Lead us to temptation, p.3
Lead Us To Temptation, page 3
“He got a little handsy,” I whispered as Gabriel’s eyes locked on mine, Gabriel was one of the only people who knew how much I hated being touched without permission. Sometimes I was able to control it and sometimes I lashed out, breaking the hand of the person who touched me.
“At first I was just going to leave and not come back but he said if I left he wouldn’t be able to fix me.”
Gabriel’s eyes softened slightly,
“I lost it. I was so angry and I wanted him to hurt.”
The familiar tingle of Gabriel’s healing magic simmered through my hands and I knew if I looked down the cuts would be gone.
“You defended yourself.”
It wasn’t a question but I nodded anyway
“No one else was hurt?”
I nodded again.
“And the liquor bottles?”
“I needed to clear my head so I went for a drink or two.”
Or eight
“And the destroyed room?”
I glanced back and saw the full expense of what I had done last night. Everything was either destroyed, cut, burned, or torn apart.
“I came home and had the intention of sleeping but every time I closed my eyes I saw him. I saw the office. I swear I could still feel his wrinkly disgusting hands on me.”
Gabriel closed his eyes as he pressed his forehead to mine,
“I’m sorry Gabriel.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
Gabriel lifted me off the counter and carried me out to the spare guest bedroom he had and gently laid me down on the bed.
“Get some rest, I’ll have your room taken care of but rest please.” I nodded my head as Gabriel gently pulled the covers back and laid them on top of me.
* * *
He was back. The dark man from my dreams. The dark man stood across from me like he always had. Standing. Waiting. Watching. I took a single step back but he was faster. Within seconds the dark man was in front of me. I could never see his face, no matter how many times I tried pulling the hood down. All I could see was a dark empty void. Slowly a pale hand reached out. The dark man’s hand toyed with the ends of my hair, softly caressing it before he yanked on it, pulling me down on my knees before him. The dark man never spoke and I knew he wouldn’t speak this time either. He just stood there in front of me. Everything was silent for a few moments. Until the screaming started again. Screams of agony, pain, and mercy. I couldn’t see them but I could hear them. Hundreds, maybe thousands of people crying out. The dark man did nothing to help them as he stood there. Glaring down at me. His hand stretched out as if waiting for me to grasp it. I never did. It happened almost every time. He always extended his hand, waiting for me to grasp it, but I never did. I didn’t know why I didn’t except for the feeling that if I did, then bad things would happen. I stared at the dark man as he closed his hand, making a fist. The screams got louder and louder as the dark man knelt before me. I couldn’t see anything, nothing, not even his fist as it connected with my cheek, turning everything into pitch darkness.
* * *
1 MONTH LATER
“You’ve got a nice place here.” The guy known as Cory said as he took in everything about Gabriel’s home. I had gone out to just get one drink. One little drink and I would’ve made my way back home. Alone. By myself. Yet Cory would not take the hint at the bar to leave and kept buying me drink after drink after drink. What was supposed to be one drink ended up being six. I was too drunk to drive so Cory offered to drive me home.
“Thanks,” I said as I stumbled over my foot trying to take off my heel.
I should’ve worn my damn sneakers!
“So where’s your room?” Cory asked as he began to pace around the kitchen, looking everywhere at everything. Awe and wonder shone brightly in his eyes.
Did this guy seriously think I was going to sleep with him?
“Why do you want to know?” I tried to put some kind of distance between us and walked over to the fridge. Cory shrugged yet his eyes remained on me, watching every move I made.
“Well, I figured you and I could have a little fun.”
And here we go.
This was the problem with men. They thought just because they bought a girl drinks that it meant they could get lucky. I could never understand that thought process.
Just because you did something nice for someone did not entitle you to their body!
“I’m actually kind of tired but thank you for the drinks and the ride home.” I moved over to the door, holding it open for him. Cory made his way over to the door but moved to stand behind me, reaching over and slamming the door shut, backing me up against the door.
“Come on now, don’t be like that.”
“I think you should go.”
Cory laughed,
“As long as you come with me.” Slowly his hands wrapped around my wrists, raising them and holding them above my head,
“I suggest you remove your hands from her or I’ll start removing body parts from you.”
Gabriel’s voice rang out like thunder. Slowly Cory dropped his hands from my wrists and turned towards Gabriel.
“Who the fuck are you?” Cory’s chest immediately puffed up as he stood up a little straighter.
Gabriel stepped closer,
“I’m the man who will have the delight in breaking every bone in your body until you are nothing more than a bloody puddle at my feet if you don’t get the fuck out of my house.”
Cory took a small step back as Gabriel inched closer.
“Big talk for a blonde.”
“Try me.” Gabriel’s smile was nothing but sinister as he grabbed a hold of Cory’s hand and twisted it back. The sound of his wrist snapping was deafening. Before Cory could even scream, Gabriel tossed him up against the door,
“If you even attempt to contact her again I will make your life a living hell. Do you understand me?”
Cory’s only response was a groan in pain,
“DO.YOU.UNDERSTAND.ME!”
