clearance had been granted. Wall. The man had arrived with nothing more than a small backpack and a guitar case.
Ben rubbed at his chest, trying to level his breathing so the thumping would settle.
Cal had headed back to his room to shower and change while Rachel had gone downstairs to check on the staff. With only Aidan and Wall remaining in the room, at least he didn’t have people constantly asking him if he needed anything or if he was fine.
He wasn’t fine…by any stretch of the imagination. He wouldn’t be until Gabriel was at his side.
He closed his eyes and tried to expel any negative thoughts. He thought of Gabriel, his larger-than-life smile and the wicked spark in his eyes when he teased him. The way those big hands cupped his face and the tingle that vibrated throughout his body when one of his fingertips traced along Ben’s jaw and down his throat.
I love you. I miss you. Please come back to me.
Ben’s eyes shot open when he sensed a shift in the air. Wall moved from his perch to stand by Aidan’s side as they both stared at the computer. Neither spoke, so he couldn’t read their lips. Wall pointed at the monitor and Aidan’s glare intensified. The echo of Ben’s heartbeat throbbed in his head when Aidan grabbed his phone.
“Are you sure?” Aidan asked, not bothering with a greeting or niceties. He paused, the other person on the line obviously continuing the conversation. “Wall and I are heading out now. How soon can a team get out there to meet us?” With a nod toward Wall, Aidan ended the call and grabbed his keys, heading toward the door.
Ben bolted up from his seat just as Aidan spun around and raised his hand, palm toward him.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
I’m going with you!
“I know what you’re thinking and that’s a hard no.”
Ben clenched his hand into fists at this side, willing the rage to level off. Or was it fear? He stared into that challenging hazel gaze from across the room, daring him to stop him.
“I. Said. No.”
“No!” The roar of protest tore through Ben’s throat as he launched forward, ready to attack Aidan.
Aidan startled, his eyes rounded for a moment before he hid his surprise at Ben charging toward him. Or maybe it was hearing Ben for the first time, likely sounding more feral than human. Aidan instantly gripped Ben’s face. Hard. “I. Said. No.” That hazel gaze drilled fiercely into Ben. “I can’t risk something happening to you. You need to trust me and Wall to bring him back. Because make no mistake, we’re bringing Bull back. Understand?”
Ben’s chest heaved with each breath sawing through his lungs. He looked to the side, following Aidan’s line of sight.
Wall picked up his worn guitar case in one hand as he slung his backpack over his shoulder.
Tears stung Ben’s eyes, and he shook his head in Aidan’s grip. He wanted to be there. He needed to hold on to Gabriel to avoid everything from slipping away.
Aidan squeezed Ben’s face, drawing his attention again. “I’ll bring him back. But I can’t put all my attention on him if I’m worrying about you. Trust me. Please.”
He closed his eyes and begged for strength. The rational side of his mind knew Aidan was right.
Resigned, he nodded.
Aidan released the death grip on his face. “I’ll text Cal to come up and I’ll keep the security detail in the lobby and have another outside your door. I’ll text you when I have him.”
Ben nodded as Wall and Aidan raced out of the room, hope flickering in his heart.
Finally alone, he didn’t know what to do.
The rage in his body came in bursts.
The pain ebbed and flowed.
Life had taught him how to deal with people leaving. One day there, gone the next…a little at a time or all at once. But all that training couldn’t prepare him for this.
He felt more lost than ever. As if his heart and lungs were ripped out of his body but he was still expected to continue living.
Gabriel will come back. He promised.
He slumped on the couch, every ounce of energy and strength draining from his body in an instant. Clasping his hands together, he did something he hadn’t done since he was a small boy, at his bedside for the nightly ritual alongside his mom.
He prayed.
He begged and hoped someone would heed his call. A higher power. His parents watching over him. Or maybe Gabriel’s mother, or his grandfather.