DREAM (28 page)

“Damn it.” I growl softly.
Trust yourself, Dream. You can do this.
I give myself a pep talk and decide to go left.

As quickly as I can, I walk about a half mile with no one in sight. I swing the flashlight left and right, but see nothing but shadows. I stop dead in my tracks as I fix the light in front of me. There’s a large man not more than ten feet straight ahead. My mouth is dry and I feel myself shaking.

Is he part of the attack or a crazed, mass murderer living in the woods? When I get home, I’m really going to kill Gable.

Rule five: Be confident.

Okay, that’s not a good rule at this point, when the person in front of me outweighs me by a lot.

Think, Dream, think.
I take a second to listen to my gut and run in the opposite direction. I slam into someone. I’m stunned for a beat, thinking it’s a tree, until the figure pushes me. I trip over my feet and land on my butt. I scramble back up to my feet and size up the man in front of me and still wonder what’s behind me. He’s taller than me around the same height as Bruce. It had been last week that Bruce had me in this situation.

Focus on him, Dream, and then the other guy in a second.

I promptly pivot on my right leg with my left foot kick the man as hard as I can in the right knee. The man cries out in pain, falling to the ground holding his leg.

I gasp at what I done, but can’t think about it as the male from behind me grabs my left wrist with his right hand, causing me to spin. He grips my other wrist tightly. I can’t move from the force of his grasp.

Remain calm.

The man says nothing, but he’s taller than I am, and I need to get away. Bruce showed me that the weakest point of a grip is the thumbs. I rapidly pull my arms down and outward forcing the man to lose the grip. I kick my right leg up connecting with his groin. As he leans forward, his head is closer to mine. Leo told me that the palm of my hand is better than a fist in some situations because it wouldn’t hurt me as much as a fist. I take my palm and slam it against his forehead. He becomes disoriented and falls to the ground. I race as fast as I can down the trail.

I run about another hundred yards when I hear my name being yelled. I stop and turn, seeing Leo racing his four-wheeler toward me. Gable cuts in from the left, joining him. The headlights momentarily blind me. Gable jumps off his ATV and comes toward me. I hold my hand up to stop him. I rush to the side of the trail and empty the contents of my stomach. The adrenaline is still pumping through me, but the reality of what I did hits my conscience hard.

“Dream.” Gable soothes me by saying my name softly.

I push him away. “I hate that you made me do that.” I spit out what’s left in my throat.

“But, now you know you can do it and that’s important.”

I stand up and narrow my glare at him. Leo hands me a bottle of water. I jerk it from his hand, take a chug, and in an unladylike manner, swish it in my mouth and spit it back out.

“Which way to the house?”

Gable and Leo point behind me and I walk away from them both. I don’t like either of them right now.

Chapter 27

I slam the door hard enough to make the windows rattle. I stomp up every stair with such force my knees hurt when I reach the bedroom, banging that door as well. I rip off my clothes and jump into another shower. The water is freezing at first, but changes to hot and it almost burns my skin.

I welcome it as I begin to cry. I hate Gable for making me do that. I hate that I hurt those men. I hate that I’m proud of myself, because I held my own. I hate all my emotions right now. I rest my body against the cool tiles as the hot water pounds on my back.

I thought I heard the door open, but I’m sobbing too hard to even notice. Until I hear the glass shower door open. I know it’s Gable when he kisses the top of my head and pulls me into his arms. I cry into his chest. He doesn’t utter a single word to me.

Gable steadies me on my wobbling legs and reaches for the shampoo. He washes my hair first and then suds up the washcloth and bathes me. My eyes are still shut when he turns off the water and guides me out of the shower.

Gable dries my body with a fluffy white towel and my tears have stopped. He holds out one of his black t-shirts and I lift my arms for him to slide it on. He rushes through drying himself and puts on a pair of his black boxer briefs. He picks me up takes me to the bed. I assume he turned down the covers before he joined me in the shower.

He lays me down covering my body with the cool sheet and warm comforter. He clicks off the lights and then gently climbs in behind me, spooning with me.

I say nothing. I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.

~~~

I roll over to my back and open my eyes. Sunlight is flooding into the bedroom and I notice I’m alone. I don’t even bothering changing into clothes. I wiggle into a pair of yoga pants and grab a sweat jacket.

I pad down to the kitchen where I find Gable, Bruce, and Leo. They stop talking in their hushed tones when they see I’ve entered the room

“Please, continue talking about me, I insist.” I walk past them and make myself a cup of coffee. I sit as far away from them that I can.

“Actually we weren’t talking about you.” Gable says.

I roll my eyes.

“We were discussing—”

“I don’t care.” I cut him off. “I’m pissed at all three of you, especially you, Gable. You wanted to come here to relax and leave the stress behind us, but you fucking brought it up here.”

“Dream, please quit cussing.” Gable glares at me.

“Fuck no.” I slam my hand on the table. “I’m sick of this. I was enjoying a few stress free days with my husband, but apparently his sick-fucking-paranoid mind doesn’t think that should happen.”

“Dream.” Gable growls my name.

“Am I wrong, Gable? Am I?”

He doesn’t answer me.

“You couldn’t let us have three days. Three damn days.” I pick up my cup and throw into the sink so hard it shatters. “I’m going to pack and I’m going home. Then in the morning, I’m going back to work at JE’s building and I dare you to stop me. You want to think that Gideon and Aven are still after us, then there’s no point in hiding in the woods.”

Gable continues to stare at me.

“Leo, I’ll be ready in an hour.” I head over to the stairs and make my way to the bedroom.

