Escape From Obsession (18 page)

“You can snuggle with her later, let me see our girl,” Eve, their mother, said then pulled her into a hug.

“I’m so glad that you’re okay. I wish the men had brought you by sooner.”

“I wasn’t feeling up to coming out,” she said and Eve smiled.

“You’ll have fun and you’re amongst friends.”

“Thank you.”

She felt the arms go around her waist and then Garrett kiss her neck as he whispered into her ear, “When the Cowboys win today, I get to take off that jersey.”

“And if the Giants win?”

“I’m going to take that jersey off of you anyway, baby. You know I like you all naked.”

She giggled and felt her cheeks warm. Then Wes was standing in front of her with his arms crossed in front of his chest. The sleeves on his Cowboys jersey were rolled up, revealing his huge muscles. He had that typical coach type of attitude along with his military stance and abrupt demeanor.

“The guys are not going to let me live this down. I mean come on, Gia. I’m a freaking football coach in Texas.” He was so upset, but she thought he was adorable as he pouted. She looked behind him and could see the other coaches chuckling. They would give him a hard time. She felt bad as she stepped from Garrett’s embrace and placed her hands against Wes’s chest. He tried to hold a mean expression, but it didn’t last as she stood up on tiptoes and kissed him.

“I’m sorry, baby, but I’m a Giants fan. Through thick and thin and good and bad. You can’t fault me for that.”

He wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her against his side.

“I’m buying you a Cowboys jersey.”

“I’m not going to wear it,” she retorted and he huffed as they walked toward their other friends.

* * * *

By halftime it was looking as though the Giants were going to beat the Cowboys. Gia toned down her excitement around the depressed fans. The men were ruthless with their Giants jokes and of course teasing Garrett, Gunny, and Wes about her being a jinx for the team. They were truly ruthless.

She watched Garrett as he spoke with Sammy and the guys. He seemed a bit different today. He seemed happy despite his team losing big-time.

“You’ve made a huge difference in his life, Gia,” Eve whispered to her as she placed a hand on Gia’s shoulder.

“Me? I haven’t done any such thing.” She lowered her eyes and moved some more napkins and plates toward the end of the buffet table. The McCallisters had quite the spread of foods for the football party.

“You’ve made them happy, Gia. My sons have been through a lot in their lives. Garrett wasn’t the same after his injury. Wes absorbs himself in his coaching job and tries to pretend that he’s fine, but I know otherwise,” Eve said.

“What do you mean? Wes socializes with everyone and the players adore him and look up to him. My cousin Dale has so much respect for Wes.”

“I know they do. He’s a good man, but he doesn’t see himself that way. Same goes for Gunner. Gosh, now that man gave me gray hairs and still does. He’s got quite the reputation as a Texas Ranger. I’m sure I haven’t heard half the stories, but I’ve heard their fathers talking with him about the chances he takes and that he’s not a superhero. Listen to me babble on and on. I’m just telling you what I see and that’s a positive difference in my sons. They won’t hurt you, Gia. In fact, I think they would do absolutely anything for you,” Eve said then walked away. Gia looked over at Garrett and Wes. They were talking to their friends and discussing the game and what the defense needed to do to come back and beat the Giants. Everyone else started making their plates of food.

She felt the arm go around her waist and the large, solid chest against her back.

“Hungry, baby?”

Gunner.

I’m hungry for you and your brothers.
The thought made her cheeks warm as she turned in his arms and looked up into his dark eyes.

“I could eat,” she whispered to him and he raised his eyebrows at her as he caressed his hand over her back and under her jersey. The warmth of his palm against her skin enticed her for more.

“Well, I could eat you. You’re a mighty tasty little morsel, Gia. I just might have to bring you into the back room and get me a little to hold me off until after the game.”

“Really?” she replied as the heat hit her cheeks and her pussy wept. She felt that lustful, hungry feeling again.

“Break it up, you two. We don’t have too much time to eat before the second half,” Jasper, his father, said, interrupting them.

Gia turned to walk toward the table, but Gunner held her hand so they could walk together. He brought her fingers up to his lips and kissed them. She held his gaze, knowing that he was feeling just as needy as she was. But then he took her other hand, the bandaged one, and placed his hand against her cheek.

“Are you feeling okay? Not too tired yet?”

“I’m good, Gunny. Let’s get something to eat.”

Not an ounce of pain. I never felt better. So why am I waiting for something to go wrong?

* * * *

Gia was coming out of the bathroom when she felt her cell phone vibrating against her back pocket. As she looked down the hallway she saw Teddy and Gunner standing together. They spotted her and she waved then took the call.

“Hello.”

“Sweet little Gia, I underestimated you.”

She heard Jeffrey’s voice and she gasped.

“Don’t have much to say, huh?” he asked.

She tried to remain calm. She couldn’t believe that he was calling her.

“How did you get this number?”

“Easily, honey. Just as easily as I can come and get you. You’re in apartment 4C in the Green Mountain Apartments, right? Nice view of the gardens from your living room and bedroom. I like the comforter set.”

She held her hand against her neck as a sinking feeling consumed her. “You were in my apartment?” She raised her voice and looked up to see both Gunner and Teddy heading toward her. Both had expressions of concern on their faces

She covered the mouthpiece on the phone as they approached.

“It’s Jeffrey,” she whispered and both men reached for the phone, but Gunner grabbed it from her. He placed the phone to his ear as Teddy pulled Gia into his arms.