“YES DAMMIT I UNDERSTAND!”
Gabriel pulled Cory off the door, opening it as far as it would go,
“Good then get the fuck out of my house,” Gabriel whispered to him just before tossing him down the stairs and slamming the door shut.
“Gabriel I’m-”
“Get to your room.” His voice was low as if he was restraining himself.
“You can’t just-”
“NOW CATALINA OR I SWEAR I’LL PICK YOU UP AND CARRY YOU THERE MYSELF!”
Hint Taken.
Gabriel was in no mood to talk and honestly, neither was I.
I rushed to my room and locked the door. I knew Gabriel wasn’t mad at me in this situation. He was more mad at Cory than anything. Gabriel was one of those people who saw the good in everyone, so when he saw people acting like Cory did, he got a little…Frustrated, to say the least. It had taken him years to finally see what I meant when I told him that shit like that happened to women daily. He wanted to believe that men couldn’t be like that. That there was good in this world. He learned pretty quickly that that wasn’t the world we lived in. This world was full of horrible people filled with even more horrible thoughts and agendas. This world was all about survival. Everyone was just trying to survive to see the next day.
I walked over into my en suite and turned on the shower, desperate to clean off Cory’s touch from my skin. I couldn’t be mad at Gabriel. He was just trying to protect me and keep me safe. He was always so protective over me. It was just who he was. Sometimes I used to think that Gabriel just hated seeing me with any guy. He was like a brother to me and I guess to him I was like a sister, so I could understand it. I didn’t know how I would feel about seeing Gabriel with a girl or a guy. But, Gabriel was an angel, not just a regular angel, an Arch Angel. Protecting people was in his blood.
I stepped into the shower, the water practically hot enough to melt skin.
Just the way I like it.
The water felt amazing. As if it was burning off the touch and feel of Cory’s hands and eyes from me. Gabriel just needed space and time and then he would calm down and everything would go back to normal.
Hopefully.
* * *
2 WEEKS LATER
I hated the damn sun. The person in my bed did as well as they shifted as they slowly started to awaken.
Shit forgot about him.
“Good morning.” He said sleepily and smiled at me.
Shit, what the fuck is his name?
“Your clothes are over there, you should hurry up and get dressed,” I said to him as I got out of bed and made my way to the closet
He chuckled,
“Kicking me out already sweetheart?”
“Oh I won’t kick you out but he will.” I glanced towards the door just as Gabriel began to pound on the door.
“Catalina open the fucking door!”
I glanced back at the man in my bed and saw the slight fear in his eyes,
“You didn’t tell me you had a boyfriend.” He grunted
I rolled my eyes,
“He’s not my boyfriend but like I said earlier you should probably get dressed.”
The man in the bed scoffed,
“You probably have about five seconds before he-”
The sound of the door coming off the hinges echoed throughout the room, as Gabriel stepped in and took one look at me and the man in my bed.
“Next time I tell you to open the door, you fucking open it,” Gabriel said as he made his way to the bed and just like before yanked the man out of bed and dragged him through the house and out the door.
“That was a little dramatic, don’t you think Gabe?” I asked as he made his way back towards my room
“Don’t even fucking start Catalina!” he shouted as he began rummaging through my stuff.
“Anything I can help you find?” I asked as I leaned up against the door frame.
“Did he have a bag with him?”
“In the closet under the chair. Why?”
Gabriel ignored me as he raced to my closet and grabbed the dark leather bag out from under the chair.
“Gabriel seriously what the-”
I cut myself off as I realized what exactly Gabriel was holding in his hands.
“You didn’t know he had these did you?”
I shook my head, unable to tear my gaze from the syringe and the fully loaded gun in Gabriel’s hands.
“You’re being irresponsible and reckless Catalina.”
I glanced back up at Gabriel,
“How did you even know-”
“Don’t worry about how I knew this and instead worry about the people you’re fucking around with.”
“Do not speak to me as if I am a child!”
“HE COULD HAVE KILLED YOU!” Gabriel yelled, rage pouring out of him.
“You are acting just like-” Gabriel stopped as he turned from me, brushing a hand through his hair.
“This ends now. The sleeping around, The drinking, meeting men that will fucking kill you.”
I tore my gaze back to the window and watched as the leaves fell.
“I am getting you help whether you like it or not.”
“I don’t need help.”
“YES THE FUCK YOU DO!” Gabriel rushed to me and took my face between his hands,
“I refuse to lose you. You are fading away and I will do whatever it takes to bring you back.”
* * *
Gabriel’s POV
Where the hell is she?
Catalina had promised that she would be home before two and considering it was almost four in the morning I was starting to worry. Again. This wasn’t like her. This wasn’t who she was or who she used to be. I knew she was going through some things. She tended to lash out in anger when she was upset and I was ready for it. I was ready for the screaming matches, silent treatments, and for her to throw things and her common threats. Yet I didn’t expect this. The drinking, The partying, All the guys she had around. It wasn’t her. In the beginning, I’ll admit I didn’t pay it much attention. Catalina had set herself free from her family and she was finally able to do things she never got to do and explore the endless possibilities waiting for her. I wanted to be supportive, to be there for her to see all she could do but not like this. I wouldn’t help her destroy herself more. I still wanted her to experience life and do whatever made her happy but dammit I also wanted her to be safe about it and right now? It seemed like she didn’t care enough about whether something was safe, just so long as she had a good time. I should’ve gone with her tonight. To make sure she returned home sober and safe.
