Treasured by Thursday

Gabi felt the pinch of her skin. Felt the drug take hold . . . and she hit the ground.

Hunter dropped the glass in his hand, jumped over the table, and still only managed to catch Gabi a few inches before she hit the floor.

“Gabi?”

She was out. Her eyes rolled back, her face pale.

“Andrew?”

He lifted her onto the couch, careful with her head. “Andrew!” he yelled.

Half dressed, Andrew rushed into the room. “What happened?”

“Cold washcloth.”

Andrew fled to fill his request.

He was an ass . . . he’d scared her with a few words. The strong woman he’d seen traversing the room all night couldn’t possibly be the same one passed out in his arms.

Hunter felt three shades of awful.

Andrew emerged, thrust a cold washcloth into his hands.

Hunter ran it over Gabi’s forehead. “C’mon . . . wake up.”

They both hovered over her.

Andrew started to squirm. “Should I call nine one one?”

Hunter placed his fingers to her throat, felt a steady, albeit rapid, pulse and shook his head.

“Gabi? Wake up.” He leaned his head close to hers, felt her breath on his cheek. “Please.”

He was a breath away from telling Andrew to call when she started to stir.

Hunter dropped his forehead to hers. All the energy he’d placed in his anger diffused.

Her eyes fluttered open, but the blank look beyond her eyes told Hunter she was still lost.

The moment fear entered her gaze, Hunter drew his frame back but kept his hands on her shoulders to keep her from jumping again. “Are you OK?”

Her nose flared as she attempted to draw in a deep breath. Gabi looked beyond him to Andrew and blinked. “What happened?”

“You passed out.”

Her lower lip started to tremble, she kept looking between the two of them as if uncertain what had happened. Her voice wavered. “Can I get a glass of water?”

Andrew didn’t hesitate.

Hunter softly stroked her bare shoulders and waited for her color to return. When Andrew returned, Hunter helped her sit. She took the water and closed her eyes when she drank it.

“Thank you,” she managed.

“Can I get you anything, Mrs. Blackwell?”

“No, Andrew. I’m s-sorry to worry you.”

Hunter ignored the look of concern on Andrew’s face as he disappeared around the corner.

Gabi set the glass aside and attempted a smile.

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

She shook her head. “No. No, I’m not.” She pushed away from him and his hand fell from her shoulder. “I won’t go anywhere alone with you, Hunter. Not yet, anyway.”

All this was because she feared being alone with him? “I gave you my word I wouldn’t hurt you.”

“I want to believe you.”

“Then do.”

“It’s not that simple. My head tells me that lightning won’t strike twice, but there’s no guarantee.” She was shaking again and Hunter had a strong desire to pull her into his arms.

“What lightning is that? What did he do to you?”

Doubt filled her face. “I can’t . . . I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing, Gabi. We’re in this for the next year and a half. How am I going to know what words to be careful of using if you don’t tell me what happened?”

The words were there . . . hanging between them. Her dark eyes searched his.

“Why did you need to get married?”

So this was how it was going to go. Give to get.

He offered a crumb. “My brother has resurfaced.”

Confusion marred her brow.

“My twin. Word is he’s posing as me.” Again . . .

“So I’m a built-in alibi?”

Hunter shook his head . . . not willing to give more without a few answers from her. “What did he do to you, Gabi?”

She paused, swallowed hard. “He used me. Shred my dignity.”

Not happy with her ambiguous answer, he asked, “How?”

“He pretended to love me and used my brother’s island to traffic drugs.” Her face lost color again.

“And he hurt you.” It wasn’t a question.

She nodded and looked away. There was more to her story . . . but he didn’t push.

He took a chance and gathered her hands into his. “I’m not him, Gabi. Arguably, I am using you . . . but you know the score, and in the end, we will use each other. I don’t trust easily, either. My brother is only part of why I needed a bride.”

“What else?”

It was Hunter’s turn to divert the conversation. “Are you ready to tell me the whole story behind your late husband?”

She winced.

That’s what he thought. “We both have our secrets. Maybe in time we can share them. For now, I need you to trust that I won’t hurt you. I won’t let anyone else harm you, either.”

“I still can’t leave with you.”

His mind scrambled. “What if you picked where? I need the world to know we’re married. If we don’t escape for even a few days, there will be some who guess the truth.”

Her eyes traveled to the ceiling as if it held the answers. “I haven’t been home more than overnight since . . .” She struggled for words. “Since Alonzo’s death.”

“Your brother’s island?”

“Yes.”

Jaw dropping, he said, “You want me to willingly go to your brother’s world? The man threatened my life.”

For the first time since she fainted, Gabi offered a tiny smile.