by Mary Smith
“Maybe a bottle of Cristal?” I suggest making Gable chuckle.
As dinner is served, we talk about everything and anything. Even Bruce and Leo join in too. It’s relaxing and is one of the best nights I’ve had out in a while.
When the orchestra starts up, Gable stands and holds out his hand. I take it and head onto the dance floor with him. He spins me once and has the brightest smile as he takes me in his arms. We sway to the music, not saying anything, but looking into each other’s eyes.
“I meant to tell you thank you for earlier.”
“What for?” I gaze up at him.
“Our vows. It meant a lot to me, Dream. More than you can even imagine.” He kisses my cheek. “I really can’t wait to take you home and show you how much I love you.”
“I do like that idea.”
“Are you fond of this dress? Because I have the urge to rip it off.”
“Technically, you paid for it; therefore, it’s yours to do what you want with.” I whisper in his ear. “But, just so you know. I’m not wearing anything under it.”
Gable stills and looks at me, his blue eyes bright. “Are you trying to kill me right now?”
“No, just make you hard.”
Gable laughs and a few people turn to look at us, but my eyes are for Gable only. “I do love you, Dream.”
“I love you, Gable.”
We dance to one more song, and then take our seat again as the auction announces that it’s about to start.
“Anything you want to bid on?” Gable asks as we look over the list together.
“I bet you want that trip to Paris.” Aven says as she appears next to us. “You seem like the shopping type.”
“Go away, Aven.” Gable tells her.
“I came over here to ask for you to save a dance for me later.” She bats her fake eyelashes at him.
“No, he will not.” I answer for him.
“Oh, I see; she speaks for you.” She eyes Gable.
“She’s my wife. She has every right to speak for me and she gave you the same answer I would have.” Gable squeezes my shoulder and my heart swells with love. “Goodbye, Aven.”
Her green eyes look between us. “I’m sure we’ll see each other soon.”
“Don’t bet on it.” I tell her as she turns and leaves.
Chapter 19
“Can’t we just stay in bed all day?” I twist on the stool to face him. Gable is in his signature outfit, sipping his coffee.
“We did that yesterday.”
“Doesn’t mean we can’t do it again?” I walk my fingers up his arm until I lightly tug on his ear lobe.
“I have to work, baby.”
“Fine.” I huff. “You take the fun out everything.”
“That’s not what you said about the five orgasms you had in the last twenty four hours.”
I inhale. “Are you keeping track?”
Gable roars in laughter and it makes me smile, too. “No, Dream I’m not, and on that note, I’m going to work.” He kisses me hard. “I love you.”
“Love you.”
~~~
I tap at the keys on the computer and print out my final reports. Matherson Printing is well on its way to be successful, and I’m not needed here anymore. I sent the email to Jacob telling him his new manager will be able to handle everything from this point. I download the rest of the accounting to my flash drive and tell Leo I’m ready to go.
“I hate to see you go.” Leo and I both lift our heads to see Jacob standing in the doorway. “I mean that too because you’ve done a wonderful job.”
“Thanks.” I pop off. “Everything is in order and I’m sure you’ll have a successful business here.” I sling my bag on my shoulder and nod at Leo. I don’t want to be in the room for another moment.
“I hope you have a safe trip home, Dream.”
I stumble for a second.
“There are so many car accidents in the city these days,” he continues.
“Are you threatening Mrs. Butler?” Leo’s voice is cold.
“I would never dream of such a thing. Pun intended.” He slightly bows to me.
“I don’t think you want to piss off my husband, Mr. Matherson.” I keep my voice low and calm.
“I’m not really scared of your husband. I’m a very good actor when I need to be. You know,” he taps his chin and I watch his gaze run me up and down. “You looked beautiful in that black dress the other night. I wonder what you look like naked.”
I gasp as Leo yells. “Enough. Let’s go, Dream.” He puts himself between Jacob and me and we rush out the door.
