asked, hoping she didn’t sound desperate.
“Yeah, you’ll see me tomorrow.” And with that he left.
Lily continued to fuss over her, but she managed to tune it out. The only thing she could clearly hear was the thumping of her heart. It hurt, but it was a pain she welcomed. She’d gone too long feeling numb. Gabriel had awakened her and she planned on staying that way.
Chapter 8
A s Gabriel watched the scene being filmed from the corner of the soundstage, he hid a yawn behind his hand. He’d managed maybe two hours of sleep last night. After leaving Elise’s he’d returned to the crime scene. He knew he didn’t have to, as his team was exemplenary at what they did, but he felt a need to be directly involved.
He couldn’t deny that seeing that word scratched into Elise’s vehicle had angered him. He wanted someone to pay for causing her anguish. His natural protective traits were kicking in. Elise did that to him. Made him want to do everything he possibly could to keep her safe and secure. And deep down, he also desired to make her happy.
It was a feeling he couldn’t shake. He’d been trying—thought he had succeeded—to bury that need deep in his heart, only to have it resurface now. Seeing her again had brought up all kinds of emotions. Emotions he wasn’t willing or able to deal with. Not now at least. He had to be completely focused on the job at hand.
So far, they had nothing to go on. There’d been no witnesses to the vandalism. Gabriel found that hard to believe when the car had been in front of a busy hotel the entire time. They also hadn’t managed to find the driver. After some investigation though, Gabriel discovered that the driver, a lycan, had a warrant out for his arrest. So it was possible he’d skipped town after everything went down. Elise told him that she’d left a message on the guy’s phone to tell him he was fired. What bothered him the most though was he couldn’t ascertain who had hired the driver.
One of the other limo drivers gave a statement that he saw Elise’s driver get out of the vehicle and jog across the street, and he didn’t see him return. But Gabriel wasn’t sure how reliable the guy was, because after that he’d admitted that he’d gone around back with some other staff, other drivers and hotel staff, to smoke and play some cards. After talking to a few more people, it appeared that no one had been standing at the front of the hotel when the vandalism occurred.
So, as far as Gabriel was concerned, the vandal could’ve been anyone at the party. Guests were coming and going all evening. Anyone could’ve had the opportunity. And because of that, Gabriel had been busy cross-referencing the party guest list with anyone who might have some grudge against Elise.
Unfortunately, he discovered that list was going to be long.
The famous, rich and successful never failed to have a number of people who held some sort of grudge. Jealousy, feigned snubs, real snubs, all of these could be motive enough for a stalker.
He yawned again just as Lily approached him. She smiled, holding out a foam cup of steaming coffee. “You look like you need this.”
He took the drink. “Thank you.” He sipped the hot liquid, impressed that the witch always seemed to know what was going on, and who needed something. This made him think that out of everyone in Elise’s life, she would know pretty much everything.
He eyed her curiously as he drank the strong coffee. Her gaze was glued to the set, where Elise and Diego were playing out a big important scene. According to one of the grips he’d talked to earlier, this scene was the climax of the film. By the way Lily seemed mesmerized by Elise, Gabriel had to wonder if there was more there than just employer loyalty.
“How’s Elise doing?” he asked her.
“She’s okay. Tired mostly.” She smiled. “But she’s a consummate professional, so it won’t affect her performance. I’m not sure anything could bother her enough that it
“Yeah, you’ll see me tomorrow.” And with that he left.
Lily continued to fuss over her, but she managed to tune it out. The only thing she could clearly hear was the thumping of her heart. It hurt, but it was a pain she welcomed. She’d gone too long feeling numb. Gabriel had awakened her and she planned on staying that way.
Chapter 8
A s Gabriel watched the scene being filmed from the corner of the soundstage, he hid a yawn behind his hand. He’d managed maybe two hours of sleep last night. After leaving Elise’s he’d returned to the crime scene. He knew he didn’t have to, as his team was exemplenary at what they did, but he felt a need to be directly involved.
He couldn’t deny that seeing that word scratched into Elise’s vehicle had angered him. He wanted someone to pay for causing her anguish. His natural protective traits were kicking in. Elise did that to him. Made him want to do everything he possibly could to keep her safe and secure. And deep down, he also desired to make her happy.
It was a feeling he couldn’t shake. He’d been trying—thought he had succeeded—to bury that need deep in his heart, only to have it resurface now. Seeing her again had brought up all kinds of emotions. Emotions he wasn’t willing or able to deal with. Not now at least. He had to be completely focused on the job at hand.
So far, they had nothing to go on. There’d been no witnesses to the vandalism. Gabriel found that hard to believe when the car had been in front of a busy hotel the entire time. They also hadn’t managed to find the driver. After some investigation though, Gabriel discovered that the driver, a lycan, had a warrant out for his arrest. So it was possible he’d skipped town after everything went down. Elise told him that she’d left a message on the guy’s phone to tell him he was fired. What bothered him the most though was he couldn’t ascertain who had hired the driver.
One of the other limo drivers gave a statement that he saw Elise’s driver get out of the vehicle and jog across the street, and he didn’t see him return. But Gabriel wasn’t sure how reliable the guy was, because after that he’d admitted that he’d gone around back with some other staff, other drivers and hotel staff, to smoke and play some cards. After talking to a few more people, it appeared that no one had been standing at the front of the hotel when the vandalism occurred.
So, as far as Gabriel was concerned, the vandal could’ve been anyone at the party. Guests were coming and going all evening. Anyone could’ve had the opportunity. And because of that, Gabriel had been busy cross-referencing the party guest list with anyone who might have some grudge against Elise.
Unfortunately, he discovered that list was going to be long.
The famous, rich and successful never failed to have a number of people who held some sort of grudge. Jealousy, feigned snubs, real snubs, all of these could be motive enough for a stalker.
He yawned again just as Lily approached him. She smiled, holding out a foam cup of steaming coffee. “You look like you need this.”
He took the drink. “Thank you.” He sipped the hot liquid, impressed that the witch always seemed to know what was going on, and who needed something. This made him think that out of everyone in Elise’s life, she would know pretty much everything.
He eyed her curiously as he drank the strong coffee. Her gaze was glued to the set, where Elise and Diego were playing out a big important scene. According to one of the grips he’d talked to earlier, this scene was the climax of the film. By the way Lily seemed mesmerized by Elise, Gabriel had to wonder if there was more there than just employer loyalty.
“How’s Elise doing?” he asked her.
“She’s okay. Tired mostly.” She smiled. “But she’s a consummate professional, so it won’t affect her performance. I’m not sure anything could bother her enough that it
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