Chapter Seventeen

Their love making continued for only a few moments before AJ found his release. He laid down next to Gabby, pulling her close to his body. Gabby laid her head on his chest and gently rubbed his abs, loving how tough they felt. His heart beat in her ears slowly relaxing her.

"Hey Gabby?"

"Yeah?"

"Why did you lie for me?" he asked as he rubbed her back.

She thought about it for a moment and then answered honestly, "Because deep down I knew Karl had lied about what happened between you guys all those years ago. Sure you were a bit of a jerk at times, but even I could see you aren't a killer..."

AJ smiled to himself, "Clever girl, I knew there was a reason I was strangely attracted to you..."

Gabby giggled making AJ's heart skip a beat. He loved her sweet laughter, her voice, and her timidness...the very things he thought would make him soft. In turn. They melted his cold heart...and make him the happiest man alive.

"So where do we go from here?" Gabby asked.

"I was thinking Georgia..." he said.

Gabby gasped and glanced at him, "Why so far away?"

"Because it'll give us a real chance to start a new life together...if you're OK with that." he said.

She sighed softly not wanting to give him bad news but she knew she had to. "AJ, we can't run from Karl forever...we both know if he found you before he can find you again."

He froze as her words resignated with him. She was right... "Then...we'll find him first...and get rid of him once and for all."

"You don't mean kill him do you?" she asked feeling nervous.

"Of course not...it's like you said...I'm not a killer."

She smirked, "So what's the plan..."

AJ smirked, "We'll have to go back to our apartments...besides...I left something in mine that I think we can use. For now get some sleep."

Gabby gladly got herself comfortable and slowly drifted off to sleep. Once AJ was sure she was out, he slipped out of bed and went into the bathroom. He stared at himself in the mirror before glancing back into the room at the sleeping angel.

"I'm not going to let that bastard hurt you...not ever..." he said before getting dressed and heading out the door...

He traveled down to a gas station where he used a payphone to call his apartment back in Philly. A lost and distraught Sandy who he had untied from the chair earlier and left handcuffed to the refrigerator answered the phone meekly.

"Hello..."

"Hey there sweetcheeks." AJ said. "How's the apartment?"

She began to cry, "AJ please...I need you to come back here and let me go."

"Not until you call your boy and tell him to meet me...he and I have some unfinished business." he told her.

She sighed, "I've already called him, he's coming here to get me and then we're coming for you and that little bitch!"

AJ gritted his teeth, "Well I'm looking forward to seeing you try...tell your boy to meet me in an hour at Pier 21 in Virginia...see ya soon."

Sandy slammed the phone down just as the front door came flying open. She was relieved to see Karl coming inside to finally set her free from her prison. He stared her down wondering how she allowed herself to get caught...then again he was more angry at how weak she looked. How long had he left her in this place.

"Oh Karl...I'm so happy to see you." she said as he helped her out of the handcuffs.

"Same here, now tell me where he is." he said.

She gladly told him of AJ's whereabouts before the two of them set off to find him and Gabby. He dropped Sandy off at the hospital and then headed for Virginia. Soon he and AJ would settle their differences once and for all...

The next morning, Gabrielle woke up to find herself all alone in the hotel room. She looked around for AJ but couldn't find him anywhere...had he abandoned her? She decided to get in the shower determined to go find her new lover, when a sinking feeling crossed her mind...what if he went after Karl all alone?

She quickly finished her shower and got dressed. When she was just putting on her shoes she heard someone at the door. She stood to her feet just as the lock clicked and AJ walked into the room. She gasped and ran into his arms sobbing uncontrollably.

"Hey what's wrong?" he asked.

"I woke up and couldn't find you." she cried. "I was so sure something awful happened."

He smirked, "Well something awful did happen...but it makes things better for us."

She looked into his eyes, "What do you mean."

"Karl's in jail now..." he told her.

A happy smile graced her face, "He is? B-But how-"

"Let's just say I have a few tricks up my sleeve." he said. "I called him and told him to meet me somewhere in Virginia...a place called Pier 21."

Gabby thought about it, "Isn't that-"

"-A military base that no one is allowed to come within 20 feet of unless you have clearance..." he said.

Gabby's mouth fell open, "So you basically tricked him into going there."

"Yep, he was shot in the leg and then arrested. Since there's a warrant out for his arrest anyways I'm thinking he's going to be doing some hard time."

"Wow...you're really smart...and brave." she said.

He smiled, "Yeah I know..."

They laughed and then kissed each other warmly. "So...what do you say we head to Georgia now?"

Gabby smiled and then gladly agreed to go to Georgia with him. "Just make sure to remind me to call my mother...she's been worried sick about me."

"Oh, your mom? I've got to meet her don't I?"

She nodded, "Of course...but let's get settled first."

He agreed and together the new couple headed for Georgia, ready to start a brand new life without worries.

The End