Forever Concealed Page 16

  The room went quiet. Gabe felt his family move closer to him as if they were backing him up no matter what Sloane chose.

  “No.” Sloane shook her head. “I’ve been hiding for too long. I can’t let anyone else die. I need to face my family. It’s time for them to pay for the harm they’ve done.”

  Gabe leaned forward and placed a loving kiss on her forehead. It was time to fight for his love.

  21

  Gabe was able to take Sloane home after a group dinner at his parents’ house. An emergency text went out to the entire town, filling in those who hadn’t made it to the house or who were out of town.

  Sloane followed him into the living room and stood looking out the window as Gabe set the leftovers in the kitchen. He closed the refrigerator door and looked at her backside silhoutted by the full moon. He couldn’t let anything happen to her. In just a few weeks, she had opened his heart. She was funny, kind, didn’t care about his title, and he felt as if he could do anything in the world with her by his side. Anxiety and fear replaced the feeling of love and happiness at the thought of something happening to her.

  Gabe walked up to her and linked his hands around her. She leaned back into him, back to chest, and let out a deep breath. “I’ve thought about running. Running far away and leaving all of you behind.”

  Gabe stopped breathing as Sloane spoke to the darkness outside the window.

  “Six lives have been lost because of my mother tonight. Six people I could have seen at the café who are now dead. And we don’t know if there’s more White Lace out there or not. So I thought about running, but I couldn’t leave you. I couldn’t leave them. I know I’m being selfish, but the thought of never seeing you again is worse than the pain I know I’ll suffer at my mother’s hand.”

  Gabe turned her in his arms so Sloane was facing him. “It’s not your fault. This is completely on them. We will work together and defeat your mother and White Lace. I won’t let anything happen to you. I swear it. I said it before. And I mean it now. Sloane, I love you, and I’m not about to lose that love.”

  Sloane didn’t answer. Instead she rose up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. Gabe gently stroked her back as his tongue caressed hers. Sloane wasn’t satisfied. She made a little noise of frustration as she pressed herself against him. “I can’t,” Gabe said, pulling back from the kiss. “I mean it. I’m going to show you that you mean more to me than—”

  Sloane pushed him on the chest and he stumbled back. Gabe cursed as his legs hit the couch, and he fell down clumsily. Before he could sit up, Sloane had peeled off her shirt. In the moonlight her breasts seemed to glow in the pale blue bra she wore. The peaks of her nipples strained against the thin cotton fabric as she straddled him.

  Gabe took a deep breath. This was punishment for his past. The woman he loved was half-naked and yanking his shirt from his body as he fought for control of the situation. He was always in control. He decided when and whom to sleep with, and while he wanted nothing more than to bury himself deep inside of Sloane, by refusing to give in, he was showing her his feelings for her were true.

  “Gabe,” Sloane said with his shirt hanging from her fingertips. “I know you love me. You’ve proven it in ten different ways over the past weeks. Now sit back and let me show you how I feel.”

  His eyes were glued to her small hands as they moved over his chest, down his abdomen, and to the buckle of his leather belt. Gabe was transfixed by the way her fingers moved over him, Sloane biting her lip as she concentrated on undressing him. His hands drifted to her sides as he ran his hands up her ribs to free her breasts.

  “No,” Sloane said breathily. “I want to do this for you.”

  Gabe swallowed as he dropped his hands. He wasn’t used to being told what to do, but he’d let Sloane tie him to the bed if it meant she’d have her way with him. Sloane reached behind her some more. She twisted this way and that, her arms pinned back like wings until she finally let out a frustrated sigh.

  “Okay, you can do this part. I can never get this darn thing unhooked.”

  There was something so real about the moment that Gabe hardened even more. He chuckled softly as he unhooked her bra. As he did so, he had flashes of all the years to come. The comfortable way you dressed every morning and undressed every night with the person you loved.

  The clasp opened and Sloane turned with her arms across her chest. “I’m not good with words, but I want you to know how much you’ve come to mean to me. I don’t know how much time I’ll have—”

  Gabe pulled her down onto the couch to stop her from talking. He didn’t want to hear about anything that would put an end to their relationship. She was his, and he would leave her with no doubt of that.

