A Wolf's Heart (Harlequin Nocturne) (7 page)

Chapter 8

A
s Gabriel watched the scene being filmed from the corner of the soundstage, he hid a yawn behind his hand. He’d managed maybe two hours of sleep last night. After leaving Elise’s he’d returned to the crime scene. He knew he didn’t have to, as his team was exemplenary at what they did, but he felt a need to be directly involved.

He couldn’t deny that seeing that word scratched into Elise’s vehicle had angered him. He wanted someone to pay for causing her anguish. His natural protective traits were kicking in. Elise did that to him. Made him want to do everything he possibly could to keep her safe and secure. And deep down, he also desired to make her happy.

It was a feeling he couldn’t shake. He’d been trying—thought he had succeeded—to bury that need deep in his heart, only to have it resurface now. Seeing her again had brought up all kinds of emotions. Emotions he wasn’t willing or able to deal with. Not now at least. He had to be completely focused on the job at hand.

So far, they had nothing to go on. There’d been no witnesses to the vandalism. Gabriel found that hard to believe when the car had been in front of a busy hotel the entire time. They also hadn’t managed to find the driver. After some investigation though, Gabriel discovered that the driver, a lycan, had a warrant out for his arrest. So it was possible he’d skipped town after everything went down. Elise told him that she’d left a message on the guy’s phone to tell him he was fired. What bothered him the most though was he couldn’t ascertain who had hired the driver.

One of the other limo drivers gave a statement that he saw Elise’s driver get out of the vehicle and jog across the street, and he didn’t see him return. But Gabriel wasn’t sure how reliable the guy was, because after that he’d admitted that he’d gone around back with some other staff, other drivers and hotel staff, to smoke and play some cards. After talking to a few more people, it appeared that no one had been standing at the front of the hotel when the vandalism occurred.

So, as far as Gabriel was concerned, the vandal could’ve been anyone at the party. Guests were coming and going all evening. Anyone could’ve had the opportunity. And because of that, Gabriel had been busy cross-referencing the party guest list with anyone who might have some grudge against Elise.

Unfortunately, he discovered that list was going to be long.

The famous, rich and successful never failed to have a number of people who held some sort of grudge. Jealousy, feigned snubs, real snubs, all of these could be motive enough for a stalker.

He yawned again just as Lily approached him. She smiled, holding out a foam cup of steaming coffee. “You look like you need this.”

He took the drink. “Thank you.” He sipped the hot liquid, impressed that the witch always seemed to know what was going on, and who needed something. This made him think that out of everyone in Elise’s life, she would know pretty much everything.

He eyed her curiously as he drank the strong coffee. Her gaze was glued to the set, where Elise and Diego were playing out a big important scene. According to one of the grips he’d talked to earlier, this scene was the climax of the film. By the way Lily seemed mesmerized by Elise, Gabriel had to wonder if there was more there than just employer loyalty.

“How’s Elise doing?” he asked her.

“She’s okay. Tired mostly.” She smiled. “But she’s a consummate professional, so it won’t affect her performance. I’m not sure anything could bother her enough that it would affect her acting.” Did he detect a note of disapproval in her voice?

“Elise has always been driven.”

Lily snorted. “You could say that.”

“It sounds like you don’t approve.”

She shook her head, looking at him with wide eyes. “No, it’s not that. I respect her ambition to always be the best. It’s just hard sometimes to live up to, you know.”

He nodded. He did indeed know all about that. “I imagine that must make it difficult to work for her, then.”

“Oh, goodness, no. Elise is amazing to work for. I wouldn’t want to work for anyone else. She’s kind and caring. And I—”

“Love her.”

She peered at him with a strange expression. “I was going to say respect her. But in a way I guess I do love her. I know I’d do anything for her.”

Nodding, he drank the rest of his coffee. “I was surprised that you weren’t there by Elise’s side last night. That you didn’t show up at the house until much later.”

