Bound by Shadows

Chapter 3

The thunderous whoosh of the helicopter’s rotating rotors drowned out every other sound around him. Gabriel watched the trees and long grass as they swayed and contorted under the relentless gusts. His eyes scanned the area, the rifle held steady in his hands despite the roller coaster his nerves had going through his body.

The agonizing wait weighed heavily on Gabriel’s shoulders. Every fiber of his being urged him to leap from the helicopter and charge into the dilapidated barn where Lorenzo and Edward had vanished. But he knew his role was crucial in safeguarding their retreat and making sure they made it out of there alive.

The aircraft swayed slightly, hovering just ten feet above the ground. Trick skillfully maneuvered the controls. It was worth noting that despite the palpable anxiety that coursed through both of them, his friend’s composure remained unshaken. Gabriel admired that. He was about to rip out his hair.

Then, a flicker of movement at the barn door seized Gabriel’s attention, causing his chest to tighten enough to hurt. A surge of mixed emotions engulfed him at once. Damn!

Relief and dread mingled within Gabriel, an uneasy harmony that resonated through his veins. They had finally found Trey after he was abducted a week ago. Yet, the sight of him suspended between Lorenzo and Edward sent chills down Gabriel’s spine, leaving his skin bathed in a cold sweat.

In a matter of minutes, the helicopter was lowered enough to get Trey and the others on board. As Lorenzo joined Trick up front at the controls and got them out of there, Gabriel focused on the man they had laying on his back, appearing as if he was ready to cross paths with the Grim Reaper. Gabriel would be damned if he allowed his friend to keep that fateful appointment.

No words were spoken as he and Edward worked in sync to fix Trey as best they could while flying through the air. A cannula and intravenous drip were swiftly attached to Trey’s arm. And then Gabriel grabbed the oxygen mask and firmly covered Trey’s nose and mouth.

Gabriel’s hands shook so badly he hoped no one noticed. He could feel tears burn the back of his eyes and he would have let them fall if he didn’t still have to check that Trey wasn’t bleeding internally or otherwise.

With painstaking gentleness, almost fearing to inflict more pain, Gabriel’s hands traced along Trey’s torso, while Edward assessed their friend’s limbs. After a moment, Gabriel couldn’t find anything severe, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t any major injury.

Leaning closer to be heard above the deafening roar of the helicopter, Gabriel shouted in the man’s ear, “Trey, where does it hurt? How bad is it?”

Trey’s eyes fluttered languidly, meeting Gabriel’s gaze. But it was clear that no one resided behind that vacant stare. Gabriel bit his tongue on the rest of the questions he had. He wasn’t going to get any answers from Trey right now.

It was time to do what doctors sometimes did but would never confess to. Hazard a guess and treat everything in the hope of getting something right. Thankfully, it wasn’t the first time Trey was on his back and wounded. There was a reason they began to call him ‘the bullet magnet.’ If there was a violent altercation, more than likely, Trey would get injured. The man was practically going for a record.

Gabriel had pulled out jagged shards of glass and bullets from his friend in the past. But one never really got used to almost seeing his friends die. Even if he was a trained doctor. Closing his eyes for a fleeting moment, Gabriel buried his tumultuous emotions, allowing his well-honed training to seize control. He couldn’t bear to lose Trey. Trey was family—a brother, despite the absence of shared blood. They all were family—Lorenzo, Edward, Trick, and Trey—brothers whom Gabriel would give anything to protect, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.

***

They somehow pulled it off, getting Trey back to the fancy penthouses at the top of Edward's epic hotel. Gabriel was about ready to drop from fatigue and emotional exhaustion, but he pushed through and didn't let his frayed nerves get the best of him.

He couldn't take his eyes off Abigail and Talia as they hugged Trey and cried. It was a forceful reminder of how difficult things had been in the last week.

Trey had insisted on walking into the penthouse on his own feet, as though he needed to prove to them that he was still alive. But Gabriel stuck close, fearing any moment they would be picking Trey off the floor.

That’s precisely why Gabriel trailed Trey into the bathroom when he declared his need for a shower. Gabriel thought the guy needed ten showers with a hell of a lot of disinfectants, but he wasn’t going to suggest that. He wasn’t sure Trey would manage even one shower without falling over.

