Page 58 of Mine to Love
“Oh, trust me, I get it.” Miles nodded. “We just need to give him a moment.”
Gabriel scooted to a sitting position. He sucked in a deep breath. His lower lip quivered. “I’m so sorry I went with him.”
“Gabriel, do you remember my mom?” Miles sat on the floor. He didn’t bother to look Gabriel in the eye. He knew he wouldn’t get that in return. He did, however, motion to his mom to join them on the steps.
Which she did.
Gabriel nodded.
“I know she’s kind of scary in her uniform.” Miles chuckled. “She still frightens me sometimes when she wears it, but she’s one of the good guys and she needs to know what happened. Do you think you can tell her?”
“I was so mad.” Gabriel made his hands into tight fists and slammed them on his legs. “I could tell Charlie was lying because his story always changed. But I was also so angry at Liberty for treating me like a child. As if I wasn’t man enough to handle the truth.” He swiped at his eyes. “I wanted some time to think. I was just going to walk to the shop and maybe work on that old engine you let me tinker with in the back room. But then I saw Charlie and I wanted to confront him. I wanted to tell him I believed my sister and that he was the liar. He told me he wanted to tell me the whole truth. Everything. Not the bits and pieces and he took me to his house, but he lied again.”
“About what?” Miles’ mom asked.
“My sister.” Gabriel smacked the side of his head. “He stuck with his version of what happened, but then added that Liberty was using it to try to take his money. I knew she’d never do that. When I told him I wanted to go home, he said he’d call my sister, but then he lied again. He told me that Liberty was too busy with Miles to come get me. That she didn’t have time for me and that he would take care of me.”
“Oh, Gabriel. No one, not even Miles, would ever come between us.” Liberty cupped her brother’s face. “I love you and you’re the most important person in the world to me.”
“I know that,” Gabriel said matter-of-factly. “But Charlie knew that Miles spent that night and he tried to tell me that Miles didn’t want to be burdened with having to deal with someone like me. He said that Liberty agreed. He even tried to tell me that Liberty had begged him to take me off her hands and that’s why he moved here, to make sure I was being properlytaken care of. When he saw Miles, he thought maybe it was time to take legal action.”
“Jesus, he said all that?” Miles did his best to rein in his rage. This wasn’t about him or his feelings. This was about Gabriel and what had just happened to him and how they were all going to help him through it. “How did you respond to all that?”
“I knew Charlie was lying. I just didn’t know why. I still don’t.” Gabriel sniffled. “I was scared. My heart hurt and all I could do was sit in the chair and rock. I tried to sort through my thoughts, but it was hard. Then the doorbell rang and Charlie made me go into the den. But I heard what you said.” Gabriel pointed to Miles’ mother. “That I was missing. That everyone was out looking for me. I tried to get out of that room to tell you I was right there. But Charlie had locked the door.”
“That fucking asshole,” Liberty muttered.
“What happened next?” his mother asked with her cell in her hands.
“When I heard him drive away, I climbed out the window and came home.” Gabriel rested his head on Liberty’s shoulder.
Jameson’s SUV rolled to a stop in front of Liberty’s house. A buddy of his, Riley, a paramedic from the firehouse, slipped from the passenger seat carrying a bag and strolled toward the house.
“Gabriel, I’m sorry this happened to you,” his mother said. “Thank you for telling me what happened. I know it wasn’t easy and that you had considered Charlie your friend. But what he did was wrong and now I need to handle that.” His mother tapped her fingers on her cell. “Do you understand that?”
“Yes, ma’am. I do.” Gabriel nodded. “Will he go to jail?”
“I want you to know I don’t enjoy arresting anyone,” his mother said in a soft tone. “But yes, mostly likely he will and not just for what he did to you.”
“I’m tired. Can I go play some video games?” Gabriel lifted his chin and looked at Liberty.
“Sweetheart, Jameson and his friend here would like to check you over. Just to make sure you’re really okay.” Liberty palmed her brother’s cheek. “Let them listen to your heart. Check your blood pressure. All those things. Do it for me so I will feel better.”
“Okay.” Gabriel nodded.
“How about we go inside to the family room,” Jameson said. “Gabriel, this is my good friend Riley. He’s what we call an EMT and he’s one of the best.”
Gabriel stood. “Do you drive the ambulance?”
Riley chuckled. “I do.”
“Saving people is a cool and important job.” Gabriel glanced over his shoulder as he stood by the front door. “Is Miles going to spend the night? Because maybe he should until Charlie is caught.” Gabriel shrugged. “And I’d be okay if he did even after that happened.” He turned and shuffled his dirty feet into the house.
“I’d say out of the mouths of babes, but that is a grown-ass man.” His mother laughed. “I’ve got all I need to go back and make an arrest for kidnapping. But it’s a weak case. And as far as what I know about Charlie pushing Liberty down the stairs when she lost her baby, well, that’s a case of he said-she said. I don’t know if the DA will touch that one without more proof. I’d like to nail him for it because that’s about one of the cruelest things I’ve ever heard and I’ve seen a lot during my time as a cop.” She held up her hand. “Find me a smoking gun in that paperwork Liberty’s father sent over.” His mother wrapped her arms around Liberty. “I’m going to nail your ex-husband to the wall. It’s going to be my last case, and then I’m going to retire. I’m too old for this shit. But I want you to know that I’m notresting until Charlie’s behind bars for a very long fucking time. I don’t want that man to ever hurt you or Gabriel again.”
“I don’t know how to thank you and all of your family.”
His mother smiled. “Just keep reminding my son he’s good enough.”
