Read Online Unbroken (Fighting for Gisele #3) by Emily Jane Trent - Free Book Online Page A

looked at her “I have to say that I was impressed. I haven’t seen you perform before, and didn’t know you were so talented.”
    “I appreciate the compliment,” Abby said. “But the other performers make me look good. Together we put on quite a show.”
    Luke put his arm around Abby. “You were great.”
    “I love it…everything about it,” Abby said. “I like that every day is different. In each performance we interact, play with each other, so there is a lot of improvisation.”
    “It all appears so natural,” Gisele said.
    “It becomes second nature.” Abby smiled. “I’ve watched a lot of cartoons to prepare. I know that sounds odd, but on a huge stage, my motions have to be a bit exaggerated. It’s to provide amusement, but there’s a lot of imagination involved.”
    “Cartoons, huh?” Luke said.
    Abby giggled. “Yes, really. My part isn’t just acrobatic, it’s acting too.”
    The waiter came to take their orders, and the ladies ordered chicken cacciatore. Micah settled on the Bolognese rigatoni and Luke the spaghetti. While they waited for the meals to be prepared, they shared a bottle of wine and made quick work of the basket of bread.
    Abby asked about Gisele moving out. “Have you found a place yet?”
    “My realtor found a couple of good ones. I’m going to make an offer tomorrow on the one I like best,” Gisele said. “It will take a couple of weeks to close on the deal, and a few more to renovate. So I’m going to move into an apartment on a short-term rental.”
    “Good idea,” Abby said. “You could stay with me, but my apartment is dinky.”
    “Yes, I’ve been there.”
    Abby wrinkled her nose. “But I know you’re sick of your brother.”
    Gisele laughed, and if Micah hadn’t known, he would have thought that all was well.
    The distress had been kept away from Abby. Micah observed how Gisele maintained her composure, not letting on that anything was wrong. She’d told him it was important to keep Abby out of it, to avoid pulling her into a potentially disastrous situation.
    “It wouldn’t be fair,” Gisele had said. “It doesn’t have anything to do with her, and she’s a good friend. I wouldn’t do that to her.”
    Micah agreed that there was no reason to alarm her friend. The fewer people involved, the better. Luke was different, however, as he could handle whatever was thrown at him.
    By the time the meal was over it was well past midnight. Luke and Abby left together, heading for the hotel. Micah had to take Gisele home, which he was reluctant to do. On the way, he said, “I want you out of there.”
    “I’ll be out soon…I promise.” Gisele squeezed his hand. “Look at it this way: my enemy is close where I can keep an eye on him.”
    “That’s not encouraging,” Micah said.
    “Once I leave, we won’t know what Alek is up to.”
    “I’ll take that chance.” Micah kissed her wrist. “I want this all to be over.”
    “So do I,” Gisele said. “My brother asked to have an early breakfast with me, and I agreed.” She looked out at the darkness. “That’s mere hours from now. Alek knows that after tomorrow I won’t be there, so I didn’t want to refuse him.”
    “Excuse me if I question his motives. I sincerely doubt that he just wants to say a proper goodbye.” Micah frowned. “And I couldn’t care less about his feelings.”
    “It’s not that.” Gisele sighed. “I’ve made it this far. I just want to get out of there without riling him up. It’s better to keep up the pretense.”
    “But you realize your brother or Yuri could figure out what’s going on? You might not have any warning.”
    “That’s possible, but if it happens, I’ll think of something.” The cab stopped in front of the complex and Gisele looked over at him. “Let’s just hope that doesn’t happen.” She touched his cheek. “Just one more day…and I’ll be out.”
    *****
    The next morning after Abby had left to prepare for her matinee performance,