This Thing of Ours (The Gamblers Spin-off Novel) by Sarah Curtis

Author:Sarah Curtis [Curtis, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-09-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Marco hadn’t said a word since they’d left the club, and Gabby was starting to worry. She’d tried to initiate conversation twice on the drive back to Marco’s place but had given it up as a futile effort. His head was somewhere far away, and Gabby didn’t know how to get there.

Fred, excited to see them, darted out the sliding door before Marco had even finished opening it. He jumped up on her legs and Gabby took a hasty step back, steadying herself on her heels. Growing at an alarming rate, his front paws reached her thighs when he stretched. Pretty soon he’d be taller than she was. She cradled his face, scratching behind his ears.

“You should start teaching him to stay down. He’ll be big enough to knock you over soon.”

Surprised by Marco’s sudden announcement after his long silence, Gabby wasn’t sure what to say that wouldn’t upset him more so only nodded.

She stayed on the patio while Marco disappeared into the house waiting for Fred to do his business. He sniffed the bases of two potted trees before settling on the raised flower bed. Guilt raced through her, and she promised herself she’d take him on a nice long walk in the morning, so he could pee on a real bush.

She followed Fred back into the house and found Marco in the kitchen, leaning against the counter. His jacket and tie were missing, and the sleeves of his pale-gray dress shirt had been rolled up his forearms. His hands braced the counter on either side of his hips, the knuckles white from his firm grip.

He seemed lost in thought, and she didn’t think he’d noticed her, until he spoke. “I need to apologize.”

She stopped in her tracks, cocking her head to the side. “For what?”

“My behavior. I shouldn’t have used violence in front of you.”

Her eyes went big, and she parted her lips to speak, but he beat her to it.

“I saw the look of disgust on your face after I hit that guy. I realize you know what I do for The Family but seeing it in action is different than on paper.” He wasn’t looking at her, his gaze transfixed on the floor between his splayed feet.

“Marco,” she said his name softly and took a step forward.

“Stop.”

She froze again. He’d snapped his head up to look at her, and his expression was heartbreaking.

“I’ve known violence my entire life. Growing up, my father taught with his fists rather than words. It comes to me easily—naturally. But I want you to know… No, I need you to know, I would never lay a hand on you in anger.”

Her jaw dropped, and she sucked in a breath before saying, “You think I don’t know that? If I thought for one second you would ever physically hurt me, in any way, I wouldn’t be standing here right now. I don’t know what you saw, but if there was a look of disgust on my face, it wasn’t directed at you, but at that guy for being an asshole.

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