“What did you just say, asshole?” Gunner screamed, obviously upset about what Jeffrey said. “You listen to me. If you ever call her again or go anywhere near her, I’m personally going to eliminate you. Fuck off.” Gunner ended the call and as Gia looked up from where she stood in Teddy’s arms. He looked mega pissed off.

“What’s going on?” John Luke asked.

“That asshole who attacked her just called her cell phone.” Gunner raised his voice.

“It’s okay, Gunny. Please calm down,” she began to say as John Luke motioned with his hand to someone.

Teddy released her as she reached for Gunny’s hand. He was resistant a moment until he handed Teddy her cell phone before leading her down the hall.

“Take care of this for me, will ya.”

Teddy nodded. “I’m on it and will call it in right now.” Teddy walked away and then John Luke followed Teddy as Gunny walked her down the hall and into the private office.

The moment the door closed he pulled her into his arms and hugged her to him. His large hand cupped the back of her head and the other held her lower body. He was breathing heavy, and she felt the tension in his body. He was so upset.

“It’s okay, Gunny. He’s trying to get to me, like he did the others.”

“He’s not getting to you.”

“No, he can’t get to me. He has lost. It will all be over this week in court. There are too many charges against him and the judge should have never set bail.”

He pulled back and looked down into her eyes.

“What did he say to you?”

She shook her head and he gripped her chin, tilting up toward him.

“What?” he asked firmly.

“He said he knew where I lived and how nice the view was from the living room and bedroom. He mentioned my comforter.”

“Motherfucker.”

“What did he say when you took the phone?”

He was silent and she rubbed her hands along his waist and then up to his chest as he looked down at her. He was so tall and big compared to her. Her head barely reached his chest.

“What did he say?” she asked again.

He held her gaze then turned away as he clenched his teeth.

“He was describing how he would rip your clothes off and fuck you from behind.”

The fear hit her belly and she hugged him tight. He released a long sigh as the door opened and Wes and Garrett entered.

“What the fuck happened?” Wes asked and Gunner squeezed her snugly against him.

“Please calm down, Gunny. I’m safe and I’m here with you,” she told him as he leaned back against the desk. She stood between his hard thighs and held his cheeks between her hands.

* * * *

Gunny was filled with so much anger he wanted to hit something. It was difficult to not hold Gia too tight. He didn’t want to hurt her or scare her, but that fucking asshole called her. The same man who attacked her now was trying to intimidate her. If he hadn’t taken the phone from Gia, she would have heard that sick bastard’s words. His brothers entered the room, both looking just as angry at the situation.

“Please, Gunny, it doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter. This isn’t right. I’ve seen the results of situations like this, Gia. On the job I’ve showed up on scenes where women have been brutally raped or even beaten by men that were supposed to love them but instead nearly killed them. I’ve responded to calls about victims who cried for help or remained silent out of fear.”

“It’s over, Gunny. What he said, what he thinks, doesn’t matter. I can handle this and I don’t want you overthinking the situation.”

“Overthinking the situation?” he asked and she stepped back as if there was something she wasn’t telling them. Call it investigative instinct or whatever, but he was getting the impression that Gia really didn’t think this situation was unacceptable. What in the world kind of men, kind of life had she led and been exposed to?

“Gia, this isn’t normal or acceptable. Being stalked, harassed, and assaulted by a man is not acceptable by any means,” Wes stated and Gunny looked at him and then at Garrett as he pulled Gia into his arms.

“Is this the first time this asshole has tried to contact you since the attack?” Garrett asked and Gunny became more upset. He placed his hands on his hips and stared at her.

“Yes, it’s the first time. God, now you think that I’m stupid enough not to tell Teddy or call the police? I made that mistake once in my life and nearly suffered the consequences of it,” she stated and they all looked at one another.

Garrett touched her cheek.

“What are you talking about?”

“Something like this has happened to you before?” Wes asked.

Gunner loved her so much. She was an attractive, sexy woman, with long brown hair and big green eyes. She didn’t deserve to have men treat her like this. Something in her past made her feel that this was acceptable or could simply be ignored.

“Explain, Gia,” Wes added.

She took a deep breath and released it then stepped away from Garrett. She stood in front of them but a few feet away with her arms crossed in front of her chest.

“This has nothing to do with Jeffrey. He’s an asshole, and he’s desperate now that he knows his life is over. He’s going to jail. It’s just coincidence that Jeffrey chose me to go after. I was in the right place at the wrong time. I handled it. But what you don’t know and what I was planning on explaining when the time was right is that I had a very scary and intense relationship with someone back in New York. He put the fear in me. He made me feel insecure and he controlled me. But ultimately, he betrayed my trust and my commitment to him.”

Gunny felt his gut clench. He knew that a woman as beautiful as Gia would have dated, but this sounded as though she loved someone or had been deeply involved. He wanted to know what happened, but his jealous, possessive side didn’t want to hear the details.

“Keep going,” Garrett said. He was glad that his brother took the initiative to speak. Gunny didn’t think he could right now. He was trying to calm down from the initial episode and phone call.

“There’s really not much to explain. I was involved with a man in New York. It wasn’t a healthy relationship and just as I realized he truly didn’t care about me, he—”

She lowered her head then sat down in the seat next to the desk.

“He what?” Wes asked.

“He offered me to his business partner.”

Gunny stood up straight and stared at her.

“He what?” he asked through clenched teeth. Gia looked at him as she clasped her hands on her lap and crossed her legs.

“Apparently his partner wanted to have sex with me and he was afraid of the man. Ultimately, the night they both tried to take what they wanted, a fight broke out at the party and the police showed up just as my boyfriend nearly beat a man to death.”