No Regrets (Live Today #2) (23 page)

Falling to my knees, Drew and Brennan kneel down and reassure me that he will be back. Gabe knew I was going to crumble. He really does know me better than I know myself. I have my arms wrapped around my brothers neck and sob uncontrollably. My phone chirps and Drew takes it and opens it. He nudges my arm and I look at the message on the screen.

Just boarded the plane. I can bet a million dollars my heart is still in the same place I left her. But I am positive I have a piece of her heart with me. Stay strong Angel. I love you.

I take the phone from Drew and begin typing.

You’re right about location. I’m now a crumbled mess on the ground. But you’re wrong about my heart. You didn’t take a piece of it, you took the whole thing. I love you too. Come home safely.

Anything for my Angel.

Gabe

“How is she?” Carmen asks as we head off the plane.

“None of your damn business.” I snap, keeping my eyes focused on one thing. Getting Gabriel, and bring him home.

“I’m sorry.” She whispers behind me. I stop and turn to her. She’s been a wreck since I met her at the terminal where I switched planes.

“Look, I’m sorry for snapping at you okay?” I sigh. “This is all so fucked up, I don’t know…” I try to let out the right words, but I can’t.

“I get it Gabe. I do. I messed up all those years ago. And I’m sorry. I only wanted what’s best for little Gabriel.”

I nod in agreement. “Then, let’s go and get him.” I offer my hand for support. She takes it and we make our way to the car rental. “Danny of all people? Seriously Carmen?”

Once we get in the car, we decide to stop to get a bite to eat. I send my sister a text.

Ash, make sure to give Jenna my letter tonight if something happens and I can’t tell her I love her. Keep her safe for me. I love you sis.

