Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 93984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
“I think if he cared about you enough to protect you, then he wouldn’t want you to be alone for the rest of your life. If you’ve got a shot at something more, if you can be happy, then I think Ivan would want you to take it.”
He couldn’t let himself risk lifting his eyes to look at Justin. He heard the waver in his voice, the hopeful note that was like a knife twisting in his heart. Oh God, he wanted to grab hold of what Justin was tempting him with, but he couldn’t. He swallowed hard and shook his head.
“There are some people who know I’m still alive. Some want me dead for what I know. Others just want me dead because I’m a fag. Very dangerous and potentially desperate people.” He paused, tracing the tip of his finger along a white vein within the marble. “I have an exit strategy, but I never thought I’d live long enough to implement it. Never thought I’d find a reason to.”
When he finally lifted his eyes to Justin, it was to find that the anger was gone, but it had been replaced with sadness. “I understand. Thank you for telling me.”
Closing his eyes, Gabriel nodded. “You deserved to know the truth.” He released a slow breath, wishing that he at least felt a little better, but the pain of letting Justin go was choking him.
“Thank you, but I don’t care.”
Gabriel’s head snapped up, his eyes wide as he stared at the new look of determination hardening his handsome face. “What?”
“I don’t care. Don’t care who is coming after you. Don’t care if they plan to kill us both. I want you. I have never met anyone that I’ve wanted more.”
“Justin,” he whispered, ignoring the unshed tears burning in the backs of his eyes.
“We belong together, G Love. We fit. There’s not going to be anyone else who understands our need for space after a job goes sideways. Or the weird security things we have to do just so we can fucking sleep at night.”
“That’s not reason enough—”
“No one is going to appreciate the fact that you hate beer, but you still drink it because you don’t want me drinking alone.”
“No one is going to appreciate the fact that you refrain from moving my books when they’re left around your house because you know how unsettling it is for my things to be touched,” Gabriel said with a wobble in his voice.
“Dating is already a disaster for us, G. But if we blow up, then let it be because we don’t work. I don’t want it to be thanks to some fucks who want you dead.”
“Justin—”
Justin’s cell ringing broke the moment, and he cursed.
Gabriel released a heavy breath and slid out of his chair. “Answer the phone, and I’ll finish making the coffee.” He started to walk past Justin when he was grabbed. His chest slammed against Justin’s bare chest and sweet lips brushed along his jaw, making him sigh.
“Keep thinking about what I said. We don’t have to stick with this life,” Justin whispered. Then he let go of Gabriel and moved to answer the phone.
Gabriel stumbled, almost dreamlike, to the cabinet and pulled down two mugs. His thoughts were swirling while his heart was racing. Could they take a chance? Could he really take the risk, clean up his past, and return to a happily ever after with Justin Mallory? It all seemed too good to be true. Hope and fear clashed in his chest as he walked to the refrigerator and pulled out the creamer. Justin liked a spoonful of sugar and a heavy splash of it. He quickly made his own, which was just a light splash of cream, and brought both mugs over to the breakfast bar.
“Bri, it’s four in the morning. Tell me this is a good call,” Justin growled. He accepted the mug of coffee from Gabriel with a wink, the playful side of Justin in place again.
“Acute glomerulonephritis!” she shouted at him in the most joyous voice, as if she were wishing them both a Merry Christmas.
“Oh, God, Bri! English!” Justin groaned.
“Acute renal failure.”
“Pretend I didn’t take any biology in high school,” Justin muttered.
“Do you know what a fucking kidney is, Justin?” Brianna snapped, and Gabriel had to press his lips together to keep from laughing out loud.
“Yes, kidney sounds familiar. I’ve got two of them.”
There was a loud sigh through the phone’s speaker. “Yes, most people have two, and you can actually survive just fine on one. Acute renal failure is when they both fail at the same time. Not incredibly common. Usually a person loses just one and the other compensates. But there are diseases and infections that can cause acute renal failure.”
“Or drugs?” Gabriel added.
“Yes! Like this nasty son of a bitch.”