Page 52 of Bold Encounter
"What kind of criminal organization?"Abe said, his expression suggesting that he suspected the answer wouldn't be good.
"The kind that doesn't leave loose ends," Gabriel said."The kind that eliminates problems permanently.The pieces are falling into place."
"You're right," Abe said."We need to bring in the feds, and for Genevieve's sake, the sooner the better."
Genevieve felt blood drain from her face as the implications hit her.She gasped."Oh God."
Abe reached for her hand, squeezing it tightly."We're on our way," he said, then ended the call.
For a moment, Genevieve sat in stunned silence.The warm, loving atmosphere of their morning together was gone, replaced with cold dread.
"Criminal organization?"she said, her voice barely audible."Jason has the support of people who kill to protect their interests?"Frightening images flashed through her mind.
Abe began clearing their breakfast dishes."It explains a lot, including the muscle who attacked me yesterday."
"What does this mean for us?"She was afraid she already knew the answer.
Abe paused in his cleaning, his hands stilling on the coffee pot.When he looked at her, she saw concern in his expression.
"It means our situation is infinitely more tenuous," he said."And it means our time to figure things out at our own pace just ran out."
Genevieve felt tears prick her eyes with the crushing realization that their brief respite was over.The beautiful, precious thing they had discovered between them would have to wait until they dealt with threats that could destroy not just her career but their very lives.
"We'll get through this," Abe said, then moved to her side to pull her into his arms."Whatever Jason and his criminal associates have planned, wewillstop them.But it means the situation just escalated beyond anything we can handle from the safety of my kitchen."
She clung to him, memorizing the feeling of his arms around her, and the steady beat of his heart against her cheek.Last night had felt like the beginning of forever.The morning was a raging storm that might destroy their future.
"I'm scared," Genevieve said.
"So am I," Abe said honestly."But I'm not scared of losing you to them.I'm scared of what I might have to do to keep you safe."
The tone of his voice sent a chill through her.While Abe held her close, Genevieve realized that the man she'd fallen in love with was about to transform into a fierce opponent.
She closed her eyes as if to block out reality.It was clear that he would risk his life for her…again.
Chapter 13
While Genevieve got dressed, Abe paced in the kitchen.He didn't like this one bit.She was in more danger than he cared to let on.He knew Gabriel wouldn't have made this an emergency unless there was an imminent threat.
Abe reflected on what he'd shared with Genevieve.Such intimacy was an expression of love.There was no question in his mind that he wanted to spend his life with her.
And now, some asshole was going to ruin it all.What rattled Abe was that Genevieve's life was at risk.She'd been so brave through all of this, yet he couldn't shield her from the truth.
Jason was a ruthless enemy.Abe knew the type, one who considered his own goals above all else.What the idiot wanted was Genevieve, and roughing up Abe was mild compared to what he was capable of.
Fury raged inside Abe, but he had nowhere to vent it.He was impatient to get going and to take control of the situation.But he had to find out what the investigation revealed.He needed good data to be effective, because there was no room for failure.
Genevieve was an amazing woman.She was talented, capable, and beautiful.Abe loved her, and not for any superficial reason.He loved the woman she was.Memories of being close to her gripped his heart and made him crave more.
He wanted to prove how special she'd become to him, and how much he loved her.He needed the rest of his life to do that, because he wouldn't tire of showing her.
He hadn't conceived of finding a woman to share his life with.Now that he had, Abe vowed to do everything in his power to protect her.He anxiously looked into the living room, relieved to see Genevieve striding toward him.
"Ready," she said, looking every bit as determined as Abe was.
*****
Abe felt the weight of inevitability as he pushed through the glass doors of Guardian Investigations with Genevieve beside him.The urgency in Gabriel's voice during their phone call had set his nerves on edge.Climbing the stairs to the fourth floor, he could feel Genevieve's tension radiating through her silence.
