DREAM

by Mary Smith

  I know I’m becoming a whiny child because I keep asking for him, but I need to see for myself that he’s okay, and I want him here by my side.

  “Dream.” I look up and Larissa is coming back in, pulling the curtain back revealing my husband. “Ta-da.” She says as if she made him magically appear.

  I begin to sob without even meaning to as I look into his blue eyes. He comes over and wraps his arms around me. The Miller Harris cologne is faint, but still brings me comfort.

  “Oh, Dream.” He inhales my hair. “Baby, don’t cry. I’m here and you’re safe.”

  “I wasn’t.” I push him back with my one good hand and raise my voice. “I’m not safe.” The rage has hit me. I’m glad he’s all right, but he doesn’t know what I went through. “I was almost raped.”

  And there it is…

  My fear has been announced out loud and I begin to shake.

  “I was alone and in that horrible room with Jacob trying to touch me.” I hear Larissa step out of the room, but my eyes are still locked with Gable. I see his lip is stitched up and there are noticeable bruises on his face and throat.

  “Baby, I never wanted that to happen to you. I tried…” He chokes up and there are tears in his eyes. “I tried to get to you. We all did. I swear it.”

  “Did you know Larissa was FBI?”

  He shook his head. “It wasn’t until she told me at the warehouse. I really thought she was with Gideon.”

  “Jacob touched me, and he took my wedding ring.” I sob harder. “I kept yelling for you.” Gable hugs me close to his body and tries to calm me, but I can’t stop the tears. I’m mad that he didn’t save me, but he’s here now. I feel the wetness from his eyes on my neck and feel his shoulders shaking. Now, I’m trying to calm him down.

  “Dream, I used all my strength to get to you. I did” he weeps. “I pushed and kicked, but I couldn’t get to you. I heard you screaming, and I didn’t know what he was doing.”

  “Gable.” My heart breaks because I know that he had tried to save me. He would have killed Jacob had he been closer to him. “Larissa told me that you messed him up.”

  “He’s in a coma. I bashed his skull in. The doctor doesn’t think he’ll last the night.”

  “Good.” I stroke his cheek and kiss his lips.

  “Dream, are you?”

  I know what he’s asking. “I’m not pregnant, Gable. I was lying in hopes that Jacob wouldn’t rape me.”

  “It worked. I didn’t think you were, but you were convincing.” Gable nods.

  “Someday we will be, but definitely not right now.”

  “I know.” He kisses me again. We break apart when the doctor comes in and tells us that I’ll need surgery. I had already figured that I would have to because of the x-ray I’d glanced at. My fingers are a mess.

  “When can you do the surgery?” Gable asks.

  “In a couple days,” he says.

  “No, today. She needs her hands repaired today.” Gable orders him.

  “Gable, I’m sure he has other patients.” I hiss at him.

  “I’ll double your fee if you can do it today.” Gable ignores me. The doctor’s eyes go wide.

  “Let’s me see what I can do.” He stands and heads out of room.

  I don’t even argue with him. I continue to bask in his touch and we both lie in the hospital bed. He tells me that his injuries aren’t bad. Leo had it the worst but he and Bruce are all fixed up and heading back to Butler Mansion to rest.

  “Your mom is there.”

  “I know.”

  “She hasn’t said anything about Gideon, yet.” Gable remains quiet. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “What’s there to talk about? Gideon helped kidnap you, didn’t try and stop Jacob from almost raping you, watched me and my friends get our asses kicked, and ran away like a scared child when the FBI made their breach. What did I miss?”

  “He’s still your brother. He’s still her son.”

  “He’s nothing to me.” Gable sits up and I know he’s battling with his words. “I protected him for so long, and this is how he pays me back? I gave him everything, Dream. There’s nothing I wouldn’t have given him.” He runs his hands up and down his face. I see that they are also beaten and bruised.

  “He’s your brother, Gable. I know this must be hard.”

  “It’s not. Now, stop talking about it,” Gable growls at me. I sit back and I’m not sure how to act. He’s never used that tone with me in that way.