~G

~~~

“Are you sure this is the house?” I ask bringing the car to a stop. The house is rundown. All the paint on the outside is almost chipped to existence. The yard is full of weeds if not dead. The thought of Gabriel here makes my stomach turn. Carmen looks down at the paper she has in her hand and nods. “Let’s get this over with then. Do you have the legal forms?”

“Yes, right here in my bag.” She says stepping out of the car. I meet her at the front by the hood. “For what it’s worth Gabe, thank you.” She reaches up and kisses my cheek. All I can think of, all I have thought of since I left Florida, is Jenna. If she knew Carmen kissed me just now, there’s no doubt that a cat fight would happen right before my eyes.

“Carmen, don’t.” I look her straight in the eye. “I appreciate your affection, but my heart belongs to Jenna. She’s my world. I’m not here for you. I’m here for your little boy.”

“Our little boy Gabe. He’s legally yours.” She corrects.

“A piece of paper is all it is, Carmen. That’s all. Nothing more, nothing less. And when this is all done and over with, I plan on taking myself off his birth certificate.” She closes her eyes momentarily before nodding and looking back at me.

“I understand. Let’s go.” She quietly steps toward the house. Being polite, I guide her with my hand on the small of her back. I have zero feelings for the woman standing next to me, but I am not a heartless prick.

Once we make it to the front door, she reaches up and knocks. Moments later, the door opens and what was once my old best friend, but now my enemy stands, leaning against the door.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the whore and her little bitch.” Danny says bringing a bottle of whisky to his lips. “What the fuck do you want? Aren’t you on tour or something?”

“Or something. You know damn well what we want Danny. You took LG without her permission. We’re here to bring him home.” He pushes off the door and steps toe to toe with me. He never was as tall as I was, giving me the leverage to look down at him.

“Fuck you man. The kid’s not even yours. What the fuck do you care?” I square my shoulders and meet him eye for eye.

“He may not be mine by blood, but he’s legally my son. So I suggest you turn your drunk ass around and go get my boy.” I growl.

“Is that so?” He asks.

“Yeah, that’s so.” I snap. “From what I’m guessing, with a record like yours, you wouldn’t want us to involve the police in this matter would you? I mean, kidnapping is a pretty fucking strong offence Danny.” He glares at me before turning to her.

“You gonna let your bitch do all your dirty work?”

“Leave her out of it man. Just give us the boy.” His eyes meet mine after he sizes me up. I am by no means body builder material, but I am fit enough to hold my own.

“You know what, Gabriel?” He squares his shoulders to me. “Why don’t you fucking make me?”

“Mommy?” A little boys sound comes from behind the door. “Mommy, is that you? Are you with Daddy?” In this very moment my heart sinks.
Daddy
? Never once had I ever imagined that name being said toward me. I dreamt about it with Jenna and my kids, but not now.

“Yes Gabriel, both daddy and I are here to bring you home.” She cries bringing her hands to her mouth in a sob. “Danny, please, he’s all I have.”

“C’mon man, do the right thing for once in your life.” I stand my ground, willing my feet to stick like concrete waiting for him to open the door.

“Babe.” He hollers through the door. “I thought I told you to keep him upstairs.”

“He was hungry.” Whoever is in there whines.

“Give him some fucking food and take him back outside will ya?” He sets his hands on the door and turns to me. “The neighbors are getting suspicious. Come inside.” He waits a good minute before finally opening the door and letting us in. We follow him into the living room. “Wait here.” He leaves us standing in the center of the room.

Carmen immediately steps toward the back of the house where the sliding glass window is and she begins looking for Gabriel, not even paying attention to the filth scattered around the room in her path. “I… I don’t see him, Gabe.” She turns to me. My eyes, which are still remained on the living room and my surroundings finally meet hers.

“I don’t feel right here.” I step toward her. I take her shoulders and force her to look at me. “Carmen, listen to me. We need to get LG and get the fuck out of here. I have a bad feeling about being here.” Just then, we hear Gabriel calling us from upstairs. I turn and head toward the hallway that leads toward the staircase, with Carmen following when Danny turns the corner.

“Going somewhere?” He turns the corner with his hands resting on his back pockets.

“Yeah, I’m going to get my kid.”

“He’s not your fucking kid man. He’s mine. That’s why he’s with me. He aint going anywhere.” And before I know it, he lunges at me.

We scuffle around the room. Carmen is screaming for us to stop. “Get LG!” I shout, looking at her, “NOW!” She turns to run toward the hall.

Danny knocks me to the ground. He gets a clean shot at me, driving his fist to my temple. I push him up off me and land my fist in his nose hearing a snap. He falls to the floor. When he gets up, I shove my shoulder into his gut knocking him down. Pulling my fist back to land another punch, Carmen screams. “GABE!” I look at her before resting my eyes on my target when I see the barrel of a nine millimeter pointed directly at me. “Oh God, No!” She cries distracting Danny just enough for me to lunge down and grab the gun.

We wrestle for the gun until a shot sounds off.

“Ahhh.” I holler.

He shot me in the leg, it’s just a graze, but my determination to protect Gabriel is stronger. He stands and raises the gun toward Carmen. I take my good leg and kick the back of his thigh pushing him to the ground. Landing on top of him, we battle for the gun. Moments later it sounds off again, but we are both too busy fighting for it to see where the bullet went. He gets the upper hand and ends up on top of me, pointing the gun at my head...

The sound of a gun goes off once more, but it’s not the one that we’ve been fighting for. Danny’s body goes still and he stops fighting. His eyes widen, looking straight at me. He drops the gun beside us and coughs. Blood begins spurting from his mouth just before he collapses on me.

“Oh my God.” A young woman cries. “Is he dead?”

I shove Danny off me and immediately check his pulse. “Call 911, he’s still alive.”

“And is she?” She pauses.

Wait what?

I finally bring my eyes to her and notice she’s looking at Carmen.

“Fuck!” I get up and run to her. Kneeling down at her side, I notice how lifeless she is. “Carmen.” I shake her softly. “Carmen, c’mon babe. Wake up.” I beg. “Wake up.” Her face is pale, her eyes are closed. She looks so peaceful. “Dammit Carmen. C’mon!” I yell. I’m too afraid to check her pulse. I already know what I’m looking for. “No, Carmen. No.” I cry. Reaching my shaky finger to her neck, I check for a pulse. “I’m so sorry.” I whisper, pulling her lifeless body to mine. “Shit, I’m sorry.” I hold her to me just when another sound goes off. Another shot…

My mind goes dark……

Jenna,

              My angel. You’re probably wondering when I had a chance to write this. Well, truth is. This was the reason I let you start the shower before me.

If you’re reading this, it’s because I’m probably in a situation where I can’t talk at the moment. I have failed to fulfill my promise to you to remind you every night while we are apart how much I love you. Well, here it is: I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

I have loved you since the first day I laid eyes on you. I loved you when you got the stomach flu and I held your hair up while you got sick because Bren and Will were too chicken to catch it. I have loved you since the day you made me eat your first chocolate cake you made from scratch. It was the worst cake ever, but I proudly swallowed every last bite down.

I didn’t want to scare you, but there was a reason I didn’t want you to come with me. Danny, LG’s biological father is bad news, Angel. I know I told you a little bit about him, but what I failed to tell you was this. He has been in and out of prison for multiple reasons. He is dangerous and I fear for Gabriel’s safety. There was no way I was letting you anywhere near him. He’s a psychopath and he doesn’t deserve to be in your presence.

I miss you already, and I’m sorry for not calling to tell you goodnight and how much I love you. I miss looking into your beautiful blue eyes that sparkle when you smile. Oh that smile, damn babe, do you know how remarkable you are? Your parents were right. So was Will. You are a gem, my gem. Your smile can light up a room. But it’s not your smile I’m madly in love with. It’s you. Everything about you. Your smile, your frown. The way you look at me before you’re going to… well, you get the picture. =)

Angel. There must be a good reason I didn’t call. Please forgive me. I love you.

                                                                                    Always and Forever,

                                                                                                  Gabriel xx

Thank you to Dawn Gorwell for all your hard work on this book series! I seriously don’t know if I could have done it without you!

Thanks to Keri Greear for always being a mediator and keeping a sound mind when I needed it the most.

Thank you to my family for dealing with me and my “One more chapter” comments. Your support means more than you can imagine.

And a special thanks to Miss Anitha Kannan for encouraging me to turn this short storyline into a series. I seriously didn’t see myself in the book world. It was because of your inspiration and faith in me that’s gotten me this far. Not a day goes by without you in my thoughts. You’re truly a soul that was taken from earth far too soon. Rest in Peace….