I stop in my tracks when Jacob’s four large security guards block the front door. They’re all standing there staring at me and not moving. Leo moves me behind him, closer to the corner of the room. He pulls his gun and I’m on the verge of passing out.
I don’t want anything to happen to Leo.
“Matherson, make your choice. I can kill all four of your men, or Dream and I can leave?” Leo’s voice is smooth and steady, unlike me at this moment.
“How long have you been Dream’s babysitter?” Jacob strolls into the room as if he’s walking in a park. “Twenty years? Have you ever fucked her? She does have a thing for older men.” Jacob licks his lips, and I swallow back the bile in my throat.
“I won’t say it again, Matherson.” Leo points the gun at the first guy on our right.
Jacob waves his hand and the four men part, leaving a clear path toward the door. “Be sure to tell Gideon I said thank you. I’ll see you real soon, Dream.” He blows me a kiss, and Leo jerks me out of the building.
Gideon?
Trent is outside looking confused. “Birdkill.” Leo shouts and the three of us race down the street just as the white Mercedes, that I should have been in, explodes. Leo and Trent cover me as we all fall to the ground.
Leo is yelling, “Go. Go. Go.” And pushes me into another vehicle. He lies on top of me as it speeding away. I hear several voices, but can’t make out anything because of the ringing in my ears. Everything around me is spinning, I can’t breathe, and I’m not sure if it’s because of Leo’s weight on me or because of everything that just happened.
It feels like a split second later I’m being rushed into Butler Mansion covered by at least seven men with large guns. The moment I’m over the threshold, the door is slammed and locked, and Leo finally releases me.
“Gable? Where’s Gable?” My biggest worry is my husband.
“He’s almost here, Dream.” Leo tells me and he’s not even shaking. He still looks as calm and cool as he ever does.
“I need him, Leo.” My body can’t stand anymore, and I fall to my knees. Leo holds me and repeats he’s almost here. I’m rocking back and forth because I need him, need to feel him, and kiss him to know he’s okay. I won’t be okay until that happens.
“Dream.” I hear him and when I look up, he is coming through the door and I jump into his arms. I bury my face in his neck and his strong grip and Miller Harris cologne tell me he’s really there. I’m going to be okay and he will be too now that we’re together.
I feel him walking down the hall, and I know that he’s heading into this office. I can hear him saying words, but I can’t make anything out because my ears are ringing again. Gable sits me on the couch, but I can’t let him go. After a moment, Gable makes me release him.
“Look at me, baby.”
I meet his blue eyes and see so many emotions that I can’t pick out just one.
“Are you okay?”
I nod.
“Are you hurt?”
I shake my head.
Gable quickly stands and spins to Bruce, Leo, and Joy. “Where the fuck is Gideon?”
“We don’t know. The guys lost him about thirty minutes ago.” Bruce answers.
“My mother?”
“She’s fine. I sent over a couple more guys,” Bruce continues.
“Mrs. Stones? Joy’s mom?”
“All fine.”
Gable begins to pace. “I want my brother here now, Bruce. Now!” He yells. Bruce rushes out of the room. “Tell me what happened, Leo.”
Leo gives him a rundown of everything and I hug myself listening to Jacob’s words again. I feel dirty and now I want to take a shower.
Gable is as still as statue, and then he suddenly picks up the lamp and slings it across the room, shattering into several pieces. Joy and I both jump at the crashing sound.
“Where is Gideon?” He heaves out the question.
“I’ll go check with Bruce.” Leo leaves the room and Joy follows him.
I don’t move from the couch, but study Gable as he leans over his desk. I’m not sure what I should do. I don’t want to startle him, but at the same time, I want to comfort him.
“I’m going to kill Jacob and then beat the shit out of Gideon.”
“Gable.” I say his name softly, and I want to tell him that I love him; instead I begin to sob.
“Baby.” Gable rushes to me and pulls me into his lap. “Sshh.” He soothes me over and over. “I’m here. I’ll protect you.”
