GISELLE
I grasped the strap of my cross bag as I stepped through the boarding bridge, scanning the crowd of people waiting for their loved ones in the terminal. I stilled, spotting Thayer leaning against a pole. His eager eyes were on me as he pushed off of it and met me halfway, wrapping his arms around me. I all but collapsed into him, my tears falling as soon as I was in his arms.
“You’re safe,” he said, kissing the top of my head. “I’ve got you, and I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. Okay?”
I nodded, unable to form words.
“You’re safe, G.”
I let him hold me for a long time. I couldn’t put into words what it felt like to have Thayer’s support. I just knew I was safe when he was with me. “I broke it off with Gino.”
He pulled back and looked me in the eyes. “You’re all mine?”
I smiled up at him through teary eyes. “I should have always been all yours.”
He stared down at me. “Good thing I’m patient.”
“Good thing.”
We held each other tighter, both of us reveling in the notion that we were finally able to be together. “Let’s go. You’re coming home with me.”
Once I was in his truck and he closed the passenger door, I sighed with relief. He slipped into the driver’s seat and reached over, linking his fingers with mine. He held my hand in his lap and squeezed it gently.
Darkness had moved in, and there weren’t many cars on the road as we travelled on the long stretch of highway.
“I spoke to my father,” he said, glancing between me and the road.
“How was that?”
“Weird. But we need his help. You know he was in the FBI, right?”
“You never really talk about him.”
“When I was growing up, I hated that he was so into his job. My mom said he was off doing something important, but we never talked about what he did for the FBI.”
“I never would have asked you to reach out to him. I know how you feel about him.”
He squeezed my hand. “G. When it comes to you, I’d do anything.”
Butterflies took flight in my belly. I don’t know what I did to deserve his unwavering loyalty, but I’d take it a hundred times over if it meant I got to keep him. “Does he think he can help?”
“He’s going to look into Gino’s background to find Carlo. And, he’s going to have someone look for similar crimes.”
“You don’t think this was the first time?”
“For Carlo or Gino?” he asked, surprising me. “Gino’s one big mystery. You must see that now.”
I closed my eyes. “I hope he didn’t know about it.” I’d been so foolish. I never asked questions. I never pressured him to bring me around his friends or family. I was busy running the boutique. It didn’t give me time to question anything. But hindsight was definitely twenty-twenty. I peeked over at Thayer. “What was I doing with him for so long?”
“No idea,” he said matter-of-factly.
“I feel so stupid.”
“He charmed you.”
“And I fell for it. He probably knew I was gullible and an easy target.”
“I don’t think it was all a lie.”