Saving Me

Eva came out of the interrogation room walking stiffly, but with her head held high. She silently took Gabriel’s hand and walked out of the gloom and into the sunshine. Once outside she said. “You can take that man’s badge now papa. He’s an idiot and a shame to the honest cops.” Lucian patted her shoulder with a hellish look in his eyes. “I intended to sweetheart. They’re going to send someone over to dust the window for prints.” He said to Gabriel. Bear’s head shot up. “What prints?” “Whoever took the pictures climbed up onto the roof and left a message on the glass of the bedroom window.” Eva said tightly. Bear blinked and then frowned. “Well shit. How long until Francesca’s funeral?” Lucian answered seeming to have all the details. “Four days, her family is flying in from Italy .” Bear nodded and rolled his massive shoulders. “I’ll set up some surveillance equipment in the meantime.” Gabriel and Eva piled into his jeep and Evan, Lena , and Lucian got into the silver Mercedes. Lucian drove a nice car. Gabriel thought. “What kind of surveillance Bear?” Eva asked suspiciously from the back seat. Bear listed off some items innocently. “Motion detectors, thermal imaging system, some hot wire in the tree our dude seems to favor, flash bangs. Standard stuff.” With every name listed, Gabriel and Eva’s brows rose higher. “Flash bangs and thermal imaging is standard?” Eva squawked. Bear caught her eyes in the mirror. “I told you Eva, you saved me. Now it’s my turn to help you. Nothing but the best will do.” Eva squirmed uncomfortably. “I gave you the chance Bear, you saved yourself.” She said gently, firmly. Bear shrugged. “Same difference.”

Later that night, Eva lay in bed with Gabriel safely surrounded by flash bangs in the front lawn and at the back door. Thermal imaging systems scanning the entire area surrounding the house, plus motion detectors that would alert Bear, (armed to the teeth with things Eva wasn’t sure were legal) if anything larger than a cat dared breach his perimeter. And the tree was wired like a damn Christmas tree with what Bear assured her would fry a water buffalo in three minutes. Plus some more wire around the roof and on every possible surface that might serve as a foot hold. Still the drapes were pulled tightly closed just in case. She was curled against Gabriel’s side as his hand soothingly stroked her arm. “What did you save Bear from Eva?” He asked, breaking the quiet. Eva moved her head back along his arm and smiled up at him. “Himself. When I first opened Hell, I put an add in the paper for bouncers. God me and Lena interviewed dozens, and nobody worked right. Then one night Bear showed up. He’d come back from Iraq because he’d been shot in the leg. The Navy turned it back on him and declared him unfit for combat because he limped a little. The Seals were his life, and he was a great soldier. But they discharged him and tossed him back into a world he didn’t fit into. He was on drugs to try and escape the pain, prescribed, but a junkie never the less. But when he showed up Lena and I took one look at him and knew he was the one. There was a fight going on in the alley behind the club, we’d heard the shouting and Bear was up across the room.”

Eva smiled at the memory. “He stuck his head out the window and leapt onto the fire escape. I swear Gabe the way he moved was right out of the movies. He never made a sound, just kind of prowled down the escape like a cat and pounced. The other guys never saw it coming. And you would think, from his size that he’d just go in fists flailing. But he just sidestepped and moved to protect the guy lying on the ground. I’d taken enough self defense training to see what he was doing. He never attacked only defended, but when he did attack it was to cause the least amount of damage possible. We hire him on the spot and sent him to rehab. He’s been with us for two years?” Gabriel smiled proudly down at Eva. “You’ve got the biggest heart.” Eva shrugged. “Not really, I just gave him the benefit of the doubt.” Gabriel took her hand and played with her fingers. “You believed in him.” He corrected and Eva stilled. “Yeah, I guess I did.”

There was a bang like a cannon and a bright light that slipped under the edges of the curtain. She heard Bear’s triumphant roar from downstairs. Gabriel rolled off the bed with Eva in a tangle of sheets; she didn’t even have time to scream. “Stay here, lock the door.” She blinked and Gabriel was off her, dragging on his jeans and tearing down the stairs. She heard Bear burst out the front door with an oath, she ran to the top of the stairs and saw Gabriel leap over the railing onto the landing below. “Eva stay in the God Damn bedroom!” he bellowed up at her even as he tore off after Bear. “The hell I will.” She murmured and put on her own jeans and pushed her arms into Gabriel’s worn flannel shirt buttoning it as she went. She had to dig around for her shoes and by the time she got out the front door, Bear and Gabriel were coming back with savage, predatory looks on their faces. Eva caught her breath at the sight of them. Both walked with their chins tucked down, feral expressions of frustration evident. They were both bare-chested their hands clenched at their sides.

