Friends

Megan led Gabriel through milling dockside crowds and into Alberto's. They had to wait in the server line for several minutes before they finally reached the concierge. Megan told the man that they were meeting Angelina Sterling's party, and a server led them upstairs away from the noisy and busy bar scene downstairs. 

When they reached the table three mouths fell open in shock as they noticed Gabriel with Megan. Megan slid in next to Angelina in the large booth and Gabriel sat next to her. Megan gave a half smile to her friends before turning to Gabriel. 

"This is Elijah Thompson, Caden Ross, and Angelina Sterling." Megan turned to her friends who had at least managed to close their mouths. "Everyone this is Gabriel North, my husband." The shocked looks were back on her friends' faces. 

Elijah was the first to remember his manners. He held a hand out to Gabriel which he took. "Pleasure to meet you, man. You're famous." Elijah grinned. 

"For killing his wives. Meg's his wife." Angie harumphed. 

"Yeah, that part sucks." Elijah frowned sitting down. Gabriel chuckled at the very casual nature of these friends. 

Caden reached across the table extending a hand. "You better not hurt my best friend." Gabriel shook the hand and Caden sat back with his arms crossed over his chest. 

The entire party placed drink orders and they were told the server would be around shortly to take their food orders. They spent several minutes going over the menu and talking about which dishes were best mainly for Gabriel's benefit. 

Once their drinks arrived and food had been ordered Megan noticed that Caden was acting very standoffish with Elijah. This was a place where that normally didn't happen. Every few seconds Caden would look at Gabriel and shrink further away from Elijah. 

"Cade, you can be yourself. You don't have to worry about Gabriel. He is well versed on keeping secrets." Megan told him. Caden's eyes flashed to hers before he looked away. 

"What? I'm not trustworthy now? I'm married because I refused to sell you out, Cade. You don't have to trust him, but you had better damn well trust me." Megan scowled at his dismissal of her. Angie's mouth fell open in shock. 

Caden sat forward with a start. "You gave up your freedom and married The Wife Butcher to keep from telling them why you turned me down?" 

"It's true, I was there. Her father told her if she gave a legitimate reason why you weren't suitable for her that he wouldn't make her marry me, but she refused. Megan hasn't told me why either. If she tells you I can be trusted it's because she believes it. Don't doubt your friend and the Wife Butcher, really?" Gabriel said his voice low and deep. 

Elijah turned to Caden. "I think it's fine. Megan would never put... you at risk" 

Caden sighed, looking at Megan then Gabriel. "Thank you... Megan, thank you for protecting us." Caden turned his attention to Elijah. "I'm sorry babe, forgive me?" 

Elijah clasped Caden's hand in his winding their fingers together. "I guess I'll have to." 

Angie clapped her hands together excitedly. "Good everyone is on the same page. Megan are the two of you coming to Mystique?" Megan nodded, which caused Angelina to shriek excitedly. 

"Sheesh Angie, We can't go to the club if you bust our eardrums." Megan laughed glancing over at Gabriel. He had a shocked look on his face toward Caden and Elijah, but managed to hide it after a moment. To cover his reaction he slid his arm along the back of the seat behind Megan and leaned in close to her. 

"Your friends are crazy. Are you aware of this?" Gabriel smirked close to her ear. 

Megan grinned looking at him. "Of course, I'm their leader. They get it from me." Her smile was toothy. 

"Then you lucked out finding me, I like crazy." Gabriel whispered with a cheeky smile. 

"What happened to your previous wives." Caden asked, watching as Gabriel charmed Megan. 

Gabriel looked startled for a minute then realized Caden was protective of Megan. "When we realized we weren't compatible the marriage was annulled, and they were allowed to pick a destination other than here and given a settlement large enough to live more than comfortably for the rest of their lives." 

"Can you prove this?" Caden asked suspiciously. 

"I already did. Megan's father required it to consent to the marriage." Gabriel told the man taking a sip of his wine. 

"Yeah, I bet he investigated it real thoroughly with the payment you gave him." He knew what Gabriel had paid for Megan and it was a preposterous sum. Enough to make any man look the other way. 

"Why couldn't your ex-wives come back here?" Caden asked. 

"It's hard enough finding a bride in thirty days without several exes to deal with. My time is limited as I'm sure is yours. This is how I choose to do things." Gabriel answered annoyed taking another drink. Megan could tell he was tired of answering questions. Megan looked at Caden and mouthed 'stop' to him. 

"Fair enough." Caden remarked after a moment before turning to Elijah. Megan felt a small sigh of relief beside her. Angelina caught her eye and mouthed 'what's up' at her. Megan shook her head. There was no way to discuss anything now. 

A moment later their meal arrived, and they were all able to take a few minutes eating to reset their moods. Soon they were joking as they ate and talking about the club they were going to after dinner. Everyone was looking forward to blowing off some steam. Gabriel watched the group's antics, feeling ancient, but also highly entertained. 

Angelina was telling a story about Megan during one of their visits to Mystique where she had gotten so drunk that Elijah had to carry her out over his shoulder. The security thought she was being kidnapped but luckily when the police were called, they got Megan's mom. If it had been her father, they all would have been murdered. 

Megan caught Gabriel looking at her and he raised an eyebrow. "True story, I think." She laughed aloud. 

"What did your mom do?" Gabriel asked her truly curious. 

"Nothing," Angelina cut in. "Megan's mom's an angel." Gabriel's eyebrows shot up at the description. 

"My mom is amazing. She is just peaceful, serene. She told me to use better caution next time and it was as if it never happened." Megan smiled wistfully thinking of her mother. Gabriel was thinking that this sounded like peacekeeper angel traits and wondering what else he could find out about Megan's mother. 

Dinner concluded and Gabriel insisted on paying the bill causing Elijah to declare that he had drinks at the club. Which Megan knew meant that her and Angelina would be sharing the big fishbowl of blue punch and end up getting hammered.