I keep crying until I can’t anymore. “I was scared,” I confess against his neck. “I didn’t know what to do. Then that explosion.” I shake.
“Nothing will happen to you. I swear it, Dream.” He kisses all over my face and lips. “I love you, baby. I was so scared when Leo called and said Birdkill.”
“What does that mean?” I sniff.
“Means something has been compromised and you need to move to plan B.”
I nod. “Was Gideon with you today?”
“For a little bit and then he left. Thirty minutes later Leo called me.” Gable shakes his head in disbelief.
“Jacob told me to tell him thank you. Why?”
“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. Jacob will not get away with this and neither will Gideon.”
My throat hurts from the tears as I lay my head on his chest and close my eyes. Gable hugs me tighter. He keeps repeating that he loves me and it’ll be okay. At this point, I’m not sure how it’s going to be all right.
Bruce bursts through the door. “We found Gideon.”
Gable moves me from his lap and Joy turns the laptop around to show him.
“A warehouse?” He looks at the screen. I get up and look at the address.
“How did you find him?” I ask.
“There’s a tracking chip in his cell phone. I lost the signal for a while, but it just came back,” Joy explains.
“Why is he there? We don’t own anything down there.”
“Oh.” I point to blinking red light on the screen. “I know that address.” Everyone looks at me, waiting for me to go on. “It’s one of Jacob’s warehouses. It holds some of the old printing equipment.”
“Gideon is with Jacob,” Gable hisses. “Fucking great.” He runs his hands through his hair. “Get everyone back here to the house. Put a few guys on the roof and let’s figure this shit out now.” Gable commands Bruce.
I can’t handle much more of this and I leave the room. Gable calls for me, but I keep walking toward the elevator and I’m thankful for the low hum of the motor as I ascend to our floor.
I collapse on the bed. I can’t even cry. I can barely think at this moment because it’s all jumbled in my head. I take two long, deep breaths and think of today: Jacob, the explosion, and most of all Gable. His world is falling apart and it’s because of his brother and old friend.
How is it people can stab each other in the back? Especially when they’re supposed to be friend and family. I think it would hurt more if it’s family. I know because of the way I felt when Gable, Mrs. Stones, and Leo told me they’d lied. But this is on a different level. They had done it to protect me, whereas Gideon and Jacob are doing it to hurt Gable. I could never hurt Gable.
So, why am I hiding up here, hiding like a scared person?
Isn’t Gable in pain right now?
Doesn’t he need me?
He does.
I roll off the bed and smooth my skirt out. I change my heels for a pair of flats and I head back to Gable’s office. We’re a team, and we’ll figure this out together. It’s what a marriage is about. We love each other.
Joy and Bruce are still in the office looking over the laptop. However, I don’t see Gable, until the ensuite door opens and he comes out. I walk into his waiting arms and rest my head on his hard chest.
“I needed a minute alone.” I mutter.
Gable kisses the top of my head. “I know.”
“I’m here now and we’ll figure it out.” I look into his dark eyes. The stress, worry, and a touch of fear all swirl in there. I know I’m strong, but now I need to be strong for the both of us.
“Let’s take a break and eat.” I suggest.
“Dream.”
“No.” I cover his mouth with my hand. “Let’s refuel and then come back to this. Once, we have cleared our heads, we can figure it out better.” I drop my hand and he doesn’t argue as he takes my hand and head to the kitchen.
I figured Misha would be here, but I hadn’t seen her yet. I grab some lunch meat and chips and begin to lay everything out on the counter.
“How many men are in the house right now?”
Gable thinks for a second. “Ten and four on the roof.”
“How many employees go you have?” I’m trying to keep his mind elsewhere for the time being.
He pulls out the mayo and mustard, sitting it on the counter. “Altogether, a little over two hundred and that’s only with Butler Corp. That doesn’t count all my other side projects.” I could already hear him relaxing in his tone.
“How many in security?” I slather a piece of bread with the mayo and place a piece of ham on it.
