Tragic Beauty (Beauty & The Darkness #1)(25)

“So I was thinking,” he says, all casual like. “I’d like to see you again.”

I blink.

“Gavin?”

He smiles and I lunge off the couch and into his arms, holding so tight. “You—you’re here,” I sob.

“Shhh, baby,” he says, rubbing my back. “It’s alright,”

I shake my head. “No. No, it’s not alright.”

He tries to pull me from him, but I hold so tight. When I start to cry, he forces me back so he can see my face. “Hey. What is it? What’s wrong?”

I look down at the rose in his hands, then see the big bouquet next to him. No one’s ever given me flowers before. They’re so beautiful.

He swipes his thumb across the tears on my cheek and I turn to him. “How did you find me?”

“Tradecraft. I play a spy, remember?”

I groan and immediately his face falters. My eyes dart to the clock on the wall. It’s a little before noon. I’ve slept the morning away. Shayne could be here any moment.

The fear has the tears fading, and I turn back to Gavin. There’s something vulnerable in the way he’s watching me. “What is it?” he asks, a hardness seeping into his tone.

“I—I’m sorry. I wish I could see you again. But I can’t.”

“Why not?” There’s anger in his voice now.

“I just—I can’t.”

“Not good enough.”

I pull myself from his grasp and move to the window and look out. Gavin’s car is out front. If Shayne sees it…

“You—you shouldn’t be here,” I stammer, then turn around to face him.

He’s standing now, arms hanging heavy at his side. It’s only then I notice the Metallica t-shirt he’s wearing over his jeans.

“Why not?” he asks tightly.

“You just—you have to go.”

“Damn it, Ava! What the hell is going on? What aren’t you telling me?”

Gavin strides towards me. “Tell me!” he demands, gripping my arms.

“Please, I can’t.”

He looks at me, his expression one of helplessness and confusion. I look away, unable to face him, and see the rose lying on the carpet.

Gavin takes my chin in his hand and forces my eyes back to his. “What is it? What are you so afraid of?”

Begging isn’t going to work, so I’m going to have try something else. I force my face to harden, force a coolness into my voice, then force the words out. “I need you to leave.”

His lips form a thin line. “Is there a boyfriend?”

I shake my head.

“A husband?”

Again, I shake my head.

“Then, what is it?” His grip tightens on me. “What the hell has got you so spooked?”

“It’s—it’s complicated. Just—please, you just—you have to go.”

He blinks and his arms fall away.

And then I hear it—the rumble of an engine out front.

My eyes fly to the window to see a black dually pulling up. When I turn back to Gavin, his gaze is trained out the front of the house. “Who’s that?”

“It doesn’t matter. Look, please—” I grab his arm and try pulling him towards the back door, but he won’t move. I grip with both hands, pulling as hard as I can, but he just stands firmly in place. “Not until I find out what the hell is going on.”

“No—no, you don’t—”

I hear the slam of the truck door.

“He’ll kill you,” I gasp. “Please, I’m begging. If you hurry, you might—”

Gavin cuts me off with a shake of his head. His eyes are cold and dangerous and I know he’s not going anywhere.

The front door bursts open with a loud bang and Shayne steps in, dressed in all black, and swallowing up the doorway with his massive frame. His dark eyes fly to Gavin. “Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m with her.”

Shayne blinks and his eyes dart to me, then back to Gavin, then to me, where they narrow. A sickness washes over me when I see the realization settle into his face. He shoots his arm up, and points a shaky finger at me. “You better still be a virgin!”

I pale and cast my eyes to Gavin, whose gaze has shifted to me. There’s confusion on his face, shock even. I can see his wheels turning, see the questions. My eyes fall to the ground.

A strangled groan comes from the doorway and I look up as Shayne hurls his body at Gavin. I cry out, but my voice gets lost in the chaos. Their bodies collide like two planets in space, destroying everything around them. A lamp falls and breaks. A section of the wall caves in. The coffee table gives way. They’re like snarling wolves, grunting and shifting, but within a matter of seconds, Gavin gets his arm around Shayne’s neck from behind, trapping him against the couch. I’ve never seen Shayne at anyone’s mercy.

A loud blast echoes in the room and part of the ceiling gives way. I spin around to see Ben with a shot gun aimed at the now frozen mass of tangled men.

“Sorry about the ceiling,” Ben mutters. “I’ll fix it.” He levels his gaze back at Shayne and Gavin. “You two! Up!”

Gavin still has Shayne in his grip, choking him, but eventually relents. He gives Shayne a hard shove and both men stagger to their feet. Shayne’s chest heaves as he sucks in air, wiping at his busted lip, looking almost boyish in age compared to Gavin, who stands off to the side, breathing hard.