Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

GEMMA

I let myself into the room and hear the shower running. It's a relief to have a few minutes to compose myself. I don't know what came over me downstairs. I know that Dario has no interest in Naomi. I'd been watching him from the moment I'd seen her. I felt a twinge of insecurity, but then it disappeared. I trust him. I also saw his reaction to the puck bunny. She wasn't welcome.

When I saw Dario's face, I knew it was an excuse for me to push him away. The memories of our time together had flooded my mind. I knew in that moment that I had to find a way to protect him, even if it meant sacrificing my own happiness. The thought of him getting hurt, or worse, because of me, terrifies me. So, I let him think I was upset. I was. But not with him. It had taken me all of ten minutes to go after him. I couldn't do it. I loved him. I was in love with Dario Nelson.

I sit in one of the chairs overlooking the city, which is beautiful with all the lights in the dark night. I look at the diary in my hands and open it to a clear page.

I write the date at the top of the page.

I screwed up tonight. Instead of going to the man I love and wrapping my arms around him to kiss away his pain, I let him think that I was angry with him. That I didn't trust him. I was angry, but not with Dario.

I wanted to go over to Naomi and give her a piece of my mind. I knew Dario, and he didn't want her. He wanted me. I saw the disappointment on his face when he thought I didn't trust him. My heart had cried out for him. The bomb last night scared me to death. I thought I had to push him away to keep him safe. I would do anything to protect him.

In the end, I couldn't. So, Dodge accompanied me to the room. I needed Dario to breathe. We'd only been together a few days, but we'd been attracted to each other for almost two months.

I don't know what I'll do if he doesn't feel the same way. If he doesn't accept my explanation and my apology.

I love him. I would do anything to protect him.

My ears twitch as I think I hear a soft knock on the door. I cautiously approach the door, straining to hear any other sounds that might confirm that someone is there. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I wait in nervous anticipation. I hear the knocking again. My heart begins to race as I debate whether to open the door or pretend I'm not here. The feeling of unease grows stronger with each passing moment.

"Gemma," a voice whispers, "it's Nash. Dover is burning up and sick. I don't know what to do."

I sag in relief and pull the door open. Blood rushes to my head as a gun is shoved in my face. In a split second, I realize the danger I'm in and freeze, my mind racing to find a way out of this situation. The voice that called out to me moments ago was not Nash. It was my father. I fight to stay calm and think clearly.

"Not a word," he hisses, shooting forward and grabbing my arm, pulling me out of the room. "You scream. I will kill Dario Nelson. You hear me?"

I nod, unable to form words.

The door to the room clicks shut as my father leads me down the hallway. He is wearing a sweat‐ shirt with the hood up. The dimly lit hallway feels like a maze, and I struggle to keep up with my father's fast pace. My heart pounds in my chest as I try to come up with a plan to escape his grip. Why didn't I look through the eye in the door? "It was all you," I hiss, coming to my senses. "I don't understand."

"You will." He drags me deeper into the hotel until we reach an elevator with "staff only" written above the button.

My father pushes me into the elevator as he secures the door. He sends it down. The parking garage is under the hotel.

His eyes stare at me from under the hood. "Theresa told me what you did," he says in a low but deadly tone.

"What?" Confused, I give him a blank stare.

The only thing about Theresa that used to give me nightmares was... "Theresa was my friend."

"You gave her to money to get rid of your brother or sister," he explodes.

Horror fills me. "You slept with her?"

He laughs. "There was no sleeping involved."

"She told me she was raped," I scream, leaning against the elevator wall. My father never showed any interest in anything. The town drunk. He doesn't sound drunk or delusional right now, but he's not acting like himself.

The elevator shudders to a stop and I consider running. That is all, I think. Even though Dario isn't around, my father has a gun pointed at me. He's already tried to kill me twice. Something tells me he'll get it right this time. I take a deep breath and try to stay calm.

As he leads me out of the elevator, he grabs me as I stumble. The back door of a car opens, and I'm pushed inside, my father follows. "Let's go," he says to the driver.

My hands tremble in my lap as I worry if anyone will notice that I've been kidnapped at gunpoint. Will Dario know that I returned to the room? My diary. I left it open on the table. Will he see it? Read it? I hope so. At least if I don't get out of this, he'll know how I really feel.

The car continues up the ramp until the barrier stops it. The guard in the booth approaches, and my heart is in my throat. I want to yell at the man to go back to his booth.

"You're leaving late," he chuckles. "Will you be back?"

"No. We checked out early," Theresa explains.

I'd recognize her voice anywhere.

"Okay then, you guys have a good night."

The barrier begins to rise and suddenly it happens.

My door opens and I'm pulled out of the car in one smooth, swift motion. I'm thrown to the ground, my heart pounding as I watch the carnage unfold. Theresa's voice echoes through my head. I hear screams and the car accelerates, crashing through the barrier and the two cars blocking it.

I'm not even on my feet before Dario lifts me up and into his arms. "Thank God!" He groans. "I didn't think we'd make it in time."

"How?" I burst into tears and wrap my arms around him. My lips move to his neck where I plant a kiss.

"I heard the door. I thought you'd come back. I rushed out of the bathroom, but you weren't there. I looked through the eye in the door. I saw the gun on you." His arms tighten. "I forced myself to think instead of acting. I called Dodge. He knew what to do."

"Did they get them?" I step back but stay in the circle of Dario's arms.

"The fuckers got away," Dodge says in answer to my question.

"It was my father."

Dario looks me in the eye, perhaps to confirm the validity of my statement. I add, "Theresa was the driver. According to my father, he was the one who got Theresa pregnant. It makes me sick."

"Where would they go?" Dodge inquires.

"Other than their addresses from when I lived there, I have no idea." Pause. "Dad had a run-down cabin on the river. I know about it, though, so I doubt they went there."

"They'll need a new vehicle, too. The one they drove won't get them very far." Dario adds.

"Can we go back to the room?" I ask.

"Yeah, babe." Dario nods at Dodge. "We're going to the room."

"Give me a minute. I'll go up with you."

Shivering, Dario takes off his sweater and puts me in it. He smiles. "It looks much better on you."

"I'm so cold."

"I'll keep you warm and from now on I'll hand‐ cuff us together."

"Oh, kinky!" I giggle and enjoy taunting him. It helps me warm up too.

"Honey, enough of this in public."

"I can't believe my father is behind all this, Dario." We start walking with Dodge in front of us. "We haven't talked in years because he's a terrible person. I just never thought he'd come after me. If anything, I was afraid he would get drunk and kill me with his fists."

Dodge curses under his breath and Dario kisses the top of my head.

"The cops will want to take your statement in the morning, but they are actively looking for your father."

A few minutes later we're back in the room. My eyes go to the diary, then back to Dario. "It's okay if you read it."

He winces. "You left it open. I saw my name." He grabs my hips and rests his forehead against mine. "I apologize for the way I acted. I was exhausted and in pain. When I saw your face?—"

"I'm sorry too, but I'm relieved. You know what was going through my mind at the time. You have nothing to apologize for either, Dario. I am the one who is sorry. I love you. I wanted to protect you."

His hands slide up my body, cupping my face. "Sweetheart," he murmurs. "I love you." He smiles. "I'll show you how much."

"No sex, remember?"

Groaning, he grinds his erection against my hip. "Tomorrow's a new day."