“Fifty. I used to have more, but that isn’t my main business anymore.” He takes the sandwich from me and adds a piece of cheese.
“What’s your favorite part of Butler Corp?”
Gable chuckles and leans back on the counter. “The fact it’s mine and no one can do anything without my say so.”
“Am I to take it you’re a control freak?” I bite my lip, holding back my smile.
“Something like that. I do tend to get my way.” The corners of his mouth twitch.
“I believe you do.” I start on another sandwich and I can feel his eyes on me.
“You always make me forget, Dream.” It’s a painful whisper
“I love you, Gable.” I wink, trying to keep his spirits up.
“Gable.” I hear the panic in Bruce’s voice as he and Leo in alarm, come around the corner. “ATF.”
“What?” We both say just as the front door is busted through and shouting began, ordering us to get on the ground.
Five large men in masks and blue jackets bearing the letters ATF come into the kitchen with guns waving. Gable and I immediately lift our hands up and drop to our knees. Everything is moving so fast, but it feels like slow motion to me.
One man presses me down to the ground with a knee in between my shoulder blades and it causes me to stop breathing and the zip tie cuts into my skin around my wrist.
I’ve never been arrested nor have I been handcuffed. I can’t believe this is happening as Bruce, Leo, Gable and I are shuffled out of the house.
“Dream, don’t speak. Remain quiet until our lawyers come. Do you understand?” Gable yells.
“Okay.” I answer but it comes out as a small sob. This is a shit mess, and I don’t know what I’m going to do.
Don’t say anything. That’s what Gable told me and it’s what I’m going to do. Leo and I were put into one van and Bruce and Gable into another. Where were the others? Why hadn’t they taken the others?
What’s happening?
My world came crashing around me when two agents take off their masks and I gasp.
“You’re not ATF.” I turn to Leo and he stares at them with his cold, hard eyes. I glance back at them. “You’re Jacob’s security.”
One of them smirk
s and I feel a pain in my neck and it all goes black.
Chapter 20
“Dream.”
“Dream, wake up.”
I can hear Leo, but I’m in a tunnel and it’s dark.
“For fuck’s sake, Dream, wake up.”
I roll my head back and I force my eyes open. They’re heavy as semi-trucks, but I can make out Leo in front of me. He’s fuzzy, but I know it’s him.
“Leo.” My mouth is like sandpaper.
“Dream, look at me. Please, look at me.”
I keep blinking my eyes until he’s clearer and I’m awake. “Where are we?” I look around, and it looks like we’re in a large building. When I study the room better, I realize that we’re in a basement-like room.
I jerk on my hands, but I’m still zip tied behind my back. Leo is the same way and I shift, but my legs are unable to move.
“Below Matherson Printing.”
“Below? There’s a below?”
Leo gives me a stern look as if I had just asked the dumbest question. “Yes, Dream, there’s a below.”
“Where’s Gable?” I suddenly panic. I remember that Jacob’s bodyguards took us and not the ATF.
“I don’t know. Listen to me, whatever happens, do not say anything. I mean it Dream. You need to be the strongest you’ve ever been.” Leo stares me deep in my eyes and I nod. “The second I get out of these fucking cable ties, we’re getting out of here.”
“What about Gable?”
“Dream.” He says my name calmly. “He’s very resourceful. Right now, I’m concerned about you. My job is to keep you safe and I’ve been doing that for over twenty years.”
“I know.” My voice cracks. “Leo—”
“It’s okay. Don’t be scared, just focus on me and don’t speak. Keep your breathing even and slow, and don’t be scared,” he repeats.
I take a deep breath and try my best to maintain it evenly. I look at Leo and send a prayer to whoever is listening that my Gable is okay and Bruce, too. I’m not sure what’s going on back at the house, but I hope they’re okay, too. I’m somewhat calm when I hear a door slam behind me. I can’t move to see who is coming up behind me. Leo’s focus remains on me and I jump when something brushes the back of my neck.