  Sloane dropped her arms and the bra fell onto his lap as she leaned forward to kiss him. Gabe moved slowly, worshiping her, but Sloane had other ideas and when she kicked off her skirt he was prepared to relinquish all control to her.

  Gabe slid the condom on and the moment Sloane mounted him, moving up and down at her own pleasure, he was lost. Surrender had never felt so good.

  * * *

  She had made love with Gabe twice, and it didn’t seem to be enough. Sloane was already missing his touch as she sat in the café surrounded by her new friends. She didn’t think she would ever say that. She also didn’t think, after sharing a wonderful night with the man she had fallen in love with, she would be saying goodbye to him. Sloane had a plan and she didn’t know if she’d survive it. Either way, Gabe would be safe and that was most important to her.

  Ariana, Layne, Aniyah, and Piper were sitting with her at the Blossom Café as Gabe and Draven worked out before their conference began later that morning.

  “There are a lot of people here this morning,” Sloane commented as she took in tables filled with Dani and her friends and another table filled with Mila and her friends, including Sophie and some of the other young married women.

  “The table of Belles are over there with Addison and Nikki,” Layne whispered at the two women who looked ready to leap across the table and choke each other. “They’re planning the Fourth of July lunch. They’ve turned it into a fundraiser for the two Belles who died. They’re going to work with Annie on the war against drugs.”

  “And the moms over there are planning the Fourth of July parade,” Piper filled in.

  “And that table is probably thinking safety in numbers,” Layne laughed, trying to lift the somber mood after the deadliest night in Keeneston by waving to Sophie. “Once you’re married, you’re on baby watch.”

  Ariana looked at Sloane suspiciously. “Please tell me you used protection. I’m not ready for another little Gabe in this world.”

  “Ari!” Dani snapped from the table across the room. Ari rolled her eyes and Sloane felt like dying of embarrassment.

  “Mom! Stop eavesdropping or I swear I’ll get my tubes tied.”

  The table of moms gasped. Sloane’s mouth fell open. Aniyah snorted. Layne and Piper thought it was a good idea.

  “Is it really that bad?” Sloane asked.

  “Nah,” Layne said. “You get used to your dad bugging your phone. It becomes fun as you find ways to defeat it and he finds new ways to keep tabs on you. And it’s not so bad having your mom with the constant inquiries into your love life. They mean well, and it’s become something of a joke that isn’t really a joke, if that make sense.”

  “Not really,” Sloane said slowly, trying to understand this strange dynamic.

  “While they’re serious about it, we can tease about it, too. We know they love us first and foremost. They would rather we be single forever than marry the wrong man. So, we can joke about it even if they have grandbaby fever,” Layne explained.

  “Did you and Gabe really—?” Piper wiggled her eyebrows and Sloane felt her face go red.

  “Duh,” Ariana said with a roll of her eyes. “Look at her. She’s freaking glowing.”

  “Am I glowing?” Aniyah asked. “’Cause DeAndre and I g
ot freaky-deaky last night.”

  Happy to have all eyes staring at Aniyah instead of her, Sloane picked up the lifeline. “Are any of you seeing someone?”

  “Not with my schedule,” Veronica sighed from behind her as she waved to Poppy to get a coffee. She took a seat next to Sloane and looked at her from head to toe. “Someone got laid last night.”

  “Can you tell?” Aniyah happily asked. “I got these flavored oils off the Internet. They tasted real good, but you have to be careful using them around an open flame. We learned that the hard way last night. Just don’t ask DeAndre to sit down for the next couple of days.”

  Sloane wanted to be Veronica when she grew up. Veronica didn’t even bat an eye as everyone else gawked at Aniyah. “I meant Sloane, but I’ll remember that about the oils.”

  “Are you dating anyone, Layne?” Sloane deflected.

  “After you hit on a priest, you don’t have too much confidence in yourself.”

  “Hey, Sophie did that, too, and she’s married now. Don’t lose hope,” Piper snarked.

