Rage burst past her fear. “You’re crazy! You attacked an innocent man!” She stood up. Damian jumped up from his chair and blocked her from passing.
“He wasn’t innocent. He tried to take you from me.” Damian frowned. “You know I couldn’t let that happen.”
“He wasn’t the bodyguard I’m in love with! He has a wife and kids and almost lost his life because of you.”
“I saw him with you at Hotel Braganza, and he was with you at the safe house. You wrote pages and pages in your journal about him! What do you mean he’s not … the bodyguard you’re in love with?” Pain and hurt cascaded across his face. “I thought you loved him—”
“You thought wrong,” Gabrielle said.
Relief flooded her body. Damian didn’t know about Sebastian.
The man she loved was safe and away from Damian’s lunacy. By now, he was looking for her, as were the island feds. But Gabrielle held out no hope they’d find her.
Knowing Sebastian was safe from Damian gave her strength to fight this monster.
She would get away from Damian, and this time, she would do it alone.
The look on Damian’s face shifted from confusion to loathing. Gabrielle took a step back, then another.
But it was too late.
His hand shot out and grabbed her around the neck.
“Who the fuck is it? Who are you in love with?” Damian demanded.
Fire burned in her throat as she struggled to breathe. Gasping and gurgling, she scratched his hands, trying to get him to loosen his grip.
“Tell me!” He screamed, then slammed her against the wall.
Pain detonated in her skull, as tears streamed down her face. His grip tightened around her neck, making it impossible for her to fight back.
“Did you fuck him?” Damian demanded. “Has he been where I’ve always dreamed of going? Deep inside you?”
“Please … don’t … I … can’t … I can’t … breathe,” Gabrielle managed to get the words out.
Damian loosened his grip on her neck, and she crumbled to the floor. He heaved deep breaths. “Look at what you made me do, Gabrielle. I didn’t want to hurt you. I never mean to hurt you. But you always do this to me. You turn to other men instead of coming to me!”
She cowered in the corner and refused to look at him. Dread seeped beneath her skin. She knew there wasn’t much time for her to figure a way out. Damian was becoming more unhinged by the second. He’d already killed Marvin and Brad. How much longer before he turned that violence toward her?
“Don’t you know that’s all I’ve ever wanted? I waited for you to be my first. All this time, I’ve never made love to anyone because that special time is supposed to be with you. Even though you didn’t wait for me, did you? Did you!” Damian screamed at her, spit flying from his mouth. “Look at me!” He jerked her around to face him.
She trembled as his fingers dug into her shoulders.
His voice softened as he gazed at her. “But I get it. I understand why. I don’t hate you. You weren’t sure that I could … be with you. I had problems back then, but I don’t anymore. I can make love to you. I may not be good at first, but over time I know I can satisfy you better than any of them did. You’ll be the only woman I make love to for the rest of my life. I may not have been your first, but I will be the last man you make love to, and we’ll be happy. Together.”
Damian leaned forward and pressed his mouth against hers. His lips moved across her face in a sloppy, uncoordinated kiss. She fought her gag reflex, realizing this was the chance she’d been waiting for. Sliding a hand into her pocket, she gripped the knife Brad had dropped.
Damian trailed wet, disgusting kisses down her neck.
She’d only get one chance at this.
She could not screw it up.
Chapter54
The ATVs rumbled across the Cabrito Mountains. The dew breeze clung to Sebastian’s skin as the salty scent of the ocean surrounded him. Followed closely by Lachlan, Kane, and Everett, Sebastian led the way to where Damian Hester had held Gabrielle captive for five days a decade ago. Bobby stayed behind to provide intel through the comms from drones he’d deployed to fly over them.
Criss-crossing through the cloak of darkness, they darted through trees and foliage underneath a full moon that barely penetrated the dense jungle. Rare glimpses of moonlight illuminated the path as Sebastian wove recklessly across the mountain to get to his woman … before it was too late.
