Chapter 76 –
(Gabriella)
My eyes kept darting up to Jamie, realizing his hand was clenched into a fist as I held it gently.
He was mad..like..really mad.
I knew he would be, but I needed to tell him the truth.
Which was that..I wanted to meet my brother...
I wanted to meet this man who shared the same blood as me..who looked just like me.
To be honest, the times I did see Grant, I wasn't scared or completely put off..yeah I was surprised by his intrusive questions or the way he tried to get me to go with him. But was he trying to harm me? No.. "B-baby..r-relax." I whispered.
He was making it very hard to take care of him right now.
Jamie blinked his eyes, that anger seeming to crack as he let out a long sigh.
"Gabriella.." He began, causing my stomach to flip as I knew what he was about to say.
This wasn't going to be easy..not by a long shot.
"I don't think this is a good idea. We really know nothing about the guy..I mean..he tried to fucking kidnap you." He gritted the last part through his teeth, making me squeeze down on his hand before I placed the bandage over it. "Well..we could go into the room with her." Rylan chimed in, causing Jamie to shoot him a death glare.
Yeah..he was still pissed at Rylan..reasonably of course, but I was surprised it got to that point..an actual physical fight.
Seeing Jamie on top of Rylan..punching him..it was shocking..but also seeing Jamie like that, it kind of made my stomach flip. He was strong, really strong..and it seemed like he knew how to fight. Where did he learn that from? Or was it just something he was naturally good at? "No..first of all, you aren't going anywhere near him. Who knows what the fuck you might do." Jamie grumbled as I sighed and stepped away from him.
Jamie's head snapped towards me as worry filled his eyes.
"Where are you going?" He rushed out, making me raise my eyebrow and cock my hip to the side. Does he think I am going to run to my brother or something?
I pointed at Rylan, prompting Jamie to frown before shaking his head no.
"I will help him." He declared and took the first aid kit out of my hands.
"Oh no you don't..you're not coming anywhere near me. You will probably try to finish me off." Rylan scoffed before hiding behind the kitchen island.
That's when Jolie came running in. She was breathing heavily as she came to a stop.
Jolie was wearing some black leggings and a long-sleeved blue workout shirt that clung to her curves. She looked super cute.
"Hey, what's going on? Adam told me to come back early because there was some type of situation?" She asked, looking between us before settling her eyes on her brother.
I watched as shock, confusion, and then horror flashed across her face.
"What the fuck happened to you?!" She rushed out while racing to her brother's side.
"Jamie happened to me..ow, don't touch it." Rylan hissed.
"What? Jamie did this?" Jolie asked, sounding even more surprised.
"Tell her why I did it." Jamie stated cooly before stepping towards me and wrapping his arm around my waist protectively.
"Oh god..what did you do Rylan?" She muttered hesitantly while glancing towards me.
I just smiled at her sheepishly, feeling a little guilty that it got this far.
"Well..umm.." Rylan began, his arm raising behind his head before rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
"I might've..like maybe..kind of invited Gabriella's brother to the cabin on accident..when I was drunk..last night." He dragged out, making Jolie's jaw drop.
That's when she started slapping her brother's chest, beating him up even more.
"What the hell?! How stupid can you be Rylan! I can't believe you are my fucking twin..I swear your damn brain didn't develop all the way!"
She yelled at him between hits as he ducked down and shielded his face.
"Hey! Not the face..it's already messed up enough." He shouted making Jolie laugh dryly.
"I can't believe this..so he is here...like right now?" She asked before glancing at Jamie.
"Yes, he is being held in the guest house until we decide what to do with him." Jamie informed her.
I reached up, squeezing his arm gently as I gave him my best puppy dog face..I didn't want to resort to this..but I felt desperate..
"No.." Jamie stated firmly, making me turn in his arms as I placed my palms on his chest.
"Absolutely not Gabriella." He said more seriously this time.
"What? What does she want?" Jolie asked in confusion.
"She wants to meet him." Rylan explained to Jolie as the room filled with tension..all of it coming from Jamie in waves.
"Well..then let her." Jolie spoke up, causing me to gasp as my eyes widened.
"What? You can't be fucking serious." Jamie snapped.
Jolie shrugged before grabbing the first aid kit from his hand and walking back to her brother.
"Isn't this the best outcome? I'm guessing you have him handcuffed or something..so what can he do? Besides..you will be with her and then all the guards too..it's the safest scenario." Jamie's jaw twitched..the anger he felt not going unnoticed as he stiffened beneath me.
I slowly reached my hands up..my palms cupping his cheeks as I turned his head towards me.
"Baby p-please." I said as clearly as I ever had before, making Jamie's tough exterior crumble before me as that warmth pooled into his honey-brown eyes.
"You really want this?" He whispered, asking me gently as I nodded my head up and down slowly.
I don't know if it was the pregnancy hormones..or the weight of the situation..but I felt like I was about to cry.
"Fine..but I stay with you at all times..and if at any moment I feel like you are in danger..I'm taking you out of there." He ordered as I began nodding my head up and down more eagerly now.
"Y-yes of..of c-course." I stuttered, feeling my stomach flood with nerves as Jamie pressed me flush against his chest before kissing the top of my head tenderly.
"Okay..I will inform Ray." Jamie stated, pulling out his phone.
I couldn't help but nuzzle my cheek against him as those tears began sliding down my cheeks.
I don't know why this is so emotional for me..I mean..I don't even know the guy..but a part of me feels like I'm meeting a piece of her. That a part of my mom that she left behind is still here waiting for me..and he actually wants to meet me.. Then a spark of doubt started to rise inside of me...what if he doesn't like me? What if he thinks I'm a disappointment..what if he decides to leave me like she did?
"Hey..it's going to be okay." Jamie whispered against my ear..doing that thing he always does when I feel upset. He knows me so well..
I pulled my head back and peered into those rich brown orbs as I nodded softly.
"We will get through this together..no matter what..even if I'm not too fond of the idea.." He grumbled the last part, making me chuckle as I felt that happiness coming back.
"Hey..maybe he will be a nice guy..then you will be the one thanking me Ja.." Before Rylan could finish, Jolie put a cleaning pad on his cheek roughly, making him hiss.
"Please quit while you are ahead..you still have one good eye Jamie can punch." She muttered as I tried my hardest not to laugh.
Jamie seemed to find it amusing too but was quick to hide it as he just glared at Rylan until he was forced to look up at the ceiling. "Sir, we are ready for you." Ray informed us while walking into the kitchen.
"Okay..ready baby? If you changed your mind.." Jamie asked eagerly, hoping that I had.
"N-no..I'm, I'm ready." I stated confidently..meaning every word as I took a deep steadying breath.
I'm ready to meet my brother..