Chapter 22 Chapter 22
Audrey
Fuck.
Fuck fuck fuck.
I’d fallen asleep. On Gabriel’s bed, wrapped in the same sheets as he slept under clutching his diary with my tears drying on my cheeks and I hadn’t just napped.
I had slept.
Clutching the diary to my chest I rushed out into the early morning darkness. Rain and wind pelted me but I kept my head down and ran anyway. It was probably safer to stay at the King house until the sun rose but I couldn’t.
I needed to get home. I didn’t know why but I did.
I’d just got to the trees on the boundaries of my property when I saw the blue flashing lights in the distance and slowed.
What-
Police. What were the cops doing at my house?
A second pause and then I was running again, this time at full speed.
I hit the lawn, and quickly took in the scene in front of me. Three police cars, three and there on my porch was Bethan. Leaning heavily on Duncan who had his arms wrapped around her.
On the grass which looked grey in the half light two coppers were dragging a man a way in handcuffs.
My heart did a weird sort of flip flop. Was the man between them Gabriel? Had my friends arrived without warning and caught him snooping around?
But no, my eyes raked over the figure. The figure was bulkier than the masked toned form of Gabriel King.
“Audrey.” Bethan screeched.
My head snapped in her direction, to see her rushing towards me. She hit me with all the force of a pro rugby player and sent us both almost sprawling to the ground.
“Whoa Bethan what’s going on here?”
“Where have you been Audrey. We came to surpise you and found that piece of shit sneaking around your house and-“
My eyes caught sight of the man over her shoulder. His face illuminated by the car headlight.
“Johnny?” Tearing myself out of her hands I stomped my way towards him. “What are you doing here?” My eyes went from the cuffs to the officers holding him. “Why is he in handcuffs?”
“They caught him -“
“He was in your house Audrey.” Duncan trotted down the steps towards us. His face stony. “And you weren’t there.”
“And there’s blood.” Bethan came up behind me. “We thought-“ she trailed off.
I shook my head. She thought I was dead.
“Well I’m perfectly fine. You can let him go.”
The officer looked at me coldly. “He was caught in your home Miss-“
“I told you.” Johnny blew out an exasperated breath. “I was worried about her being out here alone and was checking on her. She’s my friend. We’ve known each other for years. Hell we were together-“
Duncan’s head snapped up at his words. He glanced between the two of us with a frown.
Great another man who was jealous. That’s just what I needed.
“Is this true Miss Mcalistar?”
“Yes. Johnny is a close friend. I’m sorry if I worried everyone but there’s no need. I just lost track of time.”
Of course that was all true but I should have added more. Now was the perfect opportunity to admit what was happening to me but I kept my lips shut.
Ten minutes later the police left and it was the longest ten minutes of my life.
“Come on in I’ll make some coffee.” I’d slept all day and night and I was still exhausted. “Will you stay for coffee?” I asked Johnny who was staring at the retreating backs of my friends as they went inside.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” His eyes locked on Duncan’s back. “Is he the reason you ended things with me?”
I rolled my eyes. We’d had one date and made out a little so I wouldn’t have called what we had any sort of relationship.
“No.” Without thinking I reached up and pressed my lips to his cheek. “No johnny, Duncan is a work friend. Let’s go inside and talk it out. This is all one massive misunderstanding.” Looping my arm through his I led him forward.
“There’s bloody tissues all over your bedroom Audrey.” He hissed. “And a bowl of bloody water. We all thought someone had hurt you.” Pausing on the steps Johnny turned me towards him but his eyes darted to the treeline.
“I thought he hurt you.” He ended in a whisper. “Where were you?”
Frowning I tried to remember if I had cleaned up after Gabriel had branded me and couldn’t remember doing it. No wonder my friends had freaked.
“I just lost track of time.” I mumbled.
For several long seconds Johnny stared at me. “Ok I’m not going to ask why you are lying to me but be careful with the Kings ok Audrey. They aren’t men to be trusted and they definitely don’t deserve a woman like you.”
Gently he pushed my hair behind my ear.
“Let’s go inside.” I changed the subject. “I think we could all do with coffee or something stronger.” Again I looped my arm through his but only for a second before his arm encircled my waist and pulled me into his side.
“Yeah let’s get you in where it’s safe. You can explain to everyone what is going on Audrey.”
Explain to everyone what was going on? I couldn’t do that because I didn’t even know what was going on myself.
Without meaning to, I glanced around the hallway. Gabriel had cameras in here, he could be watching everything I was doing and that meant he would see Johnny with his arms around me.
What would he do?
“Audrey what is it?” Sensing my discomfort Johnny loosened his grip on my waist and I slid away.
“Nothing is wrong.” I lied and walked away from him.
