Thenail in the coffin that confirmed his suspicions was a call from his dad earlythis morning telling him not to expect Bishop back until Monday. When Gabrielcarefully asked his dad what the hell he was talking about, he said that Salenecalled and asked him if he could watch Bishop for a couple of days, and sheeven paid him in a blackberry cobbler for his troubles.
Threehours later Gabriel was finally in Dallas and gunning home. The feeling ofsomething being wrong wouldn't leave him since that call. Pulling up to thegarage Gabriel didn't bother straightening the large truck and pulling it in,he just parked it at an angle in the driveway. Ducking under the slow openinggarage door, Gabriel immediately sighed in relief when he saw the red Beamerstill parked in the second spot.
Enteringthe house, he called out for her. "Salene."
Nothing.
Thelittle relief he did feel a moment ago immediately vanished. The house feltempty. With long powerful strides, he made his way down the guest bedroomhallway. Stopping in her open doorway, he froze, a mixture of anger and fearthreatened to wash over him as he stared at the empty room.
NoGoddammit, he wasn't going to let himself go there. Salene was nothing likethat whore Amber, she wouldn't just leave him without saying something. Gabrieljust needed to take a deep breath and think. Besides all of her things werestill here, so that ruled out her just leaving. Unfortunately, that didn'texplain her absence and her car's presence.
Preparingto turn and leave the empty room something caught Gabriel's eye. The roomlooked different from the last time he was in it. The bed seemed to be pulled awayfrom the wall, and there were far more pillows on the bed than one woman couldever use. It was the mini fridge however that really threw him for a loop. Themini fridge had been in the garage since he moved in with the intention of beingplaced in the den. Walking over to the fridge Gabriel frowned as he inspectedthe contents. It was full of smoothies and waters. Closing the fridge Gabrielstepped back into the center of the room as his mind raced. Following a hunch,he sat down at the vanity she used for a desk and opened up her laptop.
Everythingwas still pulled up from the last use, location, date and more. Grinding histeeth, he snapped the laptop shut.
Hewas going to kill her.
Chapter 21
Voicesabove her pulled Salene from the nothingness. Opening her eyes the brightfluorescent lights above her pierced her eyes. Salene felt heavy and numb atthe same time as she tried to focus on the blurry figures and voices.
Itwas the doctor, she was telling Salene how well the procedure went. Thedoctor's light voice was hard to focus on as she began telling Salene about thepost-op instructions. Closing her eyes, Salene must have fell asleep becausethe doctor was gone when she opened her eyes again leaving only nurse Denise inthe room. Salene wanted to say something, but her mouth felt so dry.
"Okaysweetie let's get you ready," Denise's chipper voice sounded much closerthan before. Salene felt her hair being gently pulled and the sound of a brushrunning through it.
ConfusedSalene tried to hold up her hand to stop her, she wanted to remind the nursethat she was going to stay an extra day to recover.
"YepI was so happy to hear that your boyfriend came back into town, he looked soworried when I first saw him. Actually, I think he looked rather angry."Denise was unhooking her IV and other various equipment as she spoke, butSalene's groggy mind was focusing desperately at her words.
Boyfriend?Dear God don't let it be…
"Sodon't worry if you missed any of the details for your post-op care instructionshe has taken all the paperwork and spoke to the doctor directly. Here make sureyou use this." Denise gave her a minty mouth scrub to rub over her teeth.
Wipingthe minty cloth over her teeth, Salene sat up disoriented with Denise's help.Slowly and with hardly any effort from her own part they were able to get herup and changed into the loose black wrap dress Salene brought in her overnightbag. Taking a hesitant step forward in her black flats that Denise put on forher, Salene caught her reflection in the closet mirror. With her hair brushedout and the sleek outline of the black wrap dress, Salene was surprised shelooked halfway presentable—she certainly didn't feel like it. Naturally, hereyes settled on her breast. A surge of fear barreled through her exhaustedmuddled mind, they didn't look any different!
"Don'tworry sweetie, they will go down," Denise said soothingly as she rubbedher back comfortingly. "That's mostly just padding and swelling."
Nodding,Salene turned away from her tired reflection, she was curious to know who this"boyfriend" was. Salene could only pray it was Kevin, even thoughthat didn't make any sense since she told no one about the surgery.
Walkingtowards the door, Salene paused when she heard Denise's obvious throat clearingsound.
"Excuseme Missy but where are you going?" Denise looked pointedly down at thewheelchair she was standing behind.
"But,I figured I would…" Salene began weakly, not wanting to be carted around.
"Sit."Denise cut her off.
SighingSalene used the last bit of her strength to lower herself into the blackleather seat. Rolling down the sterile white hallway, Salene gripped thechair's arm padding weakly as her nerves twisted in her gut. Going through thewaiting room door Salene’s stomach dropped as her fears were confirmed by thesight of Gabriel standing like a great obelisk in the middle of the emptywaiting room. Wearing a pair of dark jeans and a T-shirt as per usual Gabriel lookedgreat, that only made her feel worse, she was positive she looked downrighthaggard in comparison.
"Sweetheart,"his deep voice cut through the empty air directly at her. "I am sorry Iwasn't here sooner I must have misunderstood the date of yourappointment."
Itwas obvious by his tone he was being sarcastic, the snickers of the nurses atthe desk confirmed that. Embarrassed by the whole situation Salene just lookeddown at her lap. Rolling her out to the front pull around drive-up Salene satquietly as Denise handed her bags to Gabriel to load into the truck.
"OkayMiss Agnew I will see you on the nineteenth for your follow-upappointment." Denise waved goodbye before going through the sliding glassdoors.
Toonervous to look up Salene braced herself to try and stand.
"Donot move Salene." Now his voice sounded even angrier now that they werealone outside. "Stay very still."
