Steele Hearts Redemption (16 page)

He pulled out his phone from his pocked and
accessed his pictures. He showed me the first one he came across. I
looked at a face I knew since birth and cursed myself for not
recognizing her the night I saw her at the awards show.

Gabe, Tyler, Dell and Cane all peered at the
photo I was staring at and I heard the gasp from them all as they
recognized the person whose face was etched in their memories.

“No, Ally, tell me that’s not who I think it
is,” Tyler exclaimed.

“What the hell is going on here guys?”
Marianna demanded.

I looked at Jonah, feeling as though I owed
him an explanation first and knowing his was another life Alexis
screwed up.

“Jonah, your girlfriend is my sister Alexis.
She’s wanted for murder in New York and has a vendetta against my
other sister Tess. She wants her dead and guessing by everything
that went down here this evening, we’re all on her hitlist.”

Jonah’s face turned pale under his tan and my
heart hurt for him, but I couldn’t let that get in the way of what
was priority and that was protecting the people I love. The cops
came barreling up around us and I quickly turned to everyone and
said,

“Guys deal with the cops, tell them
everything that happened. I need to make a call before I speak to
them. Cane, Dell stick to these four like glue, Jonah, I need to
borrow your phone.”

I snatched the phone out of his hand and
retreated to a secluded corner to make a call before the cops were
on my ass like white on rice. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw
Gabe glaring at me. What was his problem? I just saved his ass from
being blown to smithereens and he’s looking at me as if I just
killed a puppy. I quickly dialed Max’s number and quickly scanned
the area while I waited for the call to connect. I could only hope
she was that arrogant that she’d come back to the scene of her
crime. Other than the emergencies, lookie-loos were gathering as
well as the press, whom I guessing had inside sources with the
cops.

“Hello,” Max’s voice barked, from the other
end of the phone.

I saw Gabe, striding towards me, his walk
having purpose to it, his eyes capturing mine. He was still pretty
much mad. My mouth became dry as he stood directly in front of
me.

“Hello,” Max’s voice barked again.

“Max, this is Ally.”

“Oh hey Chocolate thief. What’s up?”

“Max I was right, she’s here,” I heard Max’s
sharp inhale and continued, “Max she tried to blow up Gabe’s house
tonight.”

I quickly recounted the events of the evening
without Max interrupting and only after he asked if everyone was
fine and unharmed did he ask,

“Tell me what you need Ally.”

“I need you to do everything you can from
your end to get the agency here to make finding her a priority
before she disappears. I’m going to send you some pictures of her,
it’ll make things easier. Also whoever’s taking lead down here is
going to want to talk to Jonah, I’m going to take him down to the
offices tonight after I speak to the cops here. You have to make
them understand, this is priority. After that I’m getting everyone
the hell out of here and back to New York. More protection there
until we come up with something definite on her.”

“Consider everything done, only I want you to
stay at the house with everyone else, I‘ll have whoever’s in charge
come to you. It’s safer that way. If she figures out that you’re on
to her it’s likely she’ll try to hurt the kid. The chief owes me
one so I’m going directly to him. He’ll get the ball rolling.”

“Thank you Max. I owe you.”

“No Ally I owe you. Alexis is my case and you
just gave me my biggest lead. I’m guessing the California offices
will have no problems cooperating on this one. You said you wanted
to head back to New York so there’s no sense in me coming out
there. I’ll work the leads here and speak to you and the kid as
soon as you guys land okay Al.”

“Gotcha Max. I promise you you’ll see us as
soon as we land,” I promised.

“And Al, everything by the book okay. You’re
a civilian on this one,” he reminded me.

**********

It was after six in the morning and the sun
was dazzling the California coast line with it’s beauty. Agents
Collins, the agent who was now in charge of the bombing was the
last to leave the house. He allowed me to sit in on the interview
he had with Jonah, who by that time had composed himself enough to
tell us what Alexis’s routine was for the three months that he was
seeing her. She must have done her homework on Gabe and the working
of his house previously to know that Jonah worked for him and it
was no coincidence they met at the beach considering how much Jonah
loved the water. Agent Collins had enough to try and track her,
including a home address and workplace but I was still not taking
chances with everyone’s safety, including Marianna’s and Jonah’s.
Agent Collins was already briefed on our departure and promised to
keep in touch with updates.

Everyone was in agreement on our return to
New York except Marianna and Jonah, but after my browbeating and a
more finessed approach from Gabe they eventually came around. Gabe
secured a private plane for us that was leaving in the two hours so
after seeing Agent Collins out the door I hastily made my way to
the bedroom to pack my stuff. I was running on pure adrenaline as
was everyone else. I entered the bedroom and saw my suitcases
packed and ready to go together with Gabe’s bags. He was still mad
for God alone knows what reason and hadn’t spoken to me all night,
but he was always present, close to me, listening and taking in all
the information that was being passed around.

I spun around as I heard the knock on the
open door. It was Jonah.

“Ally the cars are here,” he said as he
reached for the bags.

I reached for his hand and pulled him in for
a hug. He held on to me as if his world had been pulled out from
under him.

“I’m sorry,” he said as a small sob escaped
his lips.

My heart was breaking for him. He talked
about Melissa aka Alexis constantly and even though Gabe gave him a
jokingly hard time about his alleged girlfriend we all knew he
liked her a lot. I grabbed his face and forced him to look at
me.

“Hey none of this is your fault okay. If not
you she would have found some other way to get to Gabe. She’s my
blood and I’m sorry there is no way I could make up for the hurt
she caused you.”

He was surprised by my statement.