It wasn’t that I didn’t like Johnny, I did. He was the perfect sort of man for me, it wasn’t even that I was worried that Gabriel would hurt him for touching me, no, it was because when he had put his arm around me I had felt guilty.
Like I was cheating on Gabriel.
“So you and Johnny?” Sitting opposite me Bethan nursed her third cup of coffee as the sun rose. Duncan had taken himself to sleep on one of the sofas because the guest rooms hadn’t been made up and Johnny had just left kissing my cheek before he left for work.
I couldn’t sleep though, and Bethan wasn’t about to go to bed either. Well not before she grilled me anyway.
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and shook my head. “No he’s just a friend.”
Bethan eyed me sceptically. As my best and oldest friend she knew when I was lying.
“He doesn’t want to be your friend Audrey.” She took another sip and stuck out her tongue when the boiling liquid burnt her. “He wants to kiss you, do sweaty ungodly things to you.” She winked. “Make you scream his name.”
I couldn’t help it I blushed. Sure I had made out with Johnny a little which was stupid but the only man who had made me scream was a masked Gabriel King when he licked me into submission.
Even the thought of him made me squirm. Suddenly the brand on my body itched. I wiggled on my seat.
“Oh.” Bethan’s eyes narrowed. She leant forward. “Oh it’s not Johnny that’s making you scream it’s someone else, isn’t it?”
I shook my head.
“Spill the tea Audrey. Who is the lucky man?”
“There’s no one-“
She shot me a look that told me she knew I was lying and I sighed. “Ok there’s kind of someone. But it’s not a relationship. It’s-“ I waved my hand around. “Really complicated.”
Well that was purring it lightly but why was I talking like I was in a relationship with Gabriel when he was stalking me. We weren’t together no matter what he wanted to believe.
“I see.” Bethan’s eyes narrowed. “And this mystery man treats you well?”
Did Gabriel treat me well? The brand he had burnt into my skin was itching like hell.
Not that I could tell her that.
I couldn’t tell them anything.
“There is no mystery man.” I said finally. Totally going against what I had just said. “It’s nothing.”
“So why not give Johnny a chance? He likes you and he’s your type. Fucking hell Audrey he almost got arrested just for checking you were safe. He’s totally your type. Cute, dependable.” She giggled. “I bet with a little training he could make you scream.”
My lips cracked into a smile but it felt false. That smile felt like a lie and I hated lying to Bethan. She was my best friend.
Everything she was saying was true. Johnny was perfect for me. A good hard working man. And I knew he would be a kind lover but I didn’t want to have to teach him what I liked and didn’t.
Gabriel never had to ask. He just took, and he made me love it even if I didn’t want to.
I’d never had to teach Gabriel what I liked.
“Yeah.” Absently I smoothed my finger over the rim of my cup. “Yeah he’s a great guy.”
“Then why won’t you give him a chance? If there’s no one else why won’t you give Johnny a chance. He’s borderline obsessed with you.”
Obsessed? Johnny wasn’t obsessed with me.
Gabriel was though.
“Maybe-“
“I’m not going to get anything else out of you am I?” Sliding from her seat Bethan put her cup in the sink and yawned. Stretching her arms above her head. “Is my room made up?”
“Yeah.”
“Good I’m gonna try and get a few hours but don’t think this is over Audrey. I’m gonna get all of your secrets out of you one way or another.”
“I don’t have any secrets.” I muttered.
“Then why won’t you tell us where you were earlier or why there’s blood and fuck knows what else in your bedroom?” She narrowed her eyes. “Why won’t you tell me who this mystery man is?”
“There isn’t any mystery man.” I retorted. Gabriel was definitely a mystery but he wasn’t my man.
She shook her head. “Keep your secrets for now but I will find them out. I’ll unpack after I’ve slept.”
My head snapped up. “How long are you staying for?”
Bethan grinned at me. “We are staying as long as you need us. Me and Duncan. We’ve come to keep you company as you pack everything up and come home.”
They were here for a while then? My heart sank. That would make things really difficult for Gabriel. And I don’t know why but that made me uneasy.
Why was I suddenly worried about Gabriel’s access to me?
Maybe because the first few pages I read in the dairy made me feel sorry for him?
“Sounds good to me.” Climbing from the stool I reached for the diary and followed after her.
“What’s that your holding Audrey?”
“Nothing.” I crossed my arms over a broken boys darkest secrets. “Just something I’m reading. I’ll see you all in a few hours.”
Passing her I pressed my lips to her cheek. “I’m so glad you are here Bethan. I love you.”
“I love you too bestie.” She called out behind me but I was already heading up the stairs.
I wasn’t going to be able to sleep but I wanted a few hours more with Gabriel’s thoughts before they started asking me questions.
“And you will think about giving Johnny a chance?”
“I’ll think about it.” I called back to her. I would think about it but not today. Today I wanted to learn more about the masked man that was Gabriel.