She glared at him. It was a very unpleasant look and he was surprised by its vehemence. It was obvious the witch had more to her than just bubbling energy. Maybe there was more than one actress here in this partnership.

“I had business to attend to.”

“For Elise?”

“Yes, for Elise.” She crushed the foam cup she was holding and tossed it into the garbage can behind him. “I can give you names and numbers if you like.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary.” He smiled and also tossed his empty cup into the trash bin. “Right now.”

“If you’ll excuse me, I have more work to do.” She stomped away from him, her heels making quite a racket as she did.

He digested everything she’d said and he made a mental note to watch her more. She was hiding something. It might be no more than she was using Elise’s private hairdresser as her own, but it was something. If it was harming Elise in some way, then Gabriel would find out.

Needing to stretch his legs, he walked around the soundstage, always mindful he didn’t venture too close to the set. He didn’t want to get in the way. But as he crossed behind the director, he risked a peek at the scene. It appeared to be nearing the climax. From the snippets of dialogue he heard, Elise’s and Diego’s characters were having it out. Lots of screaming and curse words.

He had to admit it was difficult to watch Diego yell at Elise, difficult to hear him call her foul names. Although Gabriel knew it was an act, that they were playing parts, the urge to rip out Diego’s throat surged through him. At one point, he had to dig his nails into the palms of his hands to stop from rushing the stage and going to her rescue.

He knew she’d berate him for it. Elise was no weak wallflower, and she’d be the first to tell him that. She didn’t need any rescuing, thank you very much. Hadn’t she told him that very thing all those years ago when he thought he was coming to her rescue?

His stomach rumbled, reminding him he hadn’t had breakfast yet. He was about to cross the floor and check out the spread of food on the other side of the stage, when something gave him pause.

It was nothing concrete. Nothing that he could immediately put his finger on. It wasn’t a noise or something he spied out of his peripheral vision. No, it was more a feeling. Like something ominous was about to happen. The hair on his arms and the back of his neck stirred to attention. He had an urge to suppress a shiver.

He glanced up at the high ceiling on the soundstage above the set. Was there an open shaft up there? A hole where a cool breeze was blowing in? Something like that may have given him the creeping sensation. He couldn’t see anything but wires and hooks, and a giant lighting apparatus. Nothing out of the ordinary.

But he still couldn’t shake the feeling.

He moved closer to the set, standing not far behind the director in his chair. The cameraman was up on a lift, filming the intense scene. Gabriel’s gaze settled onto the set, onto Elise and Diego. He watched as they moved around the set, Diego pursuing Elise, the film’s final showdown between the heroine and the villain.

He knew Elise would have a mark, a spot designated on the set’s floor to indicate where she needed to end up for the camera to zoom in on her. Moving closer, Gabriel found that sticker, outlined in yellow. Then he glanced up above it.

Elise was almost there. Almost at her marker, preparing for the big close-up, the huge emotional moment of the movie. He couldn’t wait any longer. It had to be now.

Gabriel rushed toward the set, pushing chairs and equipment out of his way. There were shouts of indignation and protestation in his wake, but he kept moving. Elise was his number-one goal. He couldn’t fail.

By now, Reginald the director was calling,
“Cut, cut, cut!”
And the rest of the crew realized something was going on.

Gabriel pressed on, gaining speed. As he stepped onto the set, he leaped over the sofa that was in his way and continued forward. Elise was turning now, toward him, her eyes wide, angry words forming in protest. But she didn’t get the chance to say anything.

He pushed her hard across the set. Hard enough to send her sprawling at least twenty feet. He didn’t have to worry about Diego, though. The vampire was already halfway across the soundstage.

It was then his foot landed on the yellow marker on the floor and the ceiling right above him came crashing down. Gabriel had only seconds to brace for the impact.

He raised his hands to stop a thousand pounds of metal and plaster from landing on top of him. But it proved pointless. It landed right on top of him. A thin metal rod pierced his leg. Pain, immediate and sharp, surged through him like a dark icy wave of water. And that’s when everything went black.