She shuddered, having never seen this person who looked so like her Gabriel. The spell was broken by the howls of far away police sirens. “Did you find him?” Eva asked not realizing she was wringing her hands until Gabriel looked down at them. “I told you to stay in the house.” He said tightly. He was angry with her? There was some myth about Redheads and their fiery tempers that Eva had never believed until this very moment. Her hands dropped to her sides and she clenched them. Her nails making crescents in her palm. “So sorry, next time I’ll hide under the bed like some stupid teenager. Would that make you happy?” She growled. Gabriel blinked, taken aback at the low honey smooth and furious words. “I was trying to keep you safe Eva.” Her nostrils flared. “I realize that, and thank you for it. But I’m not the only one being threatened here. And I’ll be damned if you think I’m just going wait meekly by while the man I love and my best friend go rushing off in the middle of the night, where a twisted man with a gun, who has already shot and killed the only real mother I had, is waiting for the opportunity to shoot, maim and or kill you. Then you better think again.” Her voice has gone from quiet anger, to loud violent shouts. She whirled on Bear pointing her finger at him accusingly. He was grinning from ear to ear, trying unsuccessfully to hide it. “And you! What the hell was that?” Bear held up his hands submissively. “Flash Bang?” He said with a hopeful smile. “Oooh!” She screeched, spun on her heel and disappeared into the house.

Gabriel was stunned. “Oh man, we’re in the dog house.” Bear said with a laugh. Gabriel was reeling from her outburst. He’d never seen her in such a temper, and oddly enough it turned him on. She was one hell of a female, with hidden depths vastly unexplored. “Here come the cavalry, late as usual. I guess the neighbors didn’t like the show.” “Guess not.” And then her words came flying back to him. ‘The man I love.’ She loves me. That was all he could think while the cops questioned him. She loves me.

Eva was pacing in the bedroom, trying to calm down and figure out where her fury had come from. It had just exploded like Bear’s damned flash bang. Hot and bright she wouldn’t loose him. She refused, it wasn’t an option. She replayed her tirade and groaned realizing she’d let slip that she loved him. Hopefully he hadn’t heard it, because if he did then she was in for more chest banging and testosterone wars. Next you know he’ll be out there digging trenches with Bear and holing up while he locked her safely away in his bedroom. The rat bastard, he had no right to tell her what to do. She worked herself up into another fit of fury and she punched her fist in his pillow. She let out a breath and walked to the window, seeing that the police were still outside. “Shit.” She said when she saw Ross walking towards Bear with righteous indignation on his face and cuffs in his hands. Eva stomped back out of the room and down the stairs.

Ross saw her coming and Gabriel saw the man pale visibly at the sight of her. Hair flying like fire around her face, her blue eyes transformed into the glaciers that so reminded him of Lucian. God she was beautiful, her color high with a woman’s wrath. “Detective, would you please explain to me why you have my bodyguard and Gabriel in hand cuffs?” She drew herself up in front of Ross standing a good three inches over him. “No ma’am.” Her eyes narrowed. “No?” Ross humped. “No.” “Very well.” Eva whipped out her cell phone and dialed a number slowly. “Who are you calling?” Ross said suspiciously. “Your boss to let him know that you have arrested my security detail, and then my grandfather.” Ross swallowed as she put the phone up to her ear. “Now Miss. Page no need to get your panties in a wad.” Her head whipped up and she pinned him with a withering glare. “I beg your pardon?” Gabriel grinned at her elegant display of ire. Ross swallowed. “No need to get upset. Mr. Toussaint here has in his possession concealed deadly weapons.” “For the love of God!” She spat in exasperation “Where pray tell would he put them. He’s half naked.” Bear sniffed. “Nice to see you noticed, cher.”