“I need to check you out properly. See if anything needs immediate attention,” Gabriel explained quietly when he noticed Trey’s shoulders stiffen for a second as though he hadn’t realized he had been followed.

Trey shook his head. “I need a shower first.”

An argument was at the tip of his tongue. Hell, he even had an offer to help Trey. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen the man naked before. They had grown up together for the last two decades, but Gabriel had also taken care of every health issue and injury since he started studying medicine. Helping Trey clean up wouldn’t have been an issue. However, he could sense that his friend needed a little space.

“I will wait in your room. Shout if you get lightheaded or something. Collapsing in a bathroom can be fatal.”

He waited for a nod and then left and closed the door quietly. Gabriel held himself for as long as he could. But as soon as the soft hiss of running water reached his ears, Gabriel sank to the floor, surrendering to his pent-up emotions. His body convulsed with stifled sobs, the sheer effort of suppressing his anguish taking its toll.

If anyone were to witness him in this vulnerable state, worry would undoubtedly ensue. He couldn’t bear the thought of burdening his family with concerns about his well-being. Not now, not when they had Trey to care for and an insatiable thirst for revenge to quench. The Marvicks had to pay for what they had done to his brother.

***

The silence in the room grew uncomfortable. Trey shifted his tired weight from one foot to the other. “Surely I don’t look that bad,” he finally said, hoping to lighten the mood.

Abigail, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, advanced silently. She enveloped Trey in a gentle embrace, her arms a comforting shield. “You look perfect,” she whispered, her voice quivering with raw emotion.

It pained Gabriel to witness their exchange, even after he had allowed himself the solace of shedding tears. He still felt like he was holding on by the skin of his teeth.

“Gabriel, did you check him? Everything is fine?” Lorenzo’s voice filled the room even with his back now turned to them as he stared out the window.

This part was easy. Gabriel slipped into his doctor mode and gave the details Lorenzo wanted to hear. “Almost his entire body is covered in bruises, but nothing seems broken. I can’t detect any internal bleeds, which is also really good. I will know more after a few scans. And a full blood analysis. Thankfully, none of the cuts needed stitches. Just some steri-strips here and there. I’ve already given him a shot of a broad-spectrum antibiotic, and another for tetanus. Also, some pain meds. Not enough to knock him out, but enough to dull the pain and deal with inflammation as well… I’ll give him more when he’s ready to rest.” He then sighed and shrugged. “Honestly, it could have been worse. I’m ninety percent sure there is nothing that good food and lots of rest won’t fix.”

“I’m right here,” Trey interjected, his irritation palpable as he disentangled himself from Abigail’s embrace, only to be immediately ensnared in another tight hug by a teary-eyed Talia. Clearly, Trey felt frustrated at being discussed as though he were unable to speak for himself. “I’m fine,” he insisted firmly.

“Wait until Gabriel is done with all the tests before you declare that,” Lorenzo stated firmly, leaving no room for argument.

Gabriel listened to the others talk with half an ear. He was already cataloging what he needed to give Trey to get his brother back to his full health again. But then Trey’s words snapped him out of his thoughts.

“I have to go back for her.”

An abrupt silence descended, swallowing the room in its wake. All eyes fixated on Trey, except for Lorenzo, who remained turned away. Wearily, Trey made his way to the couch, taking a seat.

“Go back for who?” Talia finally broke the silence and asked. Even though her tone suggested she already knew who he was talking about.

“Danielle,” Trey answered calmly.

“Marvick?” Gabriel interjected, entertaining the slight possibility of there being another Danielle of whom Trey spoke.

Trey humored him. “Yes. Danielle Marvick.”

“Gabriel, check his head. I think they hit him too many times. He’s talking crazy.” Edward’s voice seethed with anger and disbelief, filling the room with tension.

Crazy didn’t begin to describe what Gabriel thought of Trey’s announcement. The situation was rapidly spiraling out of control, even as words of disbelief continued to rent the air. Then, without warning, Trey fell into a disturbing stillness, triggering Gabriel’s immediate response. Gabriel rushed to his side in a heartbeat. What the hell was happening?