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.

That damn picture.

like he owned her. I should've

of my heart and moved on like

bastard I'd always been.

fingers hovered over the screen,

down, I didn't trust Nicole. That viper could spin any

and make it seem like the truth. I

I needed to hear it

my phone. "My Sweet" it

never done for anyone else. The words seemed

I couldn't

leave her

So, I replied.

8 PM. I'll

Open air. No crowd.

response came almost

Clairessa: So you're alive!

tone came through even in the text, and though I wanted to

of my mouth lifted into a

happy you finally replied. I'll

Shit.

exhaled roughly, running a hand down my face. I couldn't avoid

eyes and get the truth—whether it broke me

didn't know if I could take it. If she lied, and Clayton confirmed

true, it would shatter me

I muttered under

from my seat,

shelf.

into a glass,

catching the

tossed it back

little to

in my chest.

announced

I didn't move.

gone by since I told Clairessa to

rooftop restaurant. From my position in the back

perfect

came down, and

was seated by the

I told her to wait.

toyed with her hair,

and

face like she was

Her black

curves like it had

her

sultry, and completely her.

God, she looked breathtaking.

days, but it

her. I wanted nothing more than to

pull her up into my arms, and kiss the

nothing else mattered.

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

in her. Take her home and make love to her like none

on the door handle—and didn't move.

by my

here was

A big one.

truth was—I didn't trust myself. Not around her.

how much I still

Vulnerable. And

Not when I hadn't even begun to recover from the

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