Made For You

Ch. 34: Together But Alone

Gabriel

"Spoken between those lips... My love... My sweetest kiss..." The lyrics of the song slip off my tongue, a foggy note playing indecipherable in my mind. I push through the obstruction, urging my voice to continue. "Down goes my...heart. Down and down...till all...is apart... Pieces of...me...you carry...you carry... Fuck...what was the line?"

I trip on my own feet, skidding two steps forward as the world swirls in my vision. The surface of the beer bottle that I am gripping escapes my hold. It is the sixth one I have swallowed. I let it clatter to the floor, watching as it crashes into tiny particles.

Taking the support of a pillar in the grand foyer, I steady myself, chuckling at the pieces as if they have committed a hilarious crime by breaking.

"Gabby!" a woman's voice, full of delight, draws my attention to the staircase. Ramona stands there, clad in a silky dress that resembles a nightgown to me. Fake concern knits her brows as she descends the stairs in haste, halting near me. "Where have you been? I've been waiting for you all day."

She reaches out and touches my cheeks with both hands, intruding into my personal space.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I growl, her presence unwelcome.

"Come on now, it's my cousin's place. I'm allowed to come and go," she laughs, attempting to drape one of my arms over her shoulders. When I keep it firmly at my side, her smile fades into a deeper frown. After three failed attempts, she gives up. "You look terrible, Gabs. What's wrong? Need any help?"

She places her hand on my chest, her fingers slipping under the unbuttoned part of my shirt. She isn't even looking at me; her attention is fixed on the tattoo etched into my skin.

"Remove your hand, por favor," I command, my tone deadpan. She jerks her hand away, trembling at the unspoken warning.

"Gabs, you can tell me anything, you know that, right?" she whines, disregarding my disinterest. "I'll do anything for you. All you have to do is ask."

I seize her wrist in an unyielding grip, causing her flinching gaze to widen. With my other hand, I grasp for her throat, then press her against the pillar, stretching her until she is on her tiptoes. Her hands flail, clutching mine as she tries to release my hold.

"This body you're touching?" I seethe bitterly over her face, a strand of her hair hooked to her eyelashes blowing away from my breath. "Only one woman has the right to it and last time I checked, you aren't Sofia Bianchi."

"Gabby, you're hurting me..." she chokes, slapping my wrists, doing her best to pry my hand away.

My grip only tightens.

"Serves you right."

Much to her luck, Fabio enters the mansion at just that moment. His footsteps halt as he sees us and his expression turns cold in an instant. He probably cares for his cousin but I am way past giving a damn.

"What the fuck..." He rushes to us, pushing me off Ramona with one strong shove.

My fingers slip as I back a few steps, the red rage storming my veins still as strong as I watch Ramona gasp for breath. She appears stunned and my fingers itch to wrap around her throat again. Unlike Sofia's delicate neck, hers would only look lovely if snapped.

Fabio positions himself between her and me, his hand resting on my shoulders. "Gabriel, calm down, okay? It's alright."

I wave him off dismissively. "Just get her out of my sight."

"Sure," he responds, turning to grasp Ramona's arm. "Ramona, come with me."

He begins to pull her away. Ramona keeps glancing back at me, her lips forming a pout.