His dark hair was pulled back away from his face into a man bun atop his head, a few strays falling down around his ears. His light brown eyes were open and calm. His round face had a few scars but faded with time.
“I promise you, muñeca,” he spoke again, seeing that Summer wasn’t answering. “I am Gabriel. Sebastian is just in the other room sleeping.”
Summer blinked at him again. Sebastian? Was that who shot the men in the room?
“How are you feeling?” Gabriel asked. “Do you hurt anywhere?”
Summer wasn’t sure. She squinted at the man, thinking and taking stock of her body. Although her limbs were tired and heavy, she wasn’t sure if anything hurt. But now, thinking about it, her head was pounding and her wrists were sore from where the rope had been.
How long had she been here?
“Wrists. Head,” Summer whispered out, fearing if she spoke any louder her voice would crack or give out.
“Understandable,” Gabriel said. “You haven’t eaten for days. I’ll get you some soup and Tylenol. May I touch you?”
Why was he so polite? She nodded her head, grimacing in pain at the movement.
At her permission, Gabriel slowly moved his hands to Summer’s closest wrist, picking it up to exam the bruise, and checking her heartbeat.
“The bruises are deep around your wrists from the rope. Tylenol will help with the pain, but that is all I am able to do from here. Only time will heal them,” he said, being gentle.
Summer nodded in understanding. It could have been worse, much worse. Instead of saying anything, she slowly sat up, wincing at the pressure she put on her bruised wrists and then glaring at the IV in her arm.
“I can see why Chase is so drawn to you, child,” Gabriel mused with a light laugh, sitting up straighter in the chair. “You are very pretty, and fit him perfectly. Even without you talking, I can see the appeal. You are like an open book.”
Summer simply stared at him, not sure what he meant. Surely, she was not very pretty at the moment. Dressed in a shirt three times her size, hair a tangled mess of a blob at her neck and making her itchy. She was anything but pretty.
“My wife would be happy to fix your hair for you, muñeca,” Gabriel said, trying to not grimace at the mess.
“Please,” Summer whimpered out, knowing she had no energy to do it herself. She wasn’t even sure she could get to the bathroom on her own as it was.
“She’ll be here within half an hour,” Gabriel said, pulling out his phone and sending a text. “Do you want to use the bathroom?”
Summer nodded her head, just now noticing her bladder that demanded to be emptied. She looked at the man with pleading eyes, not sure how to go about it.
“Do you think you can walk?” he asked, cocking his head to the side.
“No,” Summer whispered out, ashamed. She knew it wasn’t her fault, but that didn’t stop the feeling at having to be taken care of.
“No worry,” Gabriel replied, standing up. “I’ll carry you. Just let me take the IV out first.”
“Okay,” Summer whispered again.
It didn’t take long for the needle to be out and a Band-Aid covering the spot.
Gabriel, after setting the supplies out of the way, picked Summer up, the blanket tucked around her. He carried her to the en-suite, which wasn’t the best but had a shower, bathtub, and toilet. It worked for what it was needed for.
Everything was white with silver faucets. It wasn’t anything special, but Summer didn’t care one bit. A shower did sound great if she could stand long enough.
“Just yell if you need me, alright. I’ll grab some clothes for you so you can wash off,” he said, helping her to stand against the white sink. “Alex washed you off, but that was yesterday and a good warm shower may help your pain.”
“He’s okay?” Summer asked instantly, needing to know he was okay after risking his life to keep her safe.
“Of course. He’s helping Jack as far as I know,” Gabriel said, seeing how big her heart was at the thought of her adopted brothers.
Summer let a huff of air leave her lips. Knowing that the ones she cared about most were safe helped a great deal.
“Take your time. I’ll bring clothes in once I hear the water running for a bath. I just ask you to keep the door open a little so I can make sure you don’t drown,” he tacked on.
“Okay,” Summer said with a smile. She liked him already. He did look familiar, but she wasn’t going to dwell on it. There was no point in doing so.
Gabriel gave her a nod, knowing that things would be okay. He would even help protect her if need be. Shaking his head, now understanding why everyone wanted her so badly, he picked up the shopping bag of clothes, and waited for Summer to finish what she needed to do before making sure she got into the bath okay.
Gabriel could hear Sebastian rousing in the other room as the doorbell rang; his wife was here, and he had a feeling that she would be just as taken with the girl as the rest of the world.
Becoming His Princess (The Dark Prince #2) Page 29