Eva turned that withering glare on Bear and his smile disappeared. “Shut up Bear. Hello? Chief Edward, this is Eva Page. Yes, I’m really sorry to wake you up but one of your detectives has just put hand cuffs on the men paid to protect me. I believe you have already spoken to my grandfather regarding this? Yes sir, thank you. ” She held the phone out to Ross. “It’s for you.” He took it like a plague. “Ross here.” They could clearly hear the enraged voice on the other end of the phone. “You un-cuff those two men right now Ross or I’ll have your badge faster than you can piss your pants. You’re on thin ice as it is; Toussaint has Hunter’s permission to put whatever he wants on his own damn property that will protect that little girl. I knew her while she was still in diapers and if anything were to happen to her because of your dumb-ass stunts Lucian Page would get involved and heads would roll. Do I make myself clear?” Ross swallowed. “Yes sir.” He handed Eva back her phone and she snapped it shut she raised her brows and Ross jumped to un-cuff Gabriel and Bear. “Now then, kindly get the hell out of my sight and take your circus with you.” She said with a snap of her teeth.

The other officers were looking at her with respect and wariness. Ross was spluttering not sure what to do, so with a regal sniff Eva for the second time turned on her heel, hair flying in all directions and sailed of, flags flying into the house. Gabriel and every man present winced with the force she put behind slamming the front door. Bear was rubbing his wrists and looked down at Ross, still not sure what to do. “Dude you are so fucked.” “Detective!” Bear just grinned. “Not for long.” Ross snarled and whirled away, cursing and growling all the way back to his car. Bear and Gabriel watched the cop cars leave. Stood there with their hands in their pockets as they disappeared into the night. “So are you.” Bear said to Gabriel. “I’m what?” Bear punched his shoulder in a brotherly manner. “Fucked man. Fucked Royal.” Gabriel shook his head as they turned towards the house. “Yeah I know.” They walked up the steps and Gabriel turned the doorknob. His mouth dropped open in disbelief when it wouldn’t budge. “She locked us out!” He said indignantly while Bear roared with laughter. “Ten bucks says she forgot the back door.” Gabriel glared at the bouncer. “You’re on.” Gabriel lost the bet. “Hey if you hear me yelling for help. Come save me.” He said as he apprehensively looked up the stairs. Bear sobered, but his eyes were filled with tears as he tried to keep the laughter from spilling out. “I won’t leave you behind. Swear.” Bear put his hand up in the scouts honor. And then his shoulders started shaking and howled unsympathetically. “If you survive the night, I’ll see you. Good luck man.”

Gabriel trudged up the stairs and hear Eva talking. “They’re gone now…no they didn’t get him…I don’t know…I could care less at the moment…” Her voice went from irate to low and guilty. “I locked them out…I know it wasn’t, I don’t know what’s wrong with me…” Gabriel smiled at her childlike wail.

Eva sighed. “Evangeline Marian Page, you will go downstairs and let those boys in.” Lucian said in his most grandfatherly like tone.
“Yes papa.” She said grudgingly.
“Did you really call the police chief Eva?” His voice was full of gleeful pride.
“Sure did, I think I scared the Detective. I was just so…mad!” Lucian laughed on the other end of the line.
“I’m sure you were baby. Oh I remember when your grams got mad at me. Hell on wheels, what a woman. You are more like her than you realize Eva. Now go down and unlock the door, I’ll see you in the morning at practice.”
”You’re coming to watch?” Eva said with joy.
“I am, so’s Evan and Lena . We’re all here for you Eva, Gabriel most of all.” He finished softly. “Good night Eva. I love you.”
“Night, papa. Love you too.”

He saw Eva stiffen and whirl when she felt his presence. She scowled at him and snapped her phone shut. “How did you get in here?” Gabriel shut the door behind him softly. “You forgot the back door.” “Damn.” She stalked to her bag and shoved her phone in it’s pocket. “Eva I know you’re afraid…” Her head shot up and he took a step back. “I’m well past that Gabriel. I’m. Pissed. Off!” Gabriel swallowed and said gently. “I can see that Eva.” She threw her hands up in the air and stalked to the window that still had traces of black dusting powder on it. After a minute she yanked the drapes closed. “Some asshole with a perverted obsession with me and my life is out there watching us. Invading my head with all these nasty little thoughts, scaring me into looking over my shoulder at shadows that aren’t there. Takes pictures of us in our bedroom, and following my family, my friends. And then Francesca and Marco, there wasn’t any reason to kill them, they were good people who loved me. That flash bang went off and you left me…” Her voice trailed off and she pierced him with her flashing tear filled eyes. “You left me here alone while you went off to chase that animal, that same animal who’s decided you’re next in line to go. What if he’d set that thing off as a distraction and came in here after me?”

