Chapter 11
Renee swung the door open when she saw Sara and Ian walking up to the house and ran out to meet them. She took Aidan from Sara's arms and hugged him close to her. She kissed the top of his head and carried him inside. Gabriel met them in the hallway. He took his wife and son in his arms.
Amie ran into the hallway and slid to a stop. She tugged at Ian's sleeve until he looked down. "Daddy bwave," she told him.
"Really?" He asked, glancing at Gabriel.
"Uh-huh," Amie continued. "He fought bad man. Bad man gone now."
"Gabe," Sara questioned, "what is she talking about?"
"Mobius. He attacked the house."
"What happened?" Sara asked.
"He's dead," Gabe replied. "I might be in some trouble."
"You were protecting your family. I doubt the investigation will go too far," Sara assured him.
"Sara, I shot him in the back."
"Tell me what happened."
He related the events of that day to her. When he finished, she put her hand on his shoulder and said, "You had to do it. He was going to find your wife as well as Ian's and Jason's and your kids. You had to stop him."
"It was still murder, Sara. I could have just wounded him."
Sara wrapped her arms around her friend trying to comfort him. "Don't worry, buddy. I'll make sure you don't get in any trouble. You were just protecting your family."
Darvi and Dakota walked into the room with Jason hobbling in behind them. He had a splint on his lower leg and walked with the help of crutches.
"Quite a reunion," Sara said.
"The best I could think of," Renee said, looking down at her son, who had fallen asleep in her arms.
*******
"Aidan, don't climb those shelves," Renee reprimanded her son. She shook her head and looked at her husband. "Thought we'd have a couple more months until this started. Amie didn't start crawling until she was eight months. They're two months younger than that."
Gabriel laughed as he went to pick up his son. "He just doesn't want to wait around."
"His sister's no better. Allanah, will you please take Eli's trunk out of the vcr." She shook her head as her daughter grinned up at her and pulled the stuffed elephant away from the television set. "All right, darling," she said, bending down and lifting the infant from the floor. "It's your bedtime."
Allanah stuck her fist in her mouth and looked up at her mother. Once the twins were tucked in for the night, Renee and Gabriel walked to the bedroom. "Gabe, I'm not sure if this is such a good idea," Renee said as she sank onto the bed.
"Come on, Renee. You slept in the room with him for two weeks after we got him back. You haven't left him since then even. He's fine. Caitlyn will be here in a bit to watch the kids. The men behind Aidan's kidnapping are dead. Mobius is dead, and we won the trial. We both deserve a night out, together."
Renee sighed. "You're right. It's just that I haven't left him since he was kidnapped, and I'm afraid to."
"I know, Renee, but he'll be fine. Danny and Caitlyn are going to be here soon to watch them."
"I know." She shook her head. "I feel so bad for Danny. He just tried to help us and got in trouble for it. Obstruction of justice," she snorted. "Yeah right. They weren't getting anywhere with the case. At least he was trying. And they suspended him for it."
"How much longer is he suspended for?"
"Another week. Caitlyn said he can't wait to get back to work after two months off."
Renee walked to the closet and pulled a dress from a hanger. Stepping into it, she pulled it up until the top was beneath her shoulders. It stopped above her knees. Gabriel stepped behind her. "Let me help," he said, hooking the back of it and zipping it. "You're beautiful," he said once she turned around. She started to pull her hair up away from her neck, but he stopped her. "It looks perfect down."
She smiled at him. "You need to get ready too."
Walking to the closet he pulled out a gray wool shirt. Shrugging into it, he took a pair of black slacks out of his dresser drawer.
Renee watched him as he stood in the doorway of the bathroom and combed his hair. She couldn't take her eyes from him, not that she ever could. The sweater fit loosely over his lean frame, not showing the perfection Renee knew was there. She never had liked men with huge muscles. His wavy brown hair accentuated his pale face. For once, he had his hair out of his face. He had it brushed behind his ears.
Renee smiled at him. "Now we just have to wait for our babysitters to get here."
They walked down the stairs together. Amie climbed down from the couch and ran over to them. "Daddy, why dressed like dat?"
