Chapter 53: Growing Doubt

Esme halted, almost bumping into Niko's back from where he stopped, and she realised how much her attention was consumed by her thoughts and talking with Isana. She now stood in the VIP room Gabriel uses. Her gaze moved from Niko's back to Lenny, and then further back was Gabriel, his attire for once a little dishevelled; the creases in his shirt shown he had yet to change from the previous day, his hair was messy, but that made her feel more drawn to his looks. But when she saw his warm gaze hardening, she had the decency to swallow.

Esme looked back at Lenny, feeling Gabriel's heavy gaze too intense to handle, but she looked back at the vampire, her eyes wide as he stormed towards her; Esme took an involuntary step back, her hand hovering to her knife then relaxed as soon her gaze was locked with his. This was Gabriel. Not someone trying to kill her. So she stared at him and did not move, not even when he shockingly reached his hand out and caressed her cheek with a deep sigh, closing his lids as his stiff shoulders relaxed from whatever weight was now released from them. 

Esme's lips parted slightly from his gentle touch and the electrical feel it brought to her skin. Without realising it, she found her hand atop his on her cheek, and his eyes opened. She searched them for answers she couldn't understand, yet the bright blue hues and red specks glowed back before dimming slightly. "I thought you left.. m.. Chester," He stumbled over a misplaced word as his voice echoed in her mind, and he leaned his forehead against hers. 

Why would it matter if she did? 

He glowered at her, and she inhaled sharply at the sudden flutter in her chest. Esme lightly swallowed again, pushing down these emotions that were surfacing to her beaten heart and guarded herself once more. She couldn't understand his actions or hers, and even more so in front of a small audience.

"I thought you were in trouble," Gabriel spoke aloud as he seemed to reluctantly pull away from her, his hand dropping to his side, awareness of their surroundings clearing his eyes once more, and he became the stoic and cold King others saw him as. 

Esme blinked back at him and tilted her head, "Why?" Only one of a few questions left her lips. This was also most likely the most straightforward question for him to answer. 

Gabriel frowned at her, "Niko was attacked outside of ONYX by rogues, and then I received your text. Where were you last night?"

Esme's head swivelled to the side, looking at Niko, startled by this news. Her eyes followed the length of him from head to toe, examining him, to see where, if any, his injuries lie. But he was fine, another reminder of the differences between a vampire and werewolf, the healing rate of their bodies. Unless the rogues never had a chance? Niko was relatively experienced. 

Taking a step towards him, she halted when she saw his guarded facial expression. It seemed Gabriel and Niko's thought processes were different about last night's attack. "What happened?" She asked quietly, trying to read past his mask of impassiveness. Only his eyes were burning as he stared back at her. 

Niko glanced at Lenny, and she was reminded again that a human was still with them. "I am fine. But their knife skills were exemplary," Niko replied dryly, making Esme's mouth go dry. 

So, they were with the group that attacked her. But why did they go after Niko? It didn't make any sense.

Feeling a lot of attention on her, she held her head higher, ignoring Gabriel's curious and deadly glances between her and Niko, who also seemed to burn two holes into her head. Niko was no doubt believing she set those rogues on him, which saddened her at how quickly he thought so little of her. But they could not openly discuss the matter right now because Lenny was also there.

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"Where did you go last night? Is there something wrong with the apartment?" Lenny was the one to speak up now, ignoring the tension fuelling the room. 

"Someone broke in," Esme replied simply, her voice void of any emotion as she saw out of her peripheral vision how Niko's back straightened and guilt flooded his features before he was as stoic as Gabriel again. 

"Did they take anything?" Lenny eyed her curiously, which intensified when she chuckled darkly. 

"No, I have very little," She turned away from them all, dropping her bag next to the leather sofa as she collapsed into it with a sigh, feeling a little emotionally drained. She didn't realise how much Niko's perception of her would affect her; it was unsettling. Raking a hand through her hair, she crossed her legs and dared to look over at Gabriel. But much like earlier, since he touched her, he wore an emotionless mask. 

"Where did you stay?" Gabriel asked as Esme forced herself to search her bag, pulled out the neatly rolled cash, stuck together with a rubber band, and threw it on the coffee table. 

"Your rent money, Lenny," She replied, then inhaled sharply at Gabriel's sudden appearance by her side, his thumb and finger on her chin and turning her to face him as he leaned towards her. She stilled at his close proximity and felt the shiver of warmth and cold ripple through her at the sight of him. He was both alluring and deadly as his gaze and mouth revealed only to her how restrained his temper was right then. 

"Where did you stay?" He enunciated each word slowly, his icy and yet hooded gaze on her.

Esme parted her lips then pulled away from him, her eyes pointing in Lenny's direction. Did Gabriel realise he just revealed something supernatural in front of a human? Yet, when her eyes landed on Lenny, she could see his relaxed demeanour. "Does Lenny know?" She asked quietly, too quietly for the human to hear as her gaze rested on him longer than necessary. 

"He does," Gabriel drawled, and Esme's eyebrows lifted in shock. She turned her head back to him, searching his gaze for answers but knew there would be none. 

"About all creatures?" She asked instead. 

"Vampires," He replied and frowned when she lowered her head and rubbed her eyes tiredly. 

"I was at a friend's house last night," She spoke loud enough for Lenny to hear. "Not on the streets. So, calm your horses." She forced a smile to lighten the mood, although when she glanced at Gabriel, she could almost feel his burning gaze set her on fire from rage. 

"Everyone out," Gabriel snapped, "Take your money and go."

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