Gabriel was across the room in five strides. He gripped her arms and shook her gently.
“I told you I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. And I told you to stay in here just in case that was his plan.” A tear slipped past her lashes and slid down her cheek. Any anger he’d had evaporated under the power of that tiny rivulet. “You left me. ” She whispered. “Christ!” He growled and pulled her into his arms hard, crushing her to him. Her skin was cold to the touch and she shivered against him. He tilted her face up and kissed her breathless. “I’m sorry.” She stood up on her toes and kissed him again, clinging to him like she was drowning. “Touch me; please, I need to feel you.” She begged. He pulled her shirt over her head in one jerk and set his hands on her back. Kissing her and pressing her chilled skin to his feverish body. Her fingers fumbled with his zipper so he pushed her hands away and did it himself, attacking hers next.

Gabriel’s mouth was everywhere, warming her with his lips. He yanked her jeans down and pushed her to the floor and pressed his hand against her curls. She made a little sound of need and he palmed her roughly as his lips took her breast. The need to know he was safe, that he wasn’t hurt drove her to touch every bit of him she could reach. “Gabriel…” She pleaded and he covered her body as he thrust up into her, she hooked her legs around his back and gasped writhing under the force of his possession. She moaned his name again and his touch gentled, his thrusting slowed and his kisses turned tender. He bit his lip and rocked into her, growling words in a language she didn’t understand, but she recognized a few. He’d said them to her before. Eva turned her face up for his lips and he surrendered them willingly, stroking her tongue with his, making love to her mouth as he did to her body. He emptied himself into her when she came, his name like a prayer on her lips. She felt him scoop her up, but she felt like a boneless puddle of mush. Utterly spent. He rolled them into bed and burrowed under the covers with her.


When she woke he was leaning on one elbow, looking down at her with the oddest look on his face. “What?” She asked, unable to move. He smiled softly and shook his head. “Nothing, just let me look at you.” She was quiet in thought and then said. “Can I ask you something?” Gabriel grimaced. “Whenever a woman asks that, it means trouble.” Eva pinched him lightly. “It does not!” With a suffering sigh he waved his hand. “Ask away.” She teased her fingers over his chest and tilted her head. “Today, before we left the rink, you call me something. And again later here, and again when we were on the floor. I didn’t understand the language.” Gabriel inhaled slowly and looked down at her fingers. “Did I?” He asked nonchalantly. “Yes you did, what was it?” Gabriel trailed his fingers over her arm and let her see the pools of heat his eyes had become. “Promise you won’t cry, I can’t stand it when you cry. It breaks my heart.” Eva nodded. “I’ll try not to.” Gabriel huffed out his breath and got ready to give her back the treasure she had given him. “It’s Gaelic. Words my grandmother gave me. A gara, my love, A amhain, my only.” He said softly, waiting for her to speak. She didn’t say anything, but her eyes got suspiciously bright. “You promised.” He said as his heart seized. She gave him a slow brilliant smile. “I said I’d try.” She reached up and kissed him. Feathery little kisses and eased the tension he hadn’t realized he was holding. He sighed and lay down over her deepening the kisses she gave him. “I love you Eva, so much I can’t find the right words to tell you.” Her smiled turned sultry and she tugged him down on top of her, pressed him into the cradle of her hips. “Then show me.”

He did, worshiping her with his hands, his lips, with his harsh moans as he made love to her. And while they lay coiled around each other, his head pillowed on her chest, she brushed his hair aside and murmured in his ear. “I’ve loved you from the beginning.” His arms tightened around her as something in him eased, a click as he realized her heart was pounding in perfect time with his own. He looked up at her, cradled her face in his hands. “No matter what comes next, I’ll be right there with you Eva. We’ll make it through this.” She nodded and searched his eyes. “I know, I’ve got my own personal guardian angel.” Gabriel frowned. “Bear?” Eva laughed, a tinkling fairy laugh. “No, you.” Gabriel seized her lips in triumphant glory. “I can’t believe the first time you said you loved me, you were yelling at me.” He said with a grin. Eva groaned and covered her eyes. “You heard that?” He moved her hand away and traced her lips with his finger. “I most certainly did.”