  The doctor comes in and tells us that I can have the surgery in a couple of hours. Gable tells him he will make sure he get his money and leaves the room. I’m in there alone and I’m not sure how to act. Gable left me.

  I didn’t mean to push him, but I know how much he cares for Gideon, no matter how much of an ass he is. Trent comes in and asks if I need anything. I want to say bring Gable back in here, but I shake my head.

  It’s not too long before nurses and other staff come in and out, prepping me for surgery. I worry I won’t see Gable before I’m wheeled back, but right before they take me he pops his head over the rail and kisses me.

  “Will you be here when I come out?” I mumble in my twilight drug state.

  “Always, baby.” He kisses me again and I close my eyes.

  ~~~

  My hand is throbbing and I feel like I should call for the doctor to come back and cut it off. It would be much simpler than this excruciating pain. Gable was by my bedside when I woke, but then he left again. Mrs. Stones is by my side right now, with Leo outside my door. The man is a machine. He told me that no one else watching over me but him. He looks horrible, but I can see him through the crack of my open door.

  I had some soup, forced by Mrs. Stones and a whole bottle of water. My hand is in a mobile sling and there are pins sticking out of my pinky, ring, and middle fingers. I try not to look at them because it makes the pain worse, for some reason. Mrs. Stones flips through the TV, but I keep drifting in and out of sleep.

  When I wake up the last time, Gable has replaced her. He’s in fresh black dress shirt, black pants, and he looks as if he had recently stepped out of shower. I had been upset with him leaving I should have realized that he went home to rest. He wanted to be alone.

  How selfish could I have been? He knows when to leave me alone and here he is going through a lot that I had, feeling the strain of it all, and I didn’t even care. I’m a real spoiled bitch sometimes.

  “Baby, you okay?”

  I didn’t even notice that I had been stroking his ring finger, twisting his wedding band. “I’m okay.” My voice is worse than this morning and I’m sure that I’ll lose it altogether soon.

  “Are you in pain? Do you need me to get the nurse?”

  I shake my head. “Stay. Please Gable, just stay with me.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.” He kisses my right hand. “I’m right here.”

  Chapter 23

  The next two days are a blur. The newspapers, TV, and every other media outlet have been reporting nothing but our ordeal. I’ve done my best to avoid it all, but it’s hard when they’re everywhere. Mama and Mrs. Stones have been staying with us, and babying me to the point that I’m about to scream at them to go away.

  However, I haven’t done that yet.

  Gable has been working out of his office with Joy and Bruce. The media isn’t helping Butler Corp, but he’s managing to make it better day-by-day. Mrs. Stones and I have been working as well, but nothing too much. Every time I go to open my laptop, Gable suddenly appears and gives me a malevolent look, which makes me close the laptop. I tried last night to get him to come to bed with me, but he never did. He’s not been sleeping a lot and when he does, it’s in his office on the couch. Misha is the one that let me know.

  The arraignment for Gideon and Aven is today. Jacob is hanging on by a thread, but no one has shut off the machines yet. Gable heard the doctor’s say he was brain dead and there’s no chance of recovering.

  There aren�
��t any charges being pressed against Gable because of the circumstances. I am relieved to hear that. They never recovered my wedding ring, and sadly I am disappointed. It’s not like I can wear it now, but it was mine.

  Gable tried to talk to Gideon, but he refuses any communication, even with Mama. I feel bad for her. One son tried to kill her other son. She and Gable have talked, even though I don’t know what had been said.

  Gable has closed himself off and I need to break through, before it gets worse. His OCD is a little off the rails. He didn’t even want grape jam with his toast because it was too purple and he yelled at Misha. I was there to intervene, but there’s coldness in his eyes.

  It’s scaring me.

  “Are you ready?” Leo asks as I walk out the bedroom door. I nod and we head to the elevator.

  Gable is with Bruce and Trent by the front door. Leo guides me past them and I don’t speak to Gable. The Mercedes is right in front of the mansion and I hop in. Everyone else comes out of the house and Gable still doesn’t speak to me.

