behind.’
‘Mia, I’ve got to tell you something that’s not going to be easy to hear.’
‘I told you so?’ I gave him a wry smile.
‘No, not today,’ he replied with a sigh and a shake of his head.
‘Why are you being so nice about it? I thought you’d go mad at me.’
‘Mia, shouting at you isn’t going to help. You’ve been through hell baby and all I care about is that you’re safe now, you’re alive, safe and here with me,’ he sighed and grabbed my hands again. ‘I still have to tell you something though. Adam must have been hiding right outside the house and saw an opportunity while you were standing there alone. The right amount of pressure in the right place on someone’s neck can make them black out in seconds, then an injection of drugs can make sure if you come around you’re not really with it. He carried you to the car and …’
‘I know , you’ve already told me this, Gabe. I just want to forget it all and I’d really like to see Mum and Lexi now, they must be so worried about me.’
‘They are Mia, but you don’t know all of it. I left some of it out.’
‘Why?’ I looked at him puzzled.
‘Because I wanted you to be clear that Adam was the one who hurt you, not Milo.’
‘So what did you leave out?’ I looked at him puzzled. What was the deal? I just really wanted to see Mum and Lexi.
‘Mason saw Milo stagger out of the house as Adam was putting you in his car. Milo tried to attack Adam and … shit … Milo was trying to protect you baby, but he couldn’t stop Adam from taking you.’
‘Gabe? Is he ok?’
‘Mia, Adam … Adam stabbed him and jumped in his car and drove off with you.’
‘No! O God, no. Tell me he’s ok? Please tell me that he’s ok?’ I begged. Something in Gabe’s face told me that the worst was still to come and I suddenly felt sick again as I bolted upright.
‘Mason had to make a split second decision Mia, help Milo or follow you. He chose you.’
‘Gabe, I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me. Mason left Milo hurt and alone?’
‘If he hadn’t followed you Mia you wouldn’t be sitting here now, no one would have known where Adam had taken you. It was the right call, the sensible logical choice,’ he nodded, as if trying to convince himself, as well as me. I held my breath as he continued. ‘Mason rang for an ambulance while he was tailing Adam’s car and sent them to help Milo, then he called the Police and told them what was going down so they could hopefully catch up with him, or meet wherever Adam was taking you.’
‘So he’s ok?’ I breathed a sigh of relief to know that not only was Milo not responsible for what had happened to me, but he was ok after risking his life to protect me from a seriously crazed Adam, yet again.
‘Mia, I’m so sorry baby, but … but the Paramedics were too late. He was already gone when they got there, from massive blood loss.’
‘No!’ I whispered as my eyes filled up again. Had I just heard Gabe right?
‘I’m sorry baby, I’m really sorry, they told me that it would have been quick.’
‘No, Gabe!’ I snatched my hands out of his as I tried to process what he was telling me. ‘Please tell me it’s not true. It’s not true.’ I felt the room starting to spin as nausea hit me again. Milo was dead ? My friend had died trying to help me? Gabe tried to put his arms around me and I pushed him away. ‘NO!’ I yelled. I refused to believe it.
‘Mia, please.’
‘No, no, NO!’ I cried and hammered my fists on his chest as he tried to hold me again. ‘I want to wake up, this can’t be happening. This is all a horrible nightmare. I want to wake up now, Gabe. Please. ’ I sobbed as I lost sight of his face through the tears and stiffened up as I felt his arms try to encircle me, I felt like I was suffocating. This had to be nightmare, this couldn’t be real. Not stalking and abductions, attempted rape, serial killers and best friends dying. This wasn’t
Heidi Hunter, Bad Boy Team