Page 34 of Freeing Souls

“Harley, don't go there. Let that go. I never forgave you because there was never anything to forgive. You have been the biggest blessing of my life. I knew that even if you hated me until the day I died, I was still so fucking lucky to have known you.”

Tears gather in my eyes, and I blink them back, resting my head on his shoulder, allowing myself to take in this moment.

I hope you are proud of the both of us, Mom. I really fucking miss you.

“I love you more than life itself, and I will do anything for you,” Gabe says.

My mouth opens, but the words don’t come out.I love you too, Dad.Why are they so hard to say? Why can’t I just tell him how I feel?

Instead, I go for a lighter topic. “Anything, huh?”

He laughs. “Well, fuck. Guess I can’t take it back now. What do you want?”

I sit up and turn sideways, pulling my legs up so I’m facing him. “I want you to lay my mom to rest here.”

His eyes widen, but I continue, “If I can say one thing about my mom in full confidence, it’s that she wouldn’t want either of us to be dwelling on things we can no longer change. She was literally on the run as a single, terrified young mom, but she lived every moment with me, and I never knew how much she was dealing with.”

I take a breath before grabbing his hand. “You have tortured yourself enough. You even allowed me to torture you when you didn’t deserve it. So be happy, Gabe. Go home today and get thatgirl who looks at you like you walk on water and never let her go.”

“Harley–”

I shake my head. “I approve of her. She’s perfect and kind. Don’t let her go. I’m surprised she’s even still waiting after all this time.”

Gabe lets out a humorless laugh and shakes his head. “Sugar warned me you would be a force to be reckoned with.”

After a minute of silence, he speaks again, “I thought I could never give myself to someone in the way I wanted to give myself to Lilian. Then, I lost her as soon as I had her, and I didn’t think I would ever move on until a tiny blonde bombshell came in like a wrecking ball and threw everything out the window. I didn’t know how to deal with it, but I know I want her around.”

“She won’t always be around,” I tell him.

He nods. “I wasted enough time, you’re right. Who knew my kid would fix my fucking love life?” he grumbles, and then we both laugh.

“Are you ready to head back?” Gabe asks, bumping his shoulder with mine. We’ve spent another few hours just talking, and now the sun is starting to set. Ryker has already texted me asking when I am coming back because he is dying without me.

I sigh and drop my head against his shoulder. “No. I mean, yes, but I want to bask in this bubble forever.”

Standing, Gabe holds his hand out for me to take. When I place my hand in his, he pulls me to my feet and gently brushes my hair behind my shoulders. “Someday, Harley. Someday, you are going to be so happy and content with life, you won’t even bethinking about needing a bubble to escape to for a moment. Your entire life will be the bubble. I promise.”

After a few hours of riding, Gabe gestures for us to pull off to a gas station.

“One more hour until home sweet home. I bet you're excited to see the boys,” Gabe says with a teasing glint in his eyes. I roll mine and stretch my legs out while he fills both our tanks.

Noticing the same red car I saw earlier idling at the entrance to the gas station, I stretch again. “Gabe. The red car behind us was following us a while back, but then they turned off, and now they’re back.”

Gabe has a small smile on his face, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he hangs the pump back up and turns to look. I know the moment he spots the car, because his entire demeanor shifts as the smile drops from his face.

“Gab—“ I say at the same time a car revs, and I faintly hear him call my name. He pulls his gun from the back of his jeans.

Everything happens so fast— between one heartbeat and the next, I find myself flat on my back, my ears ringing from…a gunshot? A heavy weight rests on me, and I push it off. Blinking my eyes rapidly, I begin to take in my surroundings: three cars and a white van. The heavy weight on me was Gabe. He groans in pain and clutches his side. “Harl—“

“Gabe…” I whisper, tears filling my eyes as fury runs through my veins. Reaching over him, I grab the gun he dropped. “Keep pressure. Don’t you dare fucking let go.”

Jumping to my feet, I spin around and watch as multiple men in black pile out of the cars coming towards us. My pulse spikes, and I take a single deep breath.Shut down.

Not looking back down at my dad, I point the gun at the man closest to me. “Who the fuck are you?” I growl.

He smirks. “Put the gun down before you hurt yourself, princess.”

The sound ofprincesscoming from his lips causes my finger to squeeze the trigger before I can fully think it through. The man drops to the ground, his eyes wide and shocked as blood pours from the hole between his eyes.

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