legs.
“You took a while,” her former stepmother told her.
“Why did you steal Theo?”
“I did it for love. Don’t we all do things for love?”
“Not at the expense of others. You denied me seventeen years of Theo’s life.”
“What can I say? I’m selfish,” Claudette’s tinkling laugh grated against her skull. “And I want Declan.”
“I thought you were in love with Ortega.”
“You took Declan from me.” Claudette glared at her, putting down a pink sponge. “He wasn’t supposed to fall in love with you. He was only supposed to stay close.” She snorted in disgust. “But what did he do? He married you. Then you cheated on him.” She clucked. “Stupid girl.”
“I didn’t go through with it,” Gabby whispered. Her head began to throb.
“Well, you got your family back.” Claudette threw the sponge in the water. “But good god, woman, did you have to kill me?”
Gabby blinked in confusion. The scene changed. The clawfoot tub was gone, and in its stead was a filthy replacement. Mildew turned the once pristine tub green and gray. Claudette scowled at her.
“I didn’t.”
“What will you tell Theo now? He’s gonna hate you for killing his mother.”
“I’m his mother!”
The other woman smiled. It wasn’t a pleasant smile. It was a smile full of conniving and malice. “I’m taking him with me.”
“No!”
“You’re too late.”
Gabby sprung forward, jumping into a void and screamed.
Fingers gripped her shoulders and she fought.
“Gabby!”
Her eyes flew open, locking into green concerned ones—bloodshot, and creased with worry at the corners, lines that weren’t there before. “Dec?”
“Oh, Jesus, Angel.” His eyes were suspiciously bright. “Thank God, you’re awake.”
“What? I’m in the hospital?” Her tongue felt like dried cotton balls and her nose twitched at the smell of antiseptic.
Her hands were gripped tight in his as his mouth pressed on the back of her fingers. “You wouldn’t wake up,” he said hoarsely. “It’s been sixteen hours and we were worried that Kelso missed that you hit your head again.”
“He caught me. I think.”
“Your CT scans are clear, but dammit, you gave me a scare.”
“Us.” A voice spoke behind Declan.
“Theo.” A surge of fear pushed up her throat. “I’m so sorry.”
The teenager’s brows drew together. “For what?”
“I wasn’t able to save Claudette.”
“She’s alive.” There was a flatness in the boy’s tone that vibrated with underlying anger.
Their conversation was cut short by the arrival of the doctor, who was followed by Bristow and two other nurses. “So, how’s our favorite detective?”
For once in her life, Gabby wasn’t annoyed by the pokes and prods of the medical staff. It gave her an opportunity to find her bearings under the scrutiny of the two men who’d become her world.
Claudette is alive.
Did that mean Gabby saved her? It was a weird feeling when she had so much hate for the woman all her life, but her heart felt less weighed down. Duty to serve and protect won over vengeance. Because vengeance wasn’t hers and she would let due process take its course.
Besides it would be a form of vengeance to see her in orange. Claudette would be appalled. It would clash with her blond hair.
A chuckle escaped her.
The doctor’s brow arched. He lowered the penlight he had on her eyes. “Something funny?”
“Nothing. Just remembered something.”
“Are you sure she didn’t hit her head?” Theo chortled.
Gabby rolled her eyes, extended her arm and gave him the middle finger.
She heard a choked laugh from Declan, and her lips curved into a smile.
Theo, the little shit, wouldn’t shut up and gave a mock gasp, but the words that followed almost gave her a heart attack.
“Now is that the right way to talk to your son?” Theo said, deadpan.
She pushed the doctor’s probe away and turned to face the two guys. Levi edged to the door. Bristow had his mouth covered, controlling a grin.
“Well then,” the doctor said.
“Everyone out,” Gabby said slowly, her eyes riveted on Declan who muttered a curse and turned to their son.
“Did you just throw me off a cliff?” He asked Theo. “What did I fuckin’ say?”
“You couldn’t help yourself, could you?” Gabby’s question was directed at her ex-husband.
“The timing was right, so I took it.” Declan shrugged. “I did tell wonder boy here to avoid giving you a shock.”
“Aren’t we all tired of secrets?” Theo asked.
“You’re taking this well.” She finally had the courage to look into his young eyes which had taken on a mature glint since the last time she saw him.
“Do you blame me?” Theo asked, his voice low. “Claudette never had the motherly gene. I didn’t go looking