Page 42 of Missing Marcus

“Hello, Charmaine. It’s Gabrielle Hutchins. Can you connect me to Jackie?”

“Oh, honey. We heard about your car accident. I hope you’re all right. They assigned a temp to you. Jackie got called away on a family emergency and won’t return until Monday. Mr. Wilkinson asked if you called to patch you through to him directly. Please hold.”

Gabby glanced at Knight and licked her lips nervously.

“Gabrielle. I’m glad you called. Jackie left a message. She rushed home to handle a family emergency. I’ve assigned you a temp. If you tell me where you’re staying, I’ll ask him to deliver any files you might need.”

“Oh,” Gabby faltered. “Umm. My husband arrived when he learned of my car accident. He took me to a mutual friend’s home. They’ve offered to keep an eye on me while he drops into my office and picks up my prescription refills.”

The phone went silent momentarily before Mr. Wilkinson’s voice came over the line. “I’ll ask your temp to pull what you need.”

“I made a list for Marcus. I left my prescription and prenatal vitamins there. With the accident, I need a few personal items from my office to get me by before I return to my apartment,” she assured him.

“I can’t wait to meet him. When did you say he’ll arrive?”

“He’s running a few errands.” Gabby peered at Knight, who held up a finger and she nodded. “He’ll stop by in an hour.”

“Tell him to stop by my office before he leaves,” Mr. Wilkinson ordered.

“I’ll make sure he gets the message. Thank you,” Gabby agreed.

“Get better, Gabrielle. We can’t wait for your return to the office.” He hung up the call.

“Maybe you shouldn’t go alone,” Gabby watched as Knight texted Saint.

“I’m not. Saint and Shadow will follow me. Patch will stay with you. Spaghetti man, Ragu, left for Seattle a while ago. Make sure you don’t call him that to his face. For a military wife, you never picked up the lingo,” he chuckled.

Gabby stayed silent.

“What do I need to pick up?” he asked.

“In my desk on the left, I put the ledgers inside the files. Bring the entire stack. I have a large bag behind the door for shopping. Everything will fit in it. There’s a sweater on the coat rack. I left my prenatal vitamins in the middle drawer. Keep those in your hand, along with my wallet. It’ll make the story more plausible.” She brushed the hair back from her face, unable to control the trembling in her hand. Knight took it in his warm one.

“Hey. You’re safe here. I’ll return before you know it. The men will follow me and Saint vouches for them,” he reassured her as he tucked a stray strand behind her ear.

“Be careful.”

“Always,” he whispered as he leaned in and paused as if asking permission to kiss her. She smelled the sandalwood from his cologne, triggering memories of happier times.

The doorbell rang, pulling them from the spell.

“Hey, asshole,” Patch greeted him when he answered the door. “The team’s waiting at the facility. You’ll exchange vehicles there.” Patch strode into the living room. “You’re stuck with me, beautiful. I know after hanging around his mug, you’ll fall in love with me, but I must warn you, I’m taken. Claire doesn’t share. Trust me. She throws a fit when I eat all the mint chocolate chip ice cream and don’t get me started on the last piece of pecan pie from Miss Edie.”

Gabby laughed.

Knight lingered at the door. “Bye, Gabby.”

She heard the forlorn sadness in his voice and she fought the need to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss away the pain. Marcus hurt her and there was no going back.

Knight checkedhis rearview mirror for the tenth time, making sure Saint’s team kept their word. He didn’t worry about himself but he didn’t like leaving Patch with Gabby. The man acted cocky and arrogant as all hell.

His phone rang, bringing him back to the present.

“Knight,” he spoke into the phone.

“Hello, Mr. Hutchins. It’s Elsie with Coastal Realty. They finished the inspection. With them paying cash, they want it rushed. We can close at the end of next week.”

“Next week?” he parroted. He didn’t expect to leave Gabby so soon.

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