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“What? Emily, I did not betray you. I was trying to help you.”
I feel weak, my limbs no longer able to hold me upright at the bombshell of his statement. He doesn’t seem to realise what he just told me, what he just admitted. My chin quakes as I my eyes water with tears that will never fall. Why does this male have such a hold on me?
Jack places his hand on the small of my back, steadying me, but also offering me silent support. If I needed to get out of here, then he would find a way.
Keeping my back straight, I clear my throat. “So you admit it, you told them I left the grounds with you.”
He nods his head slowly. At least he has the decency to tell me the truth.
Gabriel takes a step forward, his hand outstretched towards me, but snarls from either side of me stop him. I’m not surprised by Zane’s reaction, since my mate is barely holding himself back, but seeing Jack acting protective of me is soothing.
Frustration and acceptance flashes on Gabriel’s face as he resigns himself to the fact that he’s not going to get anywhere near me. At least, not while Zane and Jack are here.
“They told me that if I didn’t confess, you wouldn’t be able to leave. If I told them, I would get a slap on the wrist, and you would get some extra classes, but you would be allowed to go,” he explains, his expression open and honest. “That is the only reason I said anything, Emily. I told them the whole thing was my idea.”
Is that true? Could that really be what happened, that he was tricked into confessing? Not knowing whether to believe him or not, I hold back. So many people have warned me about Gabriel, and several things I’ve witnessed while I’ve been in here indicate that he’s not exactly walking on the straight and narrow. I want to believe that he’s telling me the truth though.
If he was only trying to help me, then does it change anything?
“They cancelled her release purely based on your confession,” Jack states, his voice full of the authority of an officer. “She was almost sent to a locked facility because of you.”
“What?” Gabriel snarls, his wings flaring behind him in anger. Pure rage crosses his expression. “They lied to me, tricked me into talking.”
Unable to keep myself away any longer, I walk towards him, letting the tug pull me forward. He stills at my presence, looking down at me with troubled eyes.
“I swear it, Emily. I did not know they would do this.”
Even though a part of my mind is screaming at me to forgive him, I force my face into a neutral mask. “I have one question, and I need you to answer it honestly.”
As I knew he would, he nods in agreement. “Of course, little one. Anything.”
“Did you take me flying last night because you hoped it would get my release cancelled and I would be forced to stay here longer?”
His words from the previous night have been echoing in my mind since Dorine revealed Gabriel was the one who confessed. He said I wasn’t ready for him yet, and that he’s waited for me and would continue to wait. Is he hoping to change my mind if I’m around him all the time and kept away from the rest of the world?
He seems to realise why I’m asking what I am, and a flash of hurt crosses his face. It’s an outrageous accusation, but I can’t find it in myself to feel bad about asking. My gaze does drop though, resting on his chest, where I had been just last night as we flew over the city.
Deep down, I don’t truly believe that he did this to hurt me or keep me back. In my hurt and devastation, it makes all options possible, even the ones you know are false.
“No, little one.” He reaches out and touches my chin, lifting my gaze. “I was trying to help you. I never meant for this to happen.”
Meeting his eyes, I nod slowly.
“Bullshit!” Zane shouts behind me, surging forward and knocking Gabriel’s hand from my face.
Stumbling back a few steps, I wince as the atmosphere in the room becomes heated. Gabriel is trying to get to me, but Zane blocks his path, the two males squaring off with each other.
Being around so much anger is too much for me. I feel fragile, like a part of me has been chipped off, and I’m waiting for the cracks to spread. I have to get out of here and find someplace quiet where I can be on my own.
The sound of flesh hitting flesh has me spinning around to see Gabriel and Zane fighting. Their snarls and shouts are loud, and each one makes me wince. Jack is trying to get between them to stop them from fighting, but he isn’t having much luck. A shrill alarm fills the air, and guards flood into the area.
Backing away tentatively, I hurry towards the stairs. I should stay to make sure everyone is okay, but honestly, I can’t deal with their posturing and fighting. Today did not go as I thought it would, and I need to be alone to mourn the loss of my freedom and come to terms with my new reality.
I do the only thing I’m capable of doing right now.
I run.
Chapter Fourteen
