𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝟏𝟖+

44. truth

GABRIEL DALTON

✥

I stare down the man who made me question everything in the last twenty-four hours, yet I still step in front of Poppy to defend her. It's automatic. An instinct I can't help. Even though I have no idea what's going on, I still care about her. Fuck. I'm in love with the girl for God's sake.

"Are you sure you can trust this one?" He flashes a sickly smile at me.

My eyes quickly move to the men surrounding us but I don't seem to recognise them. I tighten my fists at my side, itching to remove my gun but I'm outnumbered. Poppy physically shakes when I glance over my shoulder, she's still firmly behind me.

I flick my gaze over to the ring leader and turn my nose up at him. "What the fuck do you want?"

"Ohhh," he exhales. "So she still has you wrapped around her little finger. Huh?"

I narrow my eyes into slits at the tone of his condescending voice. My head aches at trying to play catch up and the situation is slipping from my fingers. Fuck. I wish someone would just fucking tell me what's going on before I lose my damn mind.

"I want you to leave her alone," I focus on his evil green eyes. "I don't care what fucking history you have with her. She's not going anywhere near you. Do you hear me?"

He tilts his head slowly and then laughs, it echoes down the grimy alleyway. "Oh my," he pretends to wipe a fake tear and that really sets  a volcano of frustration off inside my chest. "I can't believe this. Poppy, I think it's time you own up to everything that you've done, everything you've caused."

I feel Poppy behind me, her shoulder to the back of my arm. My eyes don't leave his because if I look away for a second, he'll have the upper hand of the situation. "I-I haven't done anything." She says shakily from behind me.

The tone of her voice has me suspicious but I ignore it for now. "Not even that you've been working for me and doing everything that I ask?" He draws out and I hear Poppy inhale a slow gasp. "Even if that means betraying those you've become close to."

This time my head turns and I look at her. Fear and shame is covered all over her face. "Have you been working for him?" I ask under a breath but it's obvious everyone can hear it.

Poppy's green eyes that are glassed over and I spot her lips quivering at my question. My gut turns to stone and I bite down on my jaw to stop myself from saying anything more before I have any answers.

"No," she shakes her head. "I never worked for him."

"Oh, Poppy. I brought you up to be a better liar than that."

A pain grows between my brows but when I look at Poppy she's staring him down angrily, her shoulders vibrating in a silent protest. "Do you live with him?" I ask her.

Her eyes flick to mine slowly, almost like she's ashamed. "Yes, but it's not what you think."

"Why are you still lying, Poppy?" His voice barks down the alleyway. "It's over. All of this is over."

I shake my head and draw my gun from my waistband but not before I have six different barrels aimed directly at me and ready to fire if I take one single step. "I don't think so," he snarls. "You might be quick but we outnumber you. Be smart, Gabriel."

My eye twitches at the sound of my name from his lips. He knows who I am. Alarm bells start ringing in my head and I wish I had a better grasp on this situation. I wasn't expecting it tonight and I let my guard down. After going to Poppy's house and seeing him there, I should have thought about the after but everything inside my brain isn't connecting.