Kenny told Gabriel to take me on the floor for a spin, but Gabe gave Kenny a look that said—Gabe don’t dance! And so, Kenny my gallant champion took matters in his own hand and swept me up and on to the dance floor before Gabe could even blink.
“Aren’t you scared of him?” I asked, laughing up into his handsome face.
“Nah, he may be mad for a while but he won’t hurt me!”
I looked over to where Gabe stood watching us as he talked to the mayor. Standing next to him draped shamelessly over his arm was Miss Mercedes. I shook my head.
“What?” Kenny asked.
“He gets angry if another man even glances my way. But look, Mercedes is all but laying on top of him and that’s alright. He does nothing.”
Kenny chuckled. “Don’t mind her. She’s just having a hard time facing the fact that she won’t be Mrs. Calhoun like she had got her heart all set to be.”
I grunted like Gabriel.
Kenny eyes brighten. “You want to make him jealous?”
Now, when I look back at that moment in time, I could peg that as the exact moment things began to go wrong. I should have told him no. But due to the alcohol and the jealousy I was feeling, I foolishly agreed.
Kenny pulled me close. Not scandalously close, but too close for comfort. I felt the moment Gabe’s demeanor changed. The air felt heavier. It was as if his anger traveled across the floor to wrap around my waist pulling me away from Kenny.
I didn’t want him angry with me. The feeling was suffocating. I turned to look at him and almost cried out from the pure rage that emitted from him. Mercedes laughed at something the Mayor was telling her so neither of them saw it. I stepped away from Kenny.
“Thanks for the dance!” I told him before I turned and crossed the room toward the ladies restroom.
I didn’t exhale until I was behind the closed door. Oh my God! What had I been thinking? With hands that shook, I took my phone out of the little hand bag attached to my wrist. It was 10 o’clock. It felt later, and I was beginning to get a headache.
Massaging my temples with my fingertips, I came to the decision I was never drinking again. What I had done had just been extremely foolish. The door opened and I jumped up from where I leaned against the counter.
“Are you okay?” A woman asked, after my sudden movement startled her.
I nodded. “Yes, sorry about that!” I mumbled as I eased out the door.
However, I came up short at the sight of the man from the bar standing just outside the door. His hand shot out grabbing my wrist pulling me out the door. I snatched my hand from him.
“Don’t touch me!”
He chuckled slightly before the smile left his face and anger replaced it.
“You little fool! You ran from my arms into the arms of a Slayer! You have no idea how vicious they are!”
I frowned. What the world was he talking about?
“I don’t know you!”
“I will love you. He will kill you. He’s coming now to do just that!”
I looked up just in time to see Gabriel walking my way. To all others it appeared as if the tall handsome man was just crossing the floor heading toward the restroom, but I saw the rage in his eyes. Kenny grabbed his arm, probably trying to explain to him that it was just a joke. But he snatched his arm away from Kenny without looking away from me.
I backed up. I needed to get out of here.
“He’s going to kill you, just like your great-grandfather did your great-grandmother. Run!”
I didn’t wait to find out how he knew about my grandparents. I turned and ran through the kitchen doors behind me. The wait staff looked at me surprised but I didn’t have time to stop and explain to them that I was in trouble. I ran to the door that said exit and then out to the alley.
I kept running down the long alley and didn’t stop till I had turned down another alley and was good and lost. I clutched my little purse in my hand trying to figure my way out of this maze. Up ahead a man leaned against the brick wall next to one of the big trash cans smoking a cigarette. When his gaze rose to mine my steps faltered. For just a moment it looked as if he stared back at me with red glowing eyes.
“Whaa—” I blinked, and his eyes were normal. Dear God I was seeing stuff.
“Please, can you tell me how to get to the subway?” I asked giving him some space.
It was something about the way he stood there that was a little unnerving.
“For you, daughter of Sarah, I would do anything!” He stood up straight and began to slowly walk toward me. I took a few steps back.
“I’m sorry. I think you have me mixed up with someone else.”
He shook his head tossing his cigarette. “Oh no my beauty, I know exactly who you are, and I am so thrilled you decided to come my way!”
I cried out because he began to come at me—fast. But then something hit him in the throat—hard! No… someone!
Gabe!
He had the man’s throat in his hand and was crushing it. I could hear the sound of his spine cracking.
“Gabe what are you doing!” I yelled as tears came to my eyes.
He had literally snatched the man by the throat as if he was a rag doll.
“You’re killing him!”
“Slayer, what do I have to do with you!”
The man hissed through his crushed throat. He was falling to his knees as his eyes began to roll in the back of his head.
“Gabriel, stop!” I cried.
“You’re begging for his life!” He hissed between clenched teeth, tightening his grip until