  “Don’t you start on me. I know what you’ve been up to in that lab of yours,” Layne shot back.

  “You mean working to find a cure for White Lace overdoses?” Piper asked innocently.

  “No. I mean the hot lab partner you have who is all, ‘Yes, Dr. Piper. Whatever you say, Dr. Piper. May I pleasure you, Dr. Piper?’” Layne mocked.

  Piper pegged Layne in the face with a biscuit. “How’s Aaron?”

  “Why doesn’t anyone believe me when I say there’s nothing going on with Aaron?” Layne asked with frustration.

  “Who’s Aaron?” Sloane leaned over and whispered to Veronica.

  “He’s the other physical therapist in Layne’s practice. Rich, smart, and very hot—for a man.”

  Sloane blinked. “What’s wrong with Aaron?” she asked Layne.

  “Totally not my type. My dad, Miles, you know, the really scary one?” When Sloane nodded, Layne continued, “Well, he might overstep the protection bounds and scare away every man I date, but it serves a purpose. How can I respect a man who’s afraid of my dad? And I have to respect the man I marry. Aaron is a total wimp. He hides when my dad comes to visit me at work or brings in a referral for my outreach program.”

  “What outreach program?” Sloane asked, thinking maybe there was a bigger heart behind Miles Davies than she’d thought.

  “My dad was in Special Forces. When he got back he suffered from PTSD and got involved in working with therapy dogs and the local veterans group. I take on veteran clients with physical therapy needs from all over the country who my dad thinks I can help. It’s nothing official. It started here at the local hospital and now people from all over contact my dad and he brings them to me. I help them for free.”

  “Wow. That’s great, Layne. And maybe now I won’t be so scared of your father.”

  Aniyah fanned herself. “All those hot military men stripped down and lying on your table. I should give you some of my oils.”

  Sloane laughed. It was nice having friends you could talk to and joke with. “What about you, Veronica?”

  The girls all smirked at each other. “Veronica has a crush on someone.” Piper smiled as Veronica elegantly shrugged her shoulder.

  “It’s just a healthy respect for a fine form and a take-no-shit attitude. After all, with Ahmed and Bridget as parents, you have to appreciate that,” Veronica said, taking a sip of her coffee.

  “Do they have a son?” Sloane asked.

  “It’s not Kale. It’s Abigail Mueez that Veronica has a crush on,” Piper corrected.

  Ah. Now things were starting to piece together for Sloane.

  “A girl can dream,” Veronica winked. “But Abby has one major flaw.”

  “What’s that?” Sloane asked.

  “She likes men.”

  “But those poor men. Ahmed will kill them. I used to think my father was bad,” Layne snorted.

  Sloane excused herself as talk turned to whether or not this Abby woman was into any of the Keeneston men and if she’d ever move back to town. She headed toward the bathroom but stopped when she heard someone throw up behind the closed bathroom door. She was undecided between waiting or heading back to the table when she heard the toilet flush and the water turn on.

  The door opened a moment later and a woman whose name she couldn’t remember came out looking white as a sheet. When she saw Sloane standing there, she flushed. “Stomach bug.”

  “I hope you feel better,” Sloane said sympathetically.

  “Yeah, in about seven months.”

  “What?” Sloane asked, not able to make out what the woman muttered.

  “Oh, I said I do, too. Have a good one.”

  What was her name? Damn, she couldn’t remember. By the time Sloane got back to her table, there was a hot debate going on about a panty-dropper. Apparently, someone was leaving panties all over town. Sloane looked at her watch after Veronica excused herself and left with Ariana to go back to the farm for the beginning of the meeting.

  “Are you both going into Lexington?” Sloane asked.

  “Yes,” Piper and Layne answered.

  “Why?” Layne asked.

  “Veronica told me where she saw my mother and sister. I want them to find me.” Sloane wanted this over, and she had an idea how to do it.

  “Did you run this by my dad? Or Gabe or Nash?” Layne asked.

  “I don’t want to involve anyone. My mom is after me. I just thought if I could draw her out without her realizing it, then I could turn her over to the police.”

