Chapter 18

Gabriel watched the man talking to Lori. He didn't like him. The dressing, the nasty look on his face, the tattoos and the piercings, no he didn't like him one bit.

Asher, like Lori had called him was dressed like a gang banger. Baggy, ripped jeans and a large shirt that concealed his muscular frame. He had a heavy Cuban chain on his neck and his head was shaved. His exposed arms was covered in small tattoos and there was a snake tattoo that ran from his neck to his left ear.

He was handsome, not in the conventional way but in the ruggedly bad boy way most women might find attractive.

The way he looked at Lori, the way his eyes slowly raked over her body, Gabriel found it disgusting.

Especially the way he called her name. It sounded familiar, too familiar, like they had history together. Lori on the other hand was shaking and trying very hard to conceal the fear in her eyes, she could barely look him in the eyes, or string a proper sentence.

Whoever he was, whatever he was to her, Gabriel could see that he had hurt her. And the pain still ran deep.

Very deep

"And who are you?"

Gabriel asked Asher as he stepped in front of Lori, putting enough space between the two of them.

He was tall, but not as tall as Gabriel and he glared at Gabriel as he looked at him.

"I don't have any business with you. I wanna talk to Lori!”

"She doesn't look like she wants to talk to you."

"You don't speak for her."

Asher fired back and Gabriel scoffed.

"Oh I do."

He turned to look at Lori.

"Do you want to speak to him?"

She shook her head.

"No."

She finally said and Asher cursed loudly!

"You stupid whore!"

Gabriel's fist hardened. He glanced around quickly, there were too many people, too many people and they were in public, it wasn't the time to make a scene.

He reached for Lori's hand, her fingers were cold, so cold they startled him.

"Let's go."

He murmured as he led her towards the car, opening the door for her first and getting her in the car.

Asher watched them with venom in his eyes, he didn’t look like he was done with them.

"Where's my son Lori? Where the fuck is he?"

He called out and Gabriel paused for a moment, he looked at Lori to catch her reaction and found her hands covering her face.

He ignored Asher.

And entered the car.

Inside the car, Gabriel drove off as fast as he could, he couldn't bear to hear the whimpers that were coming out of Lori's mouth.

He glanced at her again and her face was still covered with her hands.

She wasn't crying anymore but she was very still.

So still that he almost reached out to touch her.

After a while, Gabriel couldn't take it any more.

He reached out and gently pulled her hand away from her face.

"Are you okay?"

He asked as softly as he could muster and Lori nodded.

No, she wasn't okay.

Her face was wet with tears, her eyelashes were smudged with mascara and her nose was bright red.

She sniffed quietly.

"I'm sorry for everything that happened back there Mr Gabriel."

Mr Gabriel.

She was back to being formal.

"Gabriel."

He slowly murmured and she nodded.

"I didn't mean to cause you any trouble."

She added and Gabriel sighed.

"Lori you have to stop apologizing for things that are not your fault."

"You didn't even do anything."

He added and she shook her head.

"That's not right. It’s my fault, I did something."

"What did you do?"

He asked as he turned to glance at her and she shrugged.

"Lori? What did you do?"

"It's all my fault."

She whispered slowly.

Gabriel sighed, he slowed down.

Then he parked the car.

He didn't care that that they were on the highway, he had to deal with what was happening one way or another.

"Who was that man Lori? What about him got you so bothered?"

He asked and Lori sighed.

She wiped her tears, looking straight ahead. She always knew a time like this would come. A time where her past would collide with the present. She was foolish enough to think that she had escaped from everything. And everyone.

She was shocked to see Asher. Last time he saw her, he spared her because she was pregnant. Now he had seen her again and he was probably wondering where the baby had gone.

Which was crazy, seeing as he never cared much about her or the baby in the first place. Now he was suddenly asking about his son?

What son?!

To think she had been happy, very happy and finally at a good place. At a place where she was calm, relieved, a place where she felt safe, all for everything to be dismantled all in one night.

With only a few sentences.

She had also conducted herself poorly, she thought she would be able to handle seeing Asher, but no, seeing him had awoken her worst and deepest fears. Lori could foresee more nights with endless nightmares.

"He was the father of my baby."

She finally answered and Gabriel nodded.

"Were you two close?"

She shook her head.

"No."

"Did he know about what happened to the baby?"

Judging from his reaction, he didn't know, which meant that Jared didn't tell him what transpired between the two of them, which meant that Jared and Asher were probably not on speaking terms.