“Ally…no, you don’t understand. The moment
she tried to hurt my brother and mom she was dead to me. Yeah I
liked her a lot but I know now that the person I liked is not who
she is. She’s a cold hearted bitch and murderer. I’m just sorry I
didn’t see through her. I gave her so many opportunities to meet
Gabe but she always came up with an excuse I should have known
something was off about her, especially since she would always ask
about him. Tonight when she called to say she was coming over I
didn’t even stop to think that earlier that evening I told her
everyone was going out. Ally when I think about what could have
happened tonight I want to strangle her with my bare hands. How is
Gabe every going to trust me again after this? How can I trust
anyone after this?”

I felt his presence near me. He came into the
room and grabbed Jonah in a hug. He released him and looked him
straight in the eyes to make his point.

“You and your mom are family to me. You’re my
brother no matter what. You did not do anything wrong. You were
used and I am sorry that happened but at the end of the day I’m
happy you’re safe and she didn’t hurt you. Jonah, if you can’t
trust anyone trust me okay. I love you and none of this is your
fault.”

Jonah knew to trust his instincts and knew in
his heart everything Gabe said was the truth. He relaxed and nodded
his head to Gabe and I could see a burden had been lifted off his
shoulder.

In the air everyone seemed relieved to be
leaving a dangerous California behind and relaxed little. The
shades at the windows were pulled down after a much needed
breakfast and I watched over everyone as they succumbed to sleep. I
looked at the sleeping man, who I loved with all my heart, next to
me. The easy rise and fall of his chest and the soft little grunts
coming from him reassured me he was safe for now. Mad but safe. He
was still not talking to me except for general conversations that
involved other people and I keep wracking my brain, trying to
figure out exactly what I did that had him this mad but kept coming
up with nothing.

I really didn’t want to see our relationship
end this way but if he didn’t talk to me I didn’t see it ending any
other way. I knew the relationship had to end sometime. I couldn’t
very well stay in California doing nothing and Gabe’s life was back
there. I didn’t believe in long distance relationships and even if
he didn’t want this to end I didn’t see it working out as a long
distance relationship. Also now that I knew Alexis was out for
blood and was targeting the Steele family I had to be on my game. I
may not be an FBI agent anymore but I wasn’t going to sit back and
watch my psychotic sister try and harm the people I loved.

There were three SUVs with extra security
waiting for us at the airport thanks to Connor. A phone call to him
during the early hours of the morning had updated him on the events
of the night and with the reassurance that Max was handling
everything and we were on our way to New York he went about calling
in every one of his security personnel. I asked him to promise me
he wouldn’t tell the rest of the family, especially Tess about what
had happened. I didn’t need them all worrying just yet and knew it
would be easier to break it to them if they could see for
themselves that we were all unharmed. He promised but made it clear
that as soon as we landed we had to tell everyone the truth not to
cause reason for alarm but for their own safety. I agreed.

We deboarded the plane and much to my
surprise Sterling, Connor’s head of security who never left his
side, was there to meet us. I guess this was Connor’s way of
ensuring his family made it safe to his home. Any other time I
would have joked that the other five security guys he also sent may
have been overkill but with everything that has happened I was
happy to have them there.

Sterling quickly guided us to the SUVs,
dividing us up and assigning security and car to everyone but
quickly shut up when he saw Gabe grab me and literally drag me to
one of the SUVs. Ungraciously shoving me into the back seat he got
in with a huff as Sterling got into the front passenger seat. Linc,
a member of the security team took the wheel. I settled down in my
seat as we pulled out and quickly pulled out my cell phone. A few
seconds later I had Max on the phone, informing him we had landed
and were on our way to Connor’s penthouse. With a quick promise to
meet us there later that afternoon he hung up before I could ask
him if there was anything new to report. Something was up. From his
behavior, I knew something was up and it’s either he couldn’t tell
me because there were ears close to him or it’s because he needed
to be one hundred percent sure before saying anything. There was
nothing more I could do now other than wait.

I turned to Gabe, his silence really pissing
me off now.

“What’s with the bug up your ass?” I
asked.

He just sat there, a stone look on his face
as he looked out the window. I poked him on the shoulder, hoping
he’d turn and face me.

“Hey, I’m talking to you,” I said, thankful
that Sterling and Linc had the good sense to watch the road ahead
of them.

He finally turned and looked at me.

“What do you want Ally?”

“What’s with the bug up your ass?”

“You think I have a bug up my ass?” he asked,
his anger seeping through his pores. “I have a bug up my ass says
the woman with a death wish.”

“What the hell are you talking about
Gabe?”

“You know bloody well what I’m talking about
or is it everyday day you grab live bombs and run with them. Maybe
you didn’t get the memo Ally but you no longer work for the FBI.
You were fired!” he shouted at me inside the car.

Even for him that was a low blow. It was the
sore spot in my life and to have it thrown in my face by Gabe off
all people was too much for me.

“Oh…” I guess he wasn’t done as he continued,
“ and when were you going to tell me your sister was hunting my ass
in L.A.? Huh? You choose to treat me like I was a victim needing
handling instead of coming to me in the first place with that
little bit of tid-bit. Tell me Ally how the fuck am I supposed to
trust you if all you care about is playing fucking G.I. Jane?”

All the anger I felt towards Alexis
unleashed. I looked him straight in the eyes and spat my words at
him,

“Fuck you Gabriel Steele.”

He looked at me with wide eyes, as if the
words that spewed out of his mouth finally caught up with his
brain. He tried reaching for me but I pulled away, squeezing my
body in the corner furthest from him.

“Ally….” he said, this time softer, reaching
for me once again.

“Keep you fucking hands off of me Gabriel.
Don’t fucking touch me…ever again.”