget it existed.

But my fingers hovered, trembling slightly. No matter how hard I tried to ignore her

call, my chest clenched each time I saw her name.

It was already evening. The sun had set, and I still hadn't moved—same

position, surrounded by silence—except for her persistent calls.

I finally gave in and picked up the phone.

Thirty missed calls.

A dozen unread messages.

Messages lined my screen like daggers pressing against my chest.

I scrolled past each one, feeling my heart betray me.

Babe... have you landed?

Gabe, what's wrong?

I'm worried.

Talk to me.

I heard you're back. Went to see you but Tems didn't let me through.

Please talk to me. I'm losing my mind.

I love you!

Why are you avoiding me?

Did I do something?

We can talk about it.

What about our dinner plans?

Gabriel Storm I love you!

That last one gutted me.

"I love you."

How could she say that so sweetly, so easily, while stabbing me in the back?

It was hard to believe. My sweet, beautiful Clairessa... the woman who melted in

my arms, who looked at me like I was her entire world—could really be cheating

on me.

I should hate her.

all, I had evidence, didn't I? That damn

like he owned her.

out of my heart

bastard I'd always been.

fingers hovered over the screen,

trust Nicole. That viper could

it seem like the truth. I had to give Clairessa

I needed to hear it from

phone. "My Sweet"

I'd never done for anyone else. The

now, but I couldn't erase

couldn't leave her

So, I replied.

8 PM. I'll

Rooftop. Open air.

response came

Clairessa: So you're alive!

even in the text, and though I

corners of my mouth lifted into a

you finally

Shit.

a hand down my face. I couldn't avoid it any

eyes and get the truth—whether it broke me

could take it. If she lied, and Clayton

it would shatter me

muttered under my

from my seat, grabbing

shelf. I poured

into a glass,

liquid catching

I tossed it back in

did little to numb the

in my chest.

Trey announced from the driver's

I didn't move.

already gone by since I told Clairessa to meet me, and now

right in front of the rooftop restaurant. From my position

the perfect view

windows came

was seated by the

I told her to wait.

toyed with her hair,

strands and letting them

her face like she was in

scene. Her

curves like

onto her body,

sultry, and completely her.

God, she looked breathtaking.

had only been two days, but it felt

wanted nothing more than to get out of

into my arms, and kiss the hell out of her

nothing else mattered.

all the doubts and evidence and rumors vanished. Until I could

and make love

handle—and didn't move.

by my

was

A big one.

Not around her. Not when she looked

with how much I still loved

love made me stupid. Vulnerable. And I couldn't afford another

her. Not when I hadn't even begun to

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