Chapter 7: GABRIEL

“What’re you doing here?”

“What? I can’t just drop by anymore now that you’ve got a new friend?” The jackass grinned.

“Funny! What’s up?” I got up and pulled on the lightweight down vest that I’d thrown over the back of my chair as he stood there smirking at me.

“Nothing’s up. I got bored. Where are you going?”

“Come.”

Not like I was going to shake him anyway. I wasn’t doing much, just making a quick stop since the Alden woman wasn’t answering her phone. I’m not afraid of her going around me, the woman had taken her kid out of school after all, but I needed to make sure all the same. “Wait here.” Of course, he didn’t, not once he realized I was going to the twins’ room and not Gianna’s.

We could hear the three of them from outside the door, laughing. She was laughing. The sound rushed through me like sleigh bells at holiday time. Yes, I admit I have a weakness for that season, just like everyone else who indulges. Something about the warmth of a fireplace, the excitement in the a