“Maybe. I might need to call you back.”
“What’s going on?” When the same sound occurred, I knew what it was. He was maneuvering the rental car, now going at a high rate of speed.
“Just something I need to deal with. Do me a favor and stay inside the suite. Unless you know it’s me, don’t open the door.”
“What are you talking about? What is going on?” A sudden wave of unexpected fear tickled my skin the way the sun and sensual breeze had done seconds before.
Another screech and I knew he was making sharp turns on a very curvy road.
“It’s fine, Viv.”
“Then tell me what is going on.”
He said nothing, his breathing heavier.
“Fuck,” he growled, cursing although I couldn’t understand what he was saying.
Another screech.
Then a popping sound.
“Gabe. Talk to me. Please. Just talk to me.”
“Vivian, you need to know what I felt was real.”
“What do you meanwas? What are you saying?” I couldn’t breathe. With my hand to my mouth, a wave of terror skittered through me.
A gasp was followed by a series of popping sounds. “Goddamn it!”
His voice sounded farther away, as if he’d tossed the phone.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
I froze, pressing my fingers against my mouth. There was no mistaking the sound.
Gunfire.
“Gabriel?” I whispered just as another, even louder screech powered through the phone.
Thump.
Boom!
“Viv. So you know. I did love you.”
Did. Had he just mentioned his feelings in past tense? “What? What are you saying? Gabe?”
The phone shrieked with grinding, screaming metal, a sickening sound that cut through our conversation. I was stunned, my heart in my chest as the next sound was a wretched, horrific grunt followed by a high-pitched crystalline explosion.
Almost as if there were a thousand champagne glasses being shattered at once.
As the light around me swirled into darkness, I slowly slipped to my knees.
“Gabriel!”
CHAPTER 1
Kirill