  The courthouse steps are full of reporters. I stay in the SUV until Leo opens the door and I shield my eyes from the flashing light bulbs. Gable wraps his arm around my shoulders guiding me through the crowd. When we finally make it to the door, he holds my good hand, but still says nothing.

  My fear is that I’ve lost him. Maybe he finally believes marrying me has done nothing but ruin his life and family. What if I weren’t in the picture? Would he have gone into business with Jacob and Gideon? I don’t think he would.

  I thought about asking Mama for advice, but I know Gable wouldn’t appreciate that. He doesn’t want his mother to worry about him considering how much she already has on her plate.

  We find a place to sit on the benches in the courtroom and I see Mama coming in behind us. She takes her place next to Gable, and I sit on his other side. We see Gideon in a holding box. He looks terrible. His hair is a matted mess; the orange jumpsuit washes out his tan skin. He doesn’t look he’s been eating and has even lost a few pounds. I feel a little sad for him. Mama stares straight ahead, but I see her pat her eyes a couple of times.

  The charges read for Gideon is longer than I thought. They take everything into account, anything that happened during those twenty-fours when we were with them. Gideon pleads not guilty to all of them and they set the bail at one million dollars.

  Why did they even set bail?

  We sat there as they shuffle him away, and I wonder if Gable will post the bail. Mama whispers something in his ear that I can’t make out and he nods. Neither of them looks at me. Is this what a third wheel feels like?

  The bailiff announces Aven House and I hear the click of her high heels. She looks as if she stepping out of a limo. She’s in a dress suit, with her hair freshly done, and she holds her head up proudly as she walks over to her lawyer. Like Gideon she pleaded not guilty to all of her charges.

  I glance at Gable and he’s staring straight at her back. I can’t tell if he’s mad, happy, or sad. Hell, I don’t know if he is even listening to the judge or lawyers. Mama is still dabbing her eyes and looks as if she’s aged five years since we walked in.

  Aven is escorted out once they set her bail at a million dollars. She smirks at us when she turns around. I try not to cringe at her as her evil green eyes catch mine. The last time I saw her was right before Larissa helped me escape. Between the look in her eyes and the sound of Jacob’s voice and the feel of his hands, I don’t sleep at night.

  I heard people around us whispering how Aven shouldn’t have been given a bail and there must me a deal going on. I look at Gable, but he isn’t paying attention.

  Gable stands with Mama and me, and we all walk out of the courtroom. Leo and Bruce flank us as I follow them to a side entrance where both our Mercedes wait. I say nothing and slide in. I figured that Gable would ride with me, but he shuts the door and goes to his mother’s car.

  I understand he needs to be with her right now, but is he forgetting that I need him too. I’m hurting and scared and he doesn’t seem to care. Leo gets into the SUV and Trent heads out. Without hesitation, I ask him to take me to the park.

  “Dream.” Leo tries to stop me, but I throw my hand up.

  “To the park, Trent.”

  He makes a U-turn and heads toward the other side of town. I watch the city pass me by and do my best to hold back the tears. In the last six months, my entire life has been just short of an epic novel, and I don’t think I want it anymore.

  I’m done.

  I love Gable, but I didn’t sign up for all of this. I’m alone again, just when I thought I could count on him the most. I remember when I first met Aven, she told me Gable doesn’t do anything unless it involved his grand plan.

  What is his grand plan? Saving the world? Keeping me safe?

  I don’t know the answers, anymore and there’s no one I can talk to. Leo works for Gable. Larissa works for the FBI. I guess, Mrs. Stones, but I don’t think I need to burden her with anything else at this point.

  More and more every day, I wish Dad were here. He always gave the best advice. He knew exactly what I needed to hear to get me back on track. In addition, he could explain a few things that have left holes in my knowledge.