~~~

I walk into Butler Mansion not even glancing at anyone as I head straight for the media room. I don’t turn anything; I burrow into the leather chair, hiding away from everyone. The ride home no one said anything. I didn’t want to hear a single word from Gable.

I close my eyes and try to calm the anger, hurt, and pain that’s still pulsing through me. You would think that after a few hours in a car, I wouldn’t be this wound up, but I am.

“May I sit?”

I open my eyes, but I don’t look at my husband.

“I’m going to assume that your silence means yes.”

“Well, you know what they say when someone assumes something?” I clench my teeth at him.

“You make an ass out of you and me.” He answers and reclines back.

There’s no noise between us. Even the room itself is quiet. I can hear myself breathing hard, but the anger doesn’t seem to slow at all for me.

“I want you to know that all the men in the exercise are okay. I’m proud of you Dream. You can be pissed at me all you want, but I’m proud and relieved to know that if you’re alone, you can at least get away.”

“Why couldn’t you give us three days, Gable? Why?”

He’s quiet for a moment. “I’m not sorry I did it. We can go somewhere else, if you like.”

I face him. “I’m going upstairs. You can do whatever you like.” I stand and leave him there alone.

~~~

Being back in JE’s office is strange feeling. I almost feel like a stranger when I walk into the office. Mrs. Stones is waiting for me and goes through my appointments and agenda for the day. I dive into the contracts and the work in front of me and don’t look up for the rest of the day. Emails, voicemails, and meetings all keep me from thinking about Gable, hurting those three men, Gideon, and Aven.

After several hours, I turn in my chair and stare out the picture window. It’s dusk now and my head hurts from all the reading and talking I’ve done. I check my phone.

I miss you.

My heart twists thinking of my husband and reading his text. I know above all that he’s trying to do what’s right, but he does it all wrong. He tricks me into marrying him, he lies constantly, and then he hides the I’m-trying-to-protect-you clause. However, he always ends up being right, which pisses me off more.

Are you still at the office?

Gable answers right away, stating that he is and would be there for a little bit longer. I call Joy and tell her to order burgers for us and I’d be there soon. I summons Leo and he takes me to Gable’s office.

When I get off the elevator, Joy’s smile greets me. “The food will be here in twenty minutes.”

“Knock before entering.” I tell her and walk into the office with no announcement.

Gable glances up from his computer, but looks down, and continues typing as I shut the office door.

“I figured you would come here since you asked. Do you need to yell at me again?” He finally stops typing when I pull his office chair back and stand behind him and the desk.

“Yes, I do actually.”

“I could have been sending a very important email.”

“Were you?”

“Didn’t I say
could have
?” He tries hiding his smirk.

“I wouldn’t smile, just yet. I’m mad.”

“What’s new?” He rolls his eyes.

“I’m done playing, Gable. You have to stop with the secrets, because the next time, I’m serious, I’m not coming back. Are we clear?”

Gable gazes at me and I know that he’s thinking about if I’m serious or not. He gives in and nods. “Okay. I was wrong this time; I’ll admit it. I’m sorry.”

“Wow, the great Gable Butler is apologizing to me.” I lean in closer to him. “Thank you, and it’s accepted.”

“You know.” He hooked the top of my blouse pulling me closer to him. “I do remember a vivid sexual fantasy you had about us, my office, and this chair.” He flicks his tongue.

“I’ve seem to have forgotten.” I softly whisper my lie.

“Really?” He squints at me. “I think you’re lying, Mrs. Butler.”

I smirk and lean back on his desk and he drops his hand. “Are you calling me a liar?”

“In a sense,” he tilts his head to the side. “Mainly, I’m ready to play out the fantasy.”

I slowly shake my head. “Not happening. I’m here to talk to you and spend a quiet evening together.”

There are three loud raps on the door and I smile. “Perfect timing.” I jump up from the desk and head over to the door.

When I open it, I’m staring at Gideon’s cold eyes, and his fist connects with my jaw, making it all go black.

Chapter 28

The metallic taste and my aching face force me to open my eyes. I don’t know where I am, but I’m tied to a chair.

Oh no, not again.
I remember Gideon’s face right before he hit me.

I look the room and it’s not where Jacob had us. This is different. I don’t know where I am. I’m alone in the room and I want to yell out for Gable. Is he alive? Is he here somewhere close to me? I close my eyes and try to remain calm. I tug on my wrist, but the rope burns into skin as I twist and turn them.