"Me and your mommy are going out to dinner tonight," he said as he picked her up. "And why don't you have your PJs on yet, young lady?"
Amie giggled. "Watchin' tv wif Medan."
"Well, go on. It's almost your bedtime."
"Yes, Daddy." She scrambled up the steps.
Renee laughed. "She's definitely Daddy's little girl."
They waited five more minutes for Danny and Caitlyn. Once they arrived, Renee said, "We'd better get going. They'll be waiting."
"Thought you two were going out by yourselves?" Caitlyn questioned.
Renee shook her head. "We're eating dinner with Darvi, Ian, Dakota, and Jason. Then, we're spending the rest of the night together, alone."
"Well, you guys definitely deserve it. Have fun."
"We will."
*******
Once the waiter left with their orders, Renee turned to Darvi. "You said you had some news for us."
Darvi reached for Ian's hand under the table and smiled at the rest of them. "Yes, I do. Carina's gonna be a big sister."
"Congratulations." The word echoed around the table.
"Thanks, everyone."
"How far along are you?" Renee asked.
"About a month. Carina will be just over a year old when he's born."
"What make you think it's a boy?"
Darvi shrugged. "I don't. Might be nice though to not have two sisters running around." She laughed. "That always causes trouble."
Dakota grinned. "Yeah, sisters are such pains."
They all laughed at the playful bantering between the sisters.
"Renee, you seem distracted," Dakota commented to her friend after the waiter brought their meals.
"No, I'm fine," she said, making an attempt to smile.
Gabriel squeezed her hand and smiled comfortingly at her. He knew what distracted her. "He'll be fine," he whispered.
She nodded and poked at the food on her plate. She took a small bite, and the taste of the food reminded her how hungry she was. That hunger took control over her worry about her son.
A half hour later Darvi, Ian, Dakota, and Jason went to their car. Gabriel and Renee waited until they left, then they crossed the street to an outdoor dance floor. Gabriel led his wife onto the floor when a new song began to play.
Lyin' in the dark, I'm lost in you.
I'd do anything you want me to.
I've never felt more completed.
You're exactly what I needed.
Renee wrapped her arms around his neck. One of his hands held onto her waist while the other slid over her bare shoulder. They moved together, slightly off-step with the music, but they didn't care.
You take my breath away
Every time you look at me that way.
And you look right inside my soul.
And I know that you know
That you're all I've ever wanted
And all I've never had.
How can we call this love
When it's so much more than that?
Renee moved in closer to Gabriel so their bodies touched. Resting her head against his shoulder, she let her body move with the rhythm of his.
Listenin' to your heart, I'm swept away.
Your every move carries me away.
Deep in your eyes I see an ocean
That can't be measured by one emotion.
When the song ended, Renee pulled away from her husband and smiled up at him. "We're horrible dancers," she said with a laugh.
"Is that what we were trying to do?" He joked.
The next song began to play.
We've been through enough tequila
To float us outta this place.
And through the smoke I can barely see ya
But I've memorized your face.
We've danced almost every dance,
Lasted longer than the band.
Oh but we're not through
It's just me and you.
What do we do with the rest of the night?
"Let's get out of here," Renee suggested. "I know of a few things we could do with the rest of the night."
Gabriel grinned at her, taking her up on that suggestion. Just as they were about to leave the dance floor, a large man stumbled up to them. He grabbed Renee's arm and said in a slurred voice, "Dance wit me."
The stench of alcohol spewed from his mouth like a dragon's breath. Renee tried to pull away from him, but his grip remained strong. Gabriel stepped forward and put his hand on the man's shoulder. "Take your hand off her."
The man looked down at him and sneered. "Are you gonna make me, boy?"
Gabriel's face turned hard with anger. "Yes, I will. She's my wife, and we were just leaving."
"Well, she can dance wit me before she leaves wit you," he said with obvious contempt.
"I don't want to dance with you," Renee told him.
"There, it's settled then," Gabriel said. "She doesn't want to dance, so we're leaving."
