Gabriela didn't look entirely convinced, but she nodded, her trust in us—in me—overriding her fear. I could see the way her mind raced, the way she was trying to convince herself that this was the right thing, that we were the ones she could rely on. And we were. Just not in the way she thought.
I stepped out of the car first, offering Gabriela my hand to help her out. Her fingers trembled slightly as they slid into mine, her body leaning into me as she stood.
The warmth of her pressed against me, the scent of her—floral, sweet, with that underlying musk of fear—filled my senses. I guided her toward the house, my hand resting on the small of her back, possessive and reassuring all at once.