  When Trent pulls up to the curb, I get out. I tug my coat up higher on my collar and am careful not to hurt my hand, still in a sling from surgery. I walk through the path until I see a bench facing the center of the park. I know Leo isn’t far behind me when I take a seat. It’s cold and it feels as if it might snow soon.

  I cross my legs as I sit. I watch the few sporadic runners on the path and study the bare trees around the outer perimeter.

  “Do you want to talk?” Leo takes his place next to me.

  I say nothing.

  “When you were little, and Ulrich was away, we would come here and play. You would tell me all about school, boys, and the latest fashion.”

  I remain quiet.

  “I knew more about N’Sync and The Backstreet Boys than any man should ever know.”

  I hold back a smile thinking of what a torture it must have been.

  “It’s sad I still know some of those Britney Spears songs.”

  I laugh.

  “Ah, there’s the Dream I know.”

  I shake my head. “Only you, Leo.”

  “I know.” He pats my legs in a fatherly way. “Talk to me.”

  “What’s there to say?” I twist the button of my ivory trench coat.

  “Apparently, there’s a lot for you to say, but you’re keeping it all inside.”

  “You work for Gable,” I remind him.

  “I work for you.” His reply is quick. “I’ve been guarding you for over twenty years, Dream. My loyalty is to you. All Gable ever paid me to do was guard. All the other stuff I did was because I care about you and respected Ulrich. Nowhere in my job description did it say I had to listen to pop music or talk about boys.”

  I smile at him. “I’ve always loved you like an uncle, Leo.”

  “I feel the same about you Dream. I always have.”

  We fall back into the silence around us and listen to the pop and crack of the wind against the trees and branches.

  “What his grand plan?”

  “Huh?” Leo asks, perplexed by my question.

  “What is Gable’s grand plan?”

  Leo shrugs. “I think it’s to be the best he can be. Sometimes, I think he just wants to save the world. Other time, I have no clue. Why do you ask?”

  “Was I always part of the plan? I know he married me to protect me, but were there any other reasons?”

  Leo shakes his head. “Not that I’m aware of. Ulrich and Gable planned to keep you protected from Jacob and that’s all that I know.”

  “By marrying me?”

  “Dream, you know this. Gable has been very forthcoming to you about that since you’ve found out.”

  I nod and grow quiet again. I know that’s what Gable told me, but I’m questioning it again.


  “Tell me what’s really going on.”

  “I don’t know,” I answer Leo. “Gable is distant and all I want is for him to hold me. Leo, I was almost raped; I was mentally tortured.” Leo stiffens. “My hand is broken. I was kidnapped, and I don’t know how much more I can take. The past six months…” I sob, brushing my cheeks roughly to not feel the tears on my face. “It’s been hard.”

  “I wish,” he sighs. “I wish there was some advice I could give you, but I don’t have it. I don’t know what you’re going through, but know I’m always going to be next to you Dream.”

  I close my eyes, soaking in his words. Leo is someone that I can count on. He’s right when he says that he’s been by my side for so long. He has. Yes, he was part of the lies from Gable, but time and time again, Leo’s been the first in line to protect me.

  “It’s cold and if you stay out here much more, you’ll be sick. Let’s get you home.” Leo stands.

  “Take me to Jackson Manor.”

  Leo softly gasps, “No.”

  “Yes. Gable doesn’t want me around right now. It’s better this way. I need to search for a divorce lawyer, too.”

  “Dream.” Leo actually pales. “Why would you do that? Gable loves you.”

  “No.” Aven was right. “I’m not part of his plan. I’ve messed up his family, his business, and his whole life. I’m an encumbrance to him. Nothing more.”

  “That’s not true, and you know it. Now, I’ll stand by your side, but not when you’re throwing a pity party for yourself. He has a lot going on right now. You didn’t see him trying to get to you, Dream, when Jacob took you to that room...he wasn’t a man who was just using you for a plan. It was a husband trying to get to the wife he loves.” Leo’s voice is strong and almost forceful. “Give him some time.”

  “Take me—”

  “No,” Leo cuts me off. “I would never defy you, Dream. I’ve never done it, but this time I’m not going to let you make this mistake. You’re going to Butler Mansion. Period.”

  I look in his steely blue eyes and his hard face, and I know there’s no point in arguing. I will figure out another way to get to Jackson Manor. Just not right now. I turn on my heels and head back to the SUV.