"Boy, I would suggest stop butting in," the man said, turning and throwing a fist into Gabriel's stomach.
He fell to his knees, but forced himself to his feet again. "Not when my wife's concerned."
The man turned away from Renee to face Gabriel. "I do not know who you are, boy, but-"
Gabriel interrupted him. "I am her husband."
"I do not care."
"She does not want to dance with you. Now, get out of our way."
"I don't think so," he said as he threw a fist at Gabriel's face.
The blow crushed the cartilage of Gabriel's nose, and his hands flew up to the injured part. The man hit him in the stomach again then followed it with another blow to the face. Renee tried to protect her husband, but the man pushed her away. He worked over Gabriel's face for another minute. Then, a security guard came over to see what the commotion was. When their assailant saw him, he took off in the other direction.
"You okay?" The guard asked Gabriel when he reached them.
"Yeah. I'm fine," he mumbled through bleeding lips. His right eye was swollen, his cheekbone was opened by a cut, and numerous other cuts covered his face.
"We need to get you cleaned up," Renee told him.
"You can use the guard station," the guard offered. "We have some first aid things there."
"Thanks."
Ten minutes later Renee finished cleaning Gabriel's battered face. The guard called a cab for them. "Maybe we should just go home," Renee suggested while they waited.
"No," Gabriel said. "I'm fine. We're going to spend this night like we planned, alone together."
Renee smiled at him and put one arm around his waist. The cab arrived, and she helped Gabriel into the car. "Where to?" The driver asked.
She gave him the name of the hotel where they had reserved a room for the night. Arriving at their destination fifteen minutes later, they went inside to check in at the main desk. The clerk handed her the key and said, "It's on the third floor, room eleven."
Renee kicked off her high-heeled shoes once they were in the room. Gabriel wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her to him. His mouth covered hers, and they were lost in a deep, passionate kiss. Renee's arms slid around to his back. They made their way under his shirt. Their lips parted just enough for her to lift the sweater over his head. His fingers fumbled with the hook on the back of her dress then moved on to the zipper. The black fabric fell away from her body, and he ran his hands over her bare skin.
Renee unbuttoned Gabriel's black pants and let them drop to the floor. He picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. Her fingers ran over his shoulders, and she pulled him down to her. Her hair spread out on the pillow around her. Gabriel pulled away and looked in her eyes. "You're my love," he whispered. "My only love." His breath caressed her ear, and her body arched up to meet his. "The only one I ever want. The only one I need." The words crossed his lips as he moved inside her.
*******
Renee woke and saw the sun peeking through the blinds. Gabriel's arm rested over her back, and his face was turned toward her. His face relaxed in sleep, he looked like an angel. She reached over and brushed his bangs away from his face. Her touch roused him from his sleep, and he smiled at her. "Sorry," she apologized.
"No, you're not." He grinned at her as she snuggled against him.
"You're right."
A knock on the door interrupted them. Gabriel groaned as he rolled out of the bed. Finding his pants, he pulled them on and went to answer the door. "Room service," the man said.
"Bring it in," Gabriel told him. He tipped the man then slipped back under the blankets, setting the tray on the bed with them.
Once they finished eating, he set the tray on the floor, and Renee leaned back against him. His arms wrapped around her, and he kissed her shoulder. A half hour later they finally got out of bed and dressed.
They checked out of the hotel and took a cab home. When they walked through the door, Danny and Caitlyn met them. "Meghan's in her room, reading. Amie's watching cartoons. Aidan's in his playpen, and Allanah's still sleeping."
"Thank you for watching them."
"No problem. We really don't mind. Take it your night alone went good."
"Yes," Renee said with a grin. "It definitely did."
She walked into the living room and picked Aidan up out of his playpen. He grinned at her, showing off a single tooth. Amie saw her parents and slid from the couch, running to them. Gabriel lifted her in the air, and she squealed in delight. "Daddy!"
Meghan walked down the stairs, carrying her little cousin. "She woke up," she explained.
Gabriel looked around at his family: his wife, his niece, his two daughters, and his son. 'This is perfect,' he thought to himself. 'Just the way it should be.'
The End