Gabe (The Love Family Series Book 7) by Kate Allenton Read Free Book Online

cupped her cheek and refrained from lowering his lips to hers. She was married, damn it, and Gabe was many things, but he wouldn’t be the cause of any more turmoil. “Trust me.”
    She nodded. Her eyes glittered as she stared up at him. “Go.” He gestured to her house. “Do you have a lot of stuff?”
    “No. Just my clothes.”
    “Grab everything you own. Don’t leave a trace.”
    She hurried up the sidewalk as Gabe pulled out his phone and dialed. His sister picked up on the first ring. “Alexis, I have a situation.”
    “What’s wrong?”
    “I’ll explain when I get there, and I’m bringing company. Is it okay if we use a guest room?”
    “Of course. Is that all you need?” she asked with concern evident in her voice.
    “No. I’m going to need Reed, Avery, Landon, and Declan. Can you make the call for them to meet us there? Oh, and one more thing, please see if Mia is available and if she can bring her doctor bag.”
    “Are you hurt?” she screeched, and thunder crackled above.
    “No. It’s just a precaution.”
    “Okay, whoa. I thought I was going to have to fry someone’s ass.” She let out a relieved breath, and the thunder disappeared before any rain could fall. “I’m not sure if Avery and Landon are back yet, but if not, I’ll have them stop by in the morning. They were having issues on their assignment, and I think they were on their way back in to regroup with Reed.” 
    “Thanks. I’m going to owe you big time.”
    “No, you won’t. That’s what family is for. I’ll see you soon.”
    “See you soon,” he replied and hung up.
    Gabe scrolled through his contacts as Lucy walked out the door, locking it behind her. The lock wouldn’t stop someone bent on killing her. It wouldn’t keep her past from becoming her present. He hit Send and popped his trunk so she could put the two bags she owned inside.
    “Tony, hi; it’s Gabe. I’m sorry to call so late, but I need a favor.” Gabe shut the trunk and moved around to the passenger door and held it open for her. “I need you to burn Brooklyn’s employee file and call me if anyone comes asking about her.”
    Lucy frowned. “That’s my only source of income right now. I need that job.”
    “She’s in some kind of trouble, isn’t she?” Tony asked.
    “Yeah, she is and she’ll be with me if you need her.”
    “You got it, Doc.”
    “Thanks, Tony.”
    Gabe hung up.
    “Didn’t you hear me? I need that job. I can’t access my accounts or Warren will find me.”
    “Lucy, trust me.”
    She slipped into the car. Her lips tilted down at the corners, and Gabe wanted nothing more than to kiss her frown away. She didn’t deserve what she was going through, and he wouldn’t add to that confusion.
    ****
    Trust. Had Lucy lost her mind? She wanted to trust Gabe, to believe there were honorable people in the world and that there was really something he could do to help, but she wasn’t naive. Not anymore.
    Gabe drove around a lake she’d never seen and turned down a long drive to a huge two-story house nestled along the lake’s shoreline. Cars littered the driveway, and she twisted her fingers together. The butterflies in her belly multiplied as her nerves caught hold.
    “Who do these cars belong to?”
    Gabe pulled up beside one of the SUVs and killed the ignition. “You know how I said you didn’t have to meet the family?”
    She nodded and whipped her gaze back to the house.
    “Well…things changed after your story, and I’m afraid you’ll have to meet most of them now.”
    “Why?” Her voice trembled.
    “Because you trust me, and I trust them.” He opened the door, walked around to her side, pulled hers open, and held out his hand. She slipped her fingers into the warm embrace of his. He rubbed his palms up and down her arms. “My family is unique. It’s hard to explain everything all at once but…well, I’ll just explain as we go.”
    She nodded as he took her hand and led her to the open door, where his