Page 74 of Healing Souls

“I was just finishing up cooking a late meal since I was busy during dinner in the main house. Do you want to eat with me? Sugar—I mean Colton said you missed dinner earlier.”

“You cook?” I can’t keep the surprise out of my voice, it’s definitely not something I expected of him.

Gabriel gives me a sheepish grin with a shrug. “I do. I don’t get a lot of time for it, but since Colton is covering club stuff this week, I have had a little extra time. I actually tried a new recipe tonight. You can be my tester. I promise it won’t be too bad.” His eyes light up with excitement.

I nod and give him a small smile, following him into the kitchen.

This is all so… normal. It feels weird but also nice to see Gabriel doing things like this.

He goes to the oven and checks something before nodding to himself and then moving around the kitchen like he’s been cooking in it for years. Honestly, he probably has. He’s a lot older than me, after all.

Needing something to keep my nerves down, I ask, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Gabriel spins around with his mouth dropped open. “Jeez, think you can teach Ryker and Cayden that line? They never offer to help with anything.”

I let out a small giggle and shake my head. “I think you might be out of luck there.”

His grin only grows as he stares at my face. After a few more very uncomfortable seconds, he shakes his head and turns back to getting things ready for dinner.

He says, “You can sit there and keep me company. I am assuming you came out here for a reason?”

Taking a seat at the island, I immediately chicken out and talk about anything but what I came to talk about. “Who taught you how to cook?” I ask.

He lets out a small hum as he puts dishes on the kitchen table. “I taught myself. I didn’t really have anyone else growing up, but ever since I was old enough to understand the world, I knew I wanted to live differently than my father. I wanted a family. A home. Something worth living for. So I taught myself to cook.” He shrugs. “Guess I thought it would get me points with the ladies.”

“Do you have a family?” I ask hesitantly. I haven’t seen anyone else, and it doesn’t look like other people live in this house, but I need to ask. Something about him possibly having this whole other family out there bothers me.

“I do.” At his words, my heart drops.

I knew coming here was a bad idea. It’s why I hesitated. I don’t even know why it matters, but—

He finishes, “Everyone you’ve met. Anyone a part of or related to this club is family.” He walks towards the island, standing opposite me. “You are my family, whether you are ready to admit that or not. You are my kid. I will consider you family for the rest of my life. Even if you hate me or decide to go back to live with Brielle, I will make sure you’re taken care of.”

Tears well up in my eyes as I stare at him. I quickly blink them away and whisper, “I tried to kill you. Twice.”

He nods, his face understanding. “You did. That still doesn’t change anything.”

I scoff, “Why not? I tried to kill you, Gabriel. I can’t even say that if I did everything over again, I wouldn’t still try. I don’t know if I would or not. My—my thoughts and feelings are so up and down every day.”

Crossing his arms over his chest, he pinches his lips together and nods again. “I don’t hate you for it, if that’s what you think. If anything, I simply understand.”

“How do you understand?” I ask, almost afraid of the answer.

He uncrosses his arms and leans forward, resting his elbows on the counter. Bringing his face closer to mine.

“My father was a very bad man. He did unspeakable things. He was murdered almost six years ago. If the opportunity would have arisen for me, I would have killed him myself. I have learned even more about him lately and the more I learn, the more I wish I could have been the one who took him out. So, I do understand.

“When you learn about people you love being hurt by someone, you want to do everything in your power to destroy them.” He takes a deep breath and glances down at the counter. “If I could, I would take all of your pain away from you, though.”

My breath stutters as he looks back up at me, tears welling up in his eyes.

“I would take away every bad thing that has happened to you and give it to myself if I could. I wish with everything in me that you didn’t have the pain you do. It’s why I could never ever be upset with you. I just want to protect you. I want to love you, Harley. Idolove you.

“When I look at you, I see my daughter. A beautiful, strong girl who had to grow up way too fast but has unimaginable strength. I know this isn’t easy for you. I know you feel conflicted about a lot of things. But I need you to understand at least one thing: No matter how much we fight, I love you, and I will forever. You can always come to me for anything. I will be there for you until I take my last breath,” he says with unwavering conviction, never breaking eye contact with me.

The tears in my eyes begin to fall down my cheeks. “I want to stay. I want to live here. I’m so scared, Gabriel, but I want to try.”

I think Gabriel may be just as broken as the rest of us and the knight I dreamed of as a child. He may be hardened and may have made mistakes but maybe, just maybe, he’s redeemable.

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