Fuck it.
I reached over and grabbed my keys off the table and headed for the front door. The sound of my phone ringing stopped me dead in my tracks.
Unknown Caller.
I sat back down at the kitchen island and answered the call, placing whoever was on the line on speaker,
“Hey is this Gabriel?”
“That depends on who’s asking?”
“It’s Dominick from TapHouse, look is there any way you could come get Catalina?”
Dominick was the owner and lead bartender for TapHouse, one of Catalina and I’s favorite bars to go to. Catalina had gone there a few times by herself and I never got a call from him to pick her up. For him to call… it had to be bad.
“Is she alright?” I asked before once again picking up my keys and heading towards the door.
“She’s fine for now but if you don’t come get her I have a feeling a few customers might lose body parts.”
Fucking hell!
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” I didn’t wait for him to say anything before hanging up.
* * *
I made it to the bar in five minutes. Did I care about the four red lights I ran? No. Did I care about the two cops I had to bribe to let me off the hook? No. Did I care that Catalina was standing face to face with a man that was pushing 6’3 and looked as if he was ready to kick her ass? Yes, yes I did.
A small crowd had gathered around the table, mostly women. Two of them stood behind Catalina, a smaller girl between them. She looked as if she had been crying as the other two girls held her,
“She told you to leave her alone dumbfuck!” Catalina shouted at the man, giving him a slight push,
“And I told you to mind your damn business bitch.” The man seethed at her as waved to the girl huddled between two other girls,
“Let’s go Delancy, NOW!”
The girl, Delancy hesitated all for one second before Catalina faced her,
“Do you want to go with him?” Catalina asked,
Delancy shook her head. She did not want to leave with him and knowing Catalina, she would do whatever she could to keep him from her.
“I don’t give a damn what you want! You are MY girlfriend and If I say we’re leaving then we are fucking leaving!” The man tried to brush past Catalina, but she jerked him back before he could get any closer to Delancy.
“Put your hands on me again bitch and see what fucking happens.”
Catalina’s lips tilted up into a cruel smile and started laughing as the girl closest to her slipped her a bottle.
Well shit, here she goes.
“Why the fuck are you laughing? Crazy Bitch.”
Catalina’s smile grew wider as she took the bottle the one girl behind her had slipped her and brought it down on the man’s head. The glass broke and shattered into millions of pieces, cutting the man’s head as dark brown liquor seethed into the fresh open wounds. The man stumbled just for a second before looking up at Catalina. Complete and utter rage filled his eyes while Catalina held his stare, that same menacing smile bright as ever on her face. There was no fear in her eyes. Catalina had never feared men. She wasn’t scared. She was angry. Only an idiot would think the smile on her face was from a happy emotion. The smile written on her face was one that most monsters of the world would have nightmares about. The man stepped forward but Catalina did not back down as her left hand fisted the collar of his shirt, bringing him down to her eye level, his eyes slightly widening at her before her right fist connected with his face. The man turned and stumbled back but Catalina was quick as she grabbed him by the back of his shirt and dragged him back over to the table. There was not a single person who wasn’t watching as she banged his head over and over and over and over again onto the table. The wounds on his head opened more and more, blood exploding out of his head as she rammed it against the hard metal table. Blood leaked all over his face, down his neck
“Catalina, that’s enough!” I yelled, hoping to get through to her yet she continued pounding his head onto the table,
“CATALINA!” I screamed as I reached over and gently tugged her back by her shoulder. Instantly she tensed at my touch, as she slowly turned to face me.
“It’s time to go home,” I whispered to her as she took a look around. Everyone was staring at her and the bloody mess of a man beneath her.
“He’s already unconscious, let’s go,” I whispered to her again as I let go of her shoulder and held out my hand, hoping she would take it. Instead, she pushed the giant bloody mess and he landed on his back, a soft groan escaping his lips as Catalina stepped over him, grabbing Delancy’s hand and walking out of the bar.
Well, this is going to be a long night.
* * *
“Well Delancy is on her way to her new apartment and security will be with her for the next few weeks.”
Catalina nodded from her spot on the couch. She had been quiet since we got home. In the car, she had only told me that we needed to find Delancy a safe space to go and for someone to look out for her. I called in a few favors and managed to get Delancy a new apartment about twenty minutes away from the old one that she shared with her boyfriend, and managed to secure a small security team to keep her safe just in case her asshole, of what I hope was a soon to be ex, showed up.
“Do you wanna talk about what happened at the bar?” I asked as I casually took a seat beside her,
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“You nearly beat a man to death today Catalina-”
“And I’d do it again!”
“I know you would but you can’t just beat people up all the time!”