“You can’t get out.”

I gasp as I strain my neck all the way to the left and see someone stepping out of the shadows. I didn’t need to see his face because I knew his voice.

“Gideon. Gideon, what have you done? Where is Gable?”

“My
brother
is fine. He’s great actually, because we’ve removed you from the picture.”

“We? Who is we?”

“Aven and I.” He strolls over to me and kneels down. He takes his black, steel gun and runs it up and down the inside of my right thigh, under my skirt.

“Gideon, I need to see Gable.”

“No, you don’t.” He stands and slaps me across my face and I can’t even scream from the stinging, and tears fill my eyes.

Gideon says nothing else and walks out of the room. I sniff and spit out the blood that fills my mouth. I study the room to see if I can figure out some way to escape, but there’s nothing except gray concrete walls and a dim light above me. There’s a door near me, about fifteen feet away.

How am I going to get out of this? What the hell are Aven and Gideon up to now? What could they possible want from us?

The loud click and bang of the door opening causes me to turn my head. Gideon comes back in and has Leo with him. He pushes Leo to the ground, and I can see that Leo’s face has been beaten badly.

“Leo,” I gasp. My heart breaks seeing him this way. “Gideon, let him go.” I plead. “I swear I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Oh, I know you will.” Gideon pulls Leo up to his knees, to face me. “Leo is your friend, right?”

“Yes.” I answer.

“You think of his as family, right?”

“Yes.” My voice cracks as I stare at Leo.

“What about you, Leo? Do you care for little Dream Jackson?”

“Yes.” Leo says without a beat of hesitation.

“That’s what I thought.” Gideon pulls out the gun from his waistband and pulls the trigger.

My body goes into shock. My eyes are seeing something my brain can’t process. Leo falls lifeless over to this side. The crimson blood, bits of his skull, and brain matter lay about in a pool around him. I can’t scream, cry, or move. I watch the life leave Leo’s eyes, since they are still open staring at me.

“Tsk Tsk.” Gideon says heartlessly. “Such a shame.” He steps over Leo and grabs my chin. His cold, demon eyes stare deeply into me. “Give me JE.”

“What?” My voice finally functions.

“You’re going to give me JE.” He squeezes my face harder. “And you’re going to do it now.”

“I need Gable.” I whispers and taste the salty tears that are running down my cheeks and landing on my lips.

“I’ll be right back.” He releases me. I watch Gideon stroll out of the room as if he is heading out for a night out with friends or simply heading into another room. This isn’t a man who just shot and killed someone.

I try not to gaze down at Leo, but I do. His eyes are still open, but you can see the spirit is gone from them. I shut my eyes and silently tell Leo thank you for all that he’s done for me and I love him. I keep my eyes close and turn my head away from where his body lays. I don’t want to remember him like this. My memories of him will be of all the times he has been there for me and all the times that he saved me.

I try to remain focused on happy memories with Leo and my father to keep me calm. I can feel my body shutting down on me. I’m not sure if it’s the shock, but the room is spinning and my eyes are growing heavy. Soon, I give in and the world fades away.

~~~

“Leave her the fuck alone, Gideon.”

Gable?

“Or what? What the fuck are you going to do, Gable? Are you going to kill me? You’re tied to a chair and there’s no one around to hear you?”

I try to pry my eyes open but everything is still black. I lift my lids, but I still can’t see anything. I’m blindfolded. I realize when my senses feel the itchy material around my eyes.

“Gable.” I whisper out loud.

“I’m here.” His deep voice soothes me. “Don’t say anything.”

“Gideon killed Leo.” I sniffle.

“What?” Gable yells. “What the fuck?”

“She needed to know I’m serious.” Gideon says as if it’s not a big deal at all. “I want JE.”

“Why? What is the point of owning JE? There’s nothing you can gain from being the owner.” Gable tries to reason with him.

“Oh, but there is a bigger reason.”

I feel a hard tug on my hair and I yelp in pain.

“Gideon!” Gable screams at him.

“See, if I have JE in my pocket,” Gideon ignores his brother and continues talking. “Then I have Dream in my pocket. This little bitch needs to be taught a lesson. She’ll get that when I sell her company off piece-by-piece. Maybe I’ll kill that old hag, Mrs. Stones next.”

I gasp.
Oh God. Please no.

“Gideon, I will give you whatever you want. We don’t have to involve Dream or JE in this. Is it money? I can set you up on a monthly account and you’d never have to work again in your life.” Gable tries to reason with him.

