She’d put out her hand. A few minutes of tapping and she handed his phone back. “One for Rose and one for Lydia. One for Don, too, as your premier client. One for Ricky, because he’d feel left out otherwise. And, of course, one for me, so you’ll know I’m bugging you, and you can ignore it.”

Which would never happen. That’s what he’d thought, with an oddly warm feeling. I’ll know it’s you, and I’ll always answer.

Now the phone rang, her ring tone, a jaunty little tune that reminded him of Olivia in a good mood, chipper and bouncy. It rang and it rang, and he did not answer.

Back to the bedroom.

“Anytime you need me, I’m here,” he said. “If you call, I’ll come.”

“I know.”

She’d called once more after that. Late, as he was in bed, trying to sleep. He’d heard it ring, and he’d rolled over and waited for it to go to voice mail. He didn’t check the message. Nor had he checked the last one. Ignoring voice mail, texts, and e-mail. Getting his distance. That was best for both of them.

Because I am Gwynn, and I can’t escape it. He destroyed her, and he loved her. I’ll destroy you and . . .

He fell into the memory again, Olivia sitting up in bed, eyes wide as he assured her he’d never fail her. He’d always be there for her. Always, always, always.

“Gabriel!”

He shot upright, as if he’d been only dozing. He blinked and peered around the room. The dark and empty room.

I was trapped in the dark, and I couldn’t get out, and I kept calling and you wouldn’t answer.

His phone started to ring. It wasn’t her ring tone, but he’d gotten another call, not long after the first one this evening, from a number he hadn’t recognized, and he’d answered and heard nothing, and known it was her.

But this time, call display showed a client’s name. He hit Ignore and flipped to his voice messages. He was going to listen. He should have listened, damn it. Just in case.

As the first message played, his heart picked up speed with every word. Tristan? The hospital? Goddamn it, yes, that was a trap, and she shouldn’t have gone without him.

And how the hell was she supposed to know that when you wouldn’t answer your fucking telephone? Besides, she has Ricky.

That didn’t matter. Yes, Ricky would look after her, but no matter how much he knew, he didn’t really understand. He couldn’t.