Chapter 9

E
lise brushed the stray dark hairs from Gabriel’s brow. She’d been sitting in his hospital room for the past three hours, battling the urge to kiss his cheek, to rouse him somehow. Seeing him unconscious and helpless crushed her heart.

After the ceiling collapsed, they had to dig Gabriel out of the rubble. At first, she hadn’t been sure he was alive. Blood had pooled around him and she immediately thought the worst. It would be just like life to do something so cruel as to snatch Gabriel away from her when she’d just found him again.

But he’d been alive, though badly wounded. A piece of metal scaffold had pierced his thigh. Thankfully it had missed his femoral artery but the damage was still bad. If he’d been conscious, she was certain he could’ve shifted into his wolf form to heal himself. But he’d yet to gain consciousness and the doctors were worried. They talked about a head injury.

Feeling tears welling in her eyes, Elise leaned forward and pressed her lips to his brow. “Wake up,” she murmured into his skin.

Movement at the door caused her to sit up. A redheaded woman came into the room. She remembered her from the set when she’d first received the letter. Sophie something.

The woman nodded to her. “Sorry to interrupt.”

“You didn’t.”

She smiled and neared the bed. “I’m Sophie. I work with Gabriel.”

“Yes, I remember.”

Sophie looked at Gabriel, and Elise could see the deep concern in her eyes. Lifting her hand, she reached out to touch his foot under the blanket, but hesitated then dropped it as if she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t.

Elise hadn’t asked Gabriel if he’d been involved with anyone. She just assumed that he wasn’t, which was probably ego on her part. But maybe there was something between him and this woman. She could understand the allure. Sophie was stunning and, by her scent, a full-blooded lycan, not a mixed blood like Elise. Not that she thought Gabriel cared about such things.

“What do the doctors say?”

“Not much. They never do tell you the total truth, do they?”

Sophie shook her head. “No, they don’t.”

Elise looked at Gabriel again, suddenly shaken by the sallow look in his face. She’d never worried about him like this before. She’d never seen him injured, or at least not severely. It was devastating to her. She glanced back at Sophie and wondered if she was as distressed.

“Do you think he’ll wake soon?” Sophie asked Elise, as if she had all the answers.

Elise brushed the stubborn hairs from his brow again. “I don’t know.”

His eyes fluttered at her touch. Excited, she stroked a hand over his face again. This time his eyes came open.

“Oh, Gabriel, thank God,” she murmured.

He blinked several times trying to get his bearings. Finally, his gaze settled onto Elise. Licking his lips, he tried to speak.

She quickly grabbed the water cup on the side table and set the straw at his lips. He took a few sips and nodded his thanks. His gaze then went to Sophie, who stood still at the end of the bed.

“Hey, boss,” she said.

“Did you—” his voice came out dry and cracked “—find out what happened?”

She nodded. “It definitely wasn’t an accident. Someone tampered with the wiring that held up the lights and ceiling panels.”

He nodded. “I thought so.”

Elise looked from Sophie to Gabriel. “Are you saying that accident was meant for me?”

“Yes.”

She sat back in the chair, anger and remorse surging through her. Angry that someone would do this and remorseful that Gabriel had been the one injured in a trap meant for her. “I can’t believe this.” Elise shook her head.

Sophie took that moment to finally lay her hand on Gabriel’s foot. “Are you all right, Gabe?”

“I will be. I just need to shift.” He lifted his hand and touched the side of his head, where a huge black bruise had started to form along his temple and up under his hairline. “It’s only a bump on the head.”

Sophie smiled at him, and Elise felt she was spying on them.

But before she could stand up and give them some privacy another person bounded into the room. It was a male someone, and a vampire to boot. Grinning, he came up behind Sophie and wrapped his arms around her.

“Hey, Gabe, good to see you awake.”

Sophie covered his hands with hers and she lit up like someone had turned on the light inside her body.

“We missed you,” the vampire went on.

