Chapter 57: Wolf.e: Chapter 56

On the short list of things I never, ever thought I’d do, killing a man is probably number one. Killing two men? Unheard of. Yet here I am, Brinley Rose Beaumont—a killer.

And I’ve never been more grateful to watch the life drain from someone’s eyes as I am in this moment.

I stand in a fog as I realize I hit Jake exactly where I needed to and didn’t give it any thought before I pulled the trigger. I start to shake violently as my body starts to go into shock. Gabriel’s voice pulls me back from the haze. My eyes meet his and he holds them.

“Come here, baby,” he says, guiding me. “Don’t stop looking at me. Eyes on me.”

I set my gun on the table and step over Marco’s lifeless body, pressing myself against Gabriel, kissing any place my lips can connect. His swollen battered lips meet my head and his deep whisper tells me I’m okay, how good I did, how strong I am, that I saved his life.

It settles me and pulls me out of the shock.

“You did so good, but you’re not done yet, baby. I need you to get the step stool from the closet in the kitchen and my knife from the table. You’re going to have to cut me down.” He nods in the direction he means.

I do as he says and cut him down quickly even with my shaking hands. He drops to the floor between Jake and Marco, his legs probably numb after hanging there for who knows how long. I scramble to his side and lean down to kiss him, his blood fills my mouth and I bring it in, I want it all.

“That was so fucking dangerous.” He’s angry but still kissing me.

He’s alive, he’s okay, and my gut was right.

“If I didn’t come, you would’ve died,” I whimper as he shushes my cries.

A few minutes pass as the feeling comes back into his arms and they encircle me, they stroke my face, wipe away my tears. His tongue sweeps into my mouth in a way that tells me even now, in the midst of all the wreckage and how angry he is that I put myself at risk, he’s hungry for me. Always hungry for me.

“How did you find me?” Gabriel asks, his eyes are bloodshot and the skin around them is already bruised.

“You AirTagged my car,” I admit what I know in a shrug. “I snooped.”

Gabriel eyes me up in thought but doesn’t say anything.

“It was weeks ago, and I was curious about you. I found more of them with your photo box. So I AirTagged your boot.”

“There’s a reason I did that—it was to keep you safe,” he says with a smirk, amused that I was keeping tabs on him.

“I did it because I could,” I say in a cocky tone, kissing his chin.

Gabriel laughs, it’s the oddest sensation amidst the carnage we lie in but it’s so fucking beautiful.

“I think”—he kisses me—“you’re even crazier than I am, little bird, but I want all your crazy. Every last bit.”

“It’s all yours,” I tell him.

I’ve never felt like I fit in anywhere in my life before. I’ve always gone through the motions, doing what everyone else told me to do, doing what I thought was right, but here in Gabriel’s arms, I belong. Being with him is as easy as bringing air to my lungs.

In his eyes, I’m always strong. I’m always capable. I’m simply and beautifully me.

I feel the tears come and I can’t stop the words.

“In case it isn’t obvious Gabriel, I love you,” I tell him as I lean down to kiss him. “I love you so much.”

His strong bloodied hands hold my face as he hovers over my lips.

“The way I feel about you, Brinley, a word as simple as love isn’t enough. You’re the blood in my veins.”

I whimper into his lips with his words.

“You’re the one I would sacrifice everything for.” His lips meet my temple. “You’re my need to survive.” He smirks into my lips. “And they slipped briskly into an intimacy from which they never recovered…” Another kiss.

I giggle through my tears.

“Quoting Fitzgerald as we lie between two dead bodies?” I say as Gabriel’s lips never once stop their path over my cheeks, my jaw, the corner of my mouth.

“Just working on being romantic,” Gabriel says with a grin and a deep chuckle, before both his hands grip the sides of my face, focusing his stormy gray eyes on mine, as he falls serious.

“I love you, Brinley Rose.” His deep timbre fills my senses, butterflies flood my chest and the carnage around us fades.

“What the fuck!?” I hear Sean yell in horror as we both look up at him from our place on the floor when he and Kai come through the door.

Gabriel doesn’t move me, he just lets his head fall back against the floor in relief and says, “You’re late. Call Rick, and I hope you fuckers brought shovels.”