"No. When he found out I was pregnant he didn't say anything. He just left. We were never close."

Gabriel nodded.

"When you saw him, you were shaking Lori, really badly, did he hurt you before?"

Lori was deathly quiet. Was it that obvious? Did she make it that obvious?!

“Yes. I don't want to go into details but yes."

She admitted.

There was a short silence between them, Lori had finally stopped crying and Gabriel was watching her intently.

"You're safe. You're safe with me Lori."

He assured her, she still looked pretty unconvinced, so he put his hand on her shoulder and he noticed she flinched a little.

Gabriel pulled away quickly. A thought crossed his mind.

God no!

His brain was putting together all the pieces.

That bastard!

He thought as he clenched his fists.

He must have assaulted her.

He should have known.

He took a deep breath, trying hard to control the raging anger he was feeling.

"As long as you're with me Lori, I can assure you, nothing would happen to you."

He said and Lori burst into fresh sobs.

"You don't even know me..."

"You don't know who I am or what I've done..."

She whimpered.

She was right. He didn't know much about her, practically nothing about her if they were being completely honest.

"You're right. But I can tell you're a good person. You're a good human Lori."

Lori shook her head, her body still shaking with uncontrollable sobs, she looked out the window, she couldn't bear to look in his eyes, to see the pity written all over them.

"You gave my daughter your milk, despite losing your own son..."

"I gave him away."

She said, interrupting Gabriel.

"What?"

Gabriel asked and Lori shrugged and she turned to look at him. Her eyes were bloodshot from all the crying she had been doing and her face was red and splotchy. Her mascara was running down her cheeks.

"My son. I put him up for adoption."

"I didn't want him. I'm not a good person Gabriel."

"Maybe, maybe that's why he died. Maybe that's why God took him away from me."

"Don't say that.."

Lori shrugged.

"It's the truth! You know... I didn't even get to see him."

She started laughing manically.

"Can you believe that?!"

She exclaimed.

"I carried him for months and I didn't even get to see him when he was born!"

"I didn't deserve to see him."

She mumbled and Gabriel shook his head.

"No. I don't believe that. He was your son and you did what you thought was best for him."

"You're a good person Lori. I believe that..."

He said as he brought out a handkerchief from his breast pocket and brought it slowly to her face, wiping her tears gently.

The gesture startled Lori, but she stayed calm.
The two of them so quiet that the sound of their breathing could be heard.

"I'm sorry about your son. I really am. But I hope that you know that it's not your fault..."

He said softly to her, softer than she had ever heard his voice. Lori smiled, he was so kind.

So kind to her.

What did she do to deserve such a good boss.

She nodded her head slowly.

"Thank you."

She murmured.

Gabriel nodded.

"If you need a minute, we can stay here longer..."

Lori shook her head.

"No. I think I'm ready to go now."

She said quickly, suddenly longing to hold Emilia in her arms. Her breasts ached at the longing and she quietly prayed they wouldn't leak.

Gabriel nodded.

"Okay then."

He said as he started the car.



The minute they got out of the car and into the house Lori took off her heels and practically ran to the nursery.

Upon opening the door, she saw that the lights were out, Emilia must be sleeping. She wondered as she walked into the room gently, heading for the crib.

She picked her up gently, as gently as she could, hoping not to wake her up and she pulled her closer to her chest, inhaling her soft sweet baby smell.

"I missed you."

She whispered as she nuzzled her nose on the baby's cheek.

There was a gentle knock on the door and Lori turned to see Gabriel standing in front of the open door.

"Is she awake?"

He asked and Lori shook her head.

"No. She's asleep."

She whispered and Gabriel nodded.

"Alright then."

"Let me kiss her goodnight."

He said as he walked towards her, he was so close to Lori and the baby that Lori could see how blue his eyes were.

He kissed Emilia gently on the forehead.

His eyes turned to Lori and he reached out and touched her cheek gently.

"Don't forget what I said. You're safe with me."

Lori smiled, it was an uneasy smile, the only one she could muster as she held Gabriel's gaze.

"Thank you."

She said and he nodded.

"Goodnight Lori. I'll see you in the morning."

He said snd he walked away, closing the door behind him gently.

Lori stayed in the nursery, rocking Emilia in her arms till her arms started to get heavy and she she had no choice but to put the baby down.

She walked back to her room, it was cold and empty.

She didn't want to sleep there, knowing the nightmares were coming, but she couldn't stay in the nursery, she didn't want to wake the baby.

She sighed and slipped into the covers, not bothering to change out of her dress.