“Yeah, I bet,” Gabriel said with affection.

The vampire glanced at Elise, and his eyes widened as if truly noticing her for the first time. He leaned past Sophie, without letting go of her, Elise noticed, and offered his hand. “I’m Kellen Falcon. I’m really pleased to meet you, Ms. Leroy.”

She shook his hand. “Elise, please.”

He nodded and went back to hugging Sophie.

Elise let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding and, leaning forward, grabbed Gabriel’s hand.

He looked down at their joined hands curiously, then up at her. “Did I miss something?”

“Just the last three hours.” She gave him a half smile. “Can’t a girl thank the man that saved her life?”

“It’s my j—”

She put her fingers over his lips to silence him. She shook her head, tears still threatening to fall. “Don’t you dare say it.”

Someone, either Sophie or Kellen, cleared their throat. “We’re going to go,” Sophie said. “I’ll come back when they’re ready to release you, boss.”

“I’ll be out in a couple of hours.”

Sophie nodded and, hand in hand with Kellen, left the hospital room.

“I think you should stay a little longer and make sure you’re okay,” Elise suggested. “Your leg is pretty ripped up.”

Gabriel was already in the process of sitting up. “I don’t need to stay. I just need to get out and shift and go for a run. I’ll heal better that way.”

“You’re very stubborn.”

“Me? I’m stubborn? Woman, you wrote the book on obstinacy.”

“I’m just determined, is all.”

He shook his head. “The all is, because of this, you need to shut down filming and get out of town for a bit.”

“I’m not going to hide.”

“Elise, this isn’t some silly love letter you’ve received from a fan. Someone is out to harm you. If that ceiling had fallen on you…” He swallowed, as if he was having difficulty finishing his sentence. She reached for the glass cup. He closed his eyes, then continued, “You could’ve been killed.”

She sat back in the chair and looked at him. He was all banged up and bruised, and when he moved she could see the immense pain he suffered. He had saved her life. Saved her from some deranged obsessive fan. She couldn’t let his sacrifice be in vain.

Sighing, she pinched the bridge of her nose where her pulse was thumping hard. She was going to agree to something only because it was Gabriel asking her.

“Okay. There is this lovely villa I just bought out in the country.”

“Is it well-known?”

She shook her head. “Only a few people know I own it. I bought it under a different name to keep it private.”

“Good. Keep it that way.” He shuffled up in the bed trying to get comfortable. The blanket fell off and Elise saw his bandaged leg.

“I’m so sorry, Gabriel.” The tears fell then. She couldn’t stop them.

He reached across the bed and grabbed her hand. “Elise, this is not your fault. Don’t take the blame for what some unstable person has done.” He squeezed her hand tight. “I’m going to be fine. Nothing can keep me down for too long.”

“I know,” she sniffled.

“You have to promise me, though, that you’re going to look after yourself. Screw what people are going to think, and stay safe.”

She nodded.

But he obviously didn’t believe her. “I can’t do my job if I have to worry about what you’re doing all the time. Promise me.”

“I promise.”

“Good. I’ll hold you to it.”

He didn’t release her hand and in that moment she felt something building between them. They couldn’t be in the same room together for too long without something building. But this was different, more mature.

Her gaze never leaving his, Elise stood and, leaning on the bed, she neared his mouth. When she was only a breath away, she murmured, “Gabriel, I’m still—”

“I see you’re awake.” A nurse charged into the room and, almost shooing Elise to the side, began to take Gabriel’s stats.

Smiling wanly, Elise backed up and grabbed her purse from the chair. “I’ll let you get straightened away. I’ll go make arrangements.”

“Okay. Good,” he said. “I’ll make sure the superintendent sends someone with you, so you’re looked after.”

“Okay.” After a final awkward nod, Elise left the room. But what she really wanted to do was climb into Gabriel’s bed with him and tell him exactly how much she missed him and still wanted him.

Worse, she was afraid she’d never get another chance to do so.