“She has ruined our lives. Why can’t you see this? Why can’t you see past anything but her tight pussy?”

“That’s not true. I love Dream. I married her because I wanted to protect her from Jacob. Out of everyone in my life, you know the truth about Dream and me. You are my brother.” Gable keeps his voice at an even low tone.

“More lies, Gable. You can’t love someone by looking at them once. You can’t protect everyone in the world. I don’t even know why you try.” Gideon’s tone changes and he sounds lost and far away.

“I try to save the ones I love. You, Mama, and Dream are everything to me. You’re my brother, Gideon. You’re my best friend. You know I’d lay my life down for you.” Gable continues trying to keep Gideon talking and calm him down.

There’s silence between them and I’m not sure if they’re even in the room anymore. It’s not until I hear the shuffling of someone’s feet that I know that they’re still here.

“Why did you get married, Gable? Everything was perfect for us. We were running this town.” Gideon’s voice is low and almost a whisper.

“I love Dream. You knew I was going to marry her, no matter what it took.”

“And lying to her, practically kidnapping her, is your idea of romance and the perfect way to start a marriage?”

“Gideon, I’m not proud of how Dream and I started, but she’s my wife and I love her. Let her go and we can talk about this.”

I hold my breath and do the best that I can not to make a sound knowing that Gable is reasoning with Gideon, and it is working. I’m trying to act as if I’m not even in the room.

“You’re my best friend, too, Gable.” Gideon’s voice breaks. “But, you left me for her.”

“I never left. I’m right here. We’re always going to brothers. Nothing that will ever change that. We are tied together forever. You and me.” Gable’s voice is soft.

The silence stretches between them, and I feel someone closer to me. I’m sure it’s Gideon since I can hear Gable is further away from me. I think Gable’s broken through because he pulls off my blindfold and I’m blinded for a second as my eyesight adjusts to the lighting. I hear a pop and my arms instantly loosened as I’m freed from my restraints.

I search the room for Gable and he’s tied to a chair to my far left. I release the breath of anxiety once our eyes connect. Gideon walks into my line of sight and I lean back away from him.

“Do you love my brother?” He narrows his eyes at me.

“Yes. Yes, I do, Gideon.” I tell him honestly.

“Do you promise to take care of him and always be there for him?”

“Yes,” I repeat and study his face closer. Something’s changed and it feels off. These aren’t the same cold eyes that shot and killed Leo. These eyes are lost.

“He needs stability and love.” Tears fill the corner of Gideon’s eyes.

I nod. “I promise, Gideon.”

He holds out his hand and shaking, I take it and he helps me to my feet.

“I’m sorry.” He whispers low enough that I don’t think that Gable hears him. He turns around and goes to Gable.

I scan the room and realize that we’re in Matherson’s Printing office. However, the windows are blacked out with thick black curtains. I turn my attention back to Gable and Gideon.

Gideon snips off his cable ties binding his wrists. Gideon walks over to the other side of the room, away from us both as Gable rushes over to me and cups my face.

“Okay?” I give him a small smile and try to not burst into tears. “Okay.” He sighs with relief.

“Gable.” We both glance over at Gideon. “I’m sorry.”

“Gideon,” he releases me. “I know. Can you tell me where Aven is?”

He shrugs. “She should have been here already. I don’t know where she is. Just go, Gable. Get out of here.”

“I want to help you.” Gable starts to take a step toward Gideon, but he holds up his hand to stop him.

“You can’t.” Gideon shakes his head. “Leave, Gable.”

“Not without you, brother. I’m going to help you. I know there’s something more going on, and I’m not going to give up on you.”

Gideon pulls the gun from behind his back and points it at Gable. “You can’t help me. Now, leave Gable. Take your wife and leave,” he shouts.

I take a step back and tug on Gable’s arms. “Come on.”

“I told you that I’m here for you and here I am. You’re my best friend, Gideon. Put the gun away and let’s work this out.” Gable ignores me and tries to plead with his brother.

Gideon pulls the hammer back on his gun, cocking it. “Leave or I’ll shoot Dream.”

“He’s not going to shoot anyone.” We all whip in the direction of the new voice that has entered the room.

“Aven,” Gable hisses.

“Hello, Gable.” She smiles brightly at him. “I see you and Dream are back together again.”

“We were just leaving.” Gable yanks me behind him.

“No, you’re not going anywhere.” Aven opens her purse. She reaches in and shows us her silver gun. “Let’s put things in better perspective.” She turns her body toward Gideon and fires.

I scream out as I watch Gideon fall backward and clutch his chest. The red begins to seep through his white shirt and he gurgles for air.

Gable races to his brother’s side, but Gideon has already closed his eyes and you know there’s no hope for him.

“Now, it’s your turn.” Aven points the gun at me and everything goes black.