  Piper shook her head. “I think the drawing out sounds good, but the rest of the plan needs work. You said you’re meeting with Annie again today, right?”

  Sloane nodded.

  “Get your workout in with her and tell her about this. Then meet us for lunch. There’s a luxury hotel near the pedicure place, and I’d bet that is where your mom is staying. We can eat there and maybe take a stroll down Main Street to make sure she sees you. By then, Annie will have a plan in place for what’s to come next.”

  “I’m done with patients at one today. We can meet at one-fifteen and I’ll drive you back to Keeneston. Nothing will be out of the ordinary to tip her off. Call us after you talk to Annie.”

  “Okay,” Sloane agreed as they got up to leave. Her stomach rolled and that reminded her of the woman who had been sick. Before she could ask who the woman was, Layne and Piper were already out the door heading to work.

  22

  “It’s not a bad idea,” Annie said to Bridget as Sloane wiped the sweat from her face.

  “We could put something in place by then,” Bridget agreed.

  “You didn’t ask Gabe, did you?” Annie asked.

  Sloane shook her head. “He’d tell me no. He wants me to wait this thing out, but I can’t. My graduation is in a couple of days, and I want to walk across that stage without worrying that my mother will kill me or those I love.”

  “I really like you. I have two sons if you decide against becoming a princess,” Annie kidded.

  Bridget shook her head. “Dani would kill you if you poached her potential daughter-in-law.”

  “I think it’s a little soon to be talking about marrying anyone,” Sloane said.

  Both women looked at each other and laughed.

  “What?”

  “Oh, you’ll see,” Annie smiled.

  “In the meantime, go to lunch with Piper and Layne. We’ll text you with the plan,” Bridget instructed.

  “Does anyone have a car I can borrow?” Sloane asked.

  “You can take the Keeneston taxi service,” Annie said with a wicked gleam to her eye.

  An hour later, Sloane knew why Annie had that gleam when an old man with a jolly potbelly pulled up to meet her at the farm.

  “Hiya, Sloane, I’m John Wolfe. I hear you need a ride and a plan to capture your mother. Let’s talk.”

  * * *

  Gabe felt on top of the world. He was earning Dr
aven’s trust and the meetings were finally productive. Draven was making rational arguments for certain measures. Suri and Idris even seemed receptive to some of the measures brought up by Draven. He couldn’t wait to get back and tell Sloane all about it.

  Gabe looked at his watch—2:50 in the afternoon. She should be back at the house by now. Maybe he could slip over during the upcoming afternoon break. Veronica and Nash casually looked at their phones and Gabe felt the prickling of fear as Nash strode silently from the room.

  He pulled out his phone but there was no text message. Veronica was doing that thing where she was madly typing all the while never looking down at her phone. Gabe could see her forearms moving as her fingers flew over the phone hidden under the table. When she smiled at being caught by Gabe, he felt his stomach plummet. Veronica didn’t smile over normal text messages.

  “Give me your phone,” Gabe whispered as Suri and Draven worked on a mutually beneficial measure to the treaty.

  “No,” Veronica smiled. “We’re in a meeting. You know the rule.”

  “Give it to me. Right. Now,” Gabe said between clenched teeth.

  “You’ll have to pry it from my cold, dead fingers,” Veronica replied sweetly. Gabe didn’t wait. He launched himself over the table, tackling Veronica. They fell in a heap on the floor as the chair tipped over.

  “I thought you said I couldn’t do that,” Draven said with confusion as everyone jumped up.

  Gabe didn’t answer as he went after the phone. She fought valiantly. He took a shot to the kidneys and her knee almost hit the mark, but he was used to wrestling with Abby. Finally, he pried the phone finger by finger from her perfectly manicured hand. Veronica cursed him, Suri lectured him, and Draven complained about getting in trouble the last time he did that.

  Sloane is luring her mother to Keeneston. Layne will drop her off at the café at 3:00 and then Sloane will stroll up Main Street toward Southern Charms. Paige, Cole, and Ryan will be inside Southern Charms. The rest of you need to be lining Main Street, both inside and outside the shops. Report in with locations when you’re in position.