Embrace the Night

Page 96



Taking a step forward, Sara placed her hand on his shoulder. "Please, Gabriel, please let him go."

Abruptly, Gabriel released his hold on the brigand's arm and the man fell to his knees, his ruined arm cradled against his chest.

"Don't come here again," Gabriel said, and taking Sara by the hand, he led her back toward the street. "I've got to stop," she said weakly, "Please, I'm…"

"Sara, what is it?"

"I'm going to be sick."

Gabriel wrapped his arm around her waist, supporting her as she retched.

When the spasm passed, he wiped her mouth with his handkerchief, then swept her into his arms and carried her home. And all the while he was berating himself for behaving so savagely in her presence. Why hadn't he simply given the man his purse? Certainly he could afford the loss of a few francs.

When they reached Sara's apartment, Gabriel put her to bed, fetched a glass of water to rinse her mouth, and then fixed her a cup of hot tea heavily laced with brandy.

"Better?" he asked when she set the empty cup aside a few moments later.

Sara nodded, then glanced away. She could still hear the awful sound of the man's bones breaking as Gabriel crushed his wrist. The memory of it sickened her even as she marveled at Gabriel's superhuman strength.

Superhuman. She remembered Maurice's words: There's something not right with that man, he had said. Can't you sense the evil that surrounds him?

Sara looked up into Gabriel's face, gazing deep into his eyes, but it wasn't evil she saw reflected in the smoky gray depths, only love and concern.

"What is it, cara?" he asked. "What troubles you?"
"That man… you broke his wrist as if it were made of kindling." "I was angry."

Sara shook his head. "It was more than that." "What are you trying to say?"

"I don't know. I… it was awful."

"I'm sorry you had to see it." Bending, he brushed her cheek with his knuckles. "Go to sleep, Sara." "Gabriel…"

"No questions, tonight, cara. You need to rest."