And maybe I was focusing on the wrong person.
“I’m sorry that I called you a liar,” I offer. He looks shocked, his hand moving down his face as he shakes his head.
“It’s me that owes you an apology, Gabrielle. And I’ve been waiting to make it for the last five years. When we found you, I genuinely thought we were doing the right thing in taking you there. My father was the Director, and we thought… well. Truthfully, I never gave it much thought, but Ishouldhave. I met my mate a few days after we dropped you off, and I knew then that I’d made the wrong call.”
He looks down. “My decision cost you something that I can’t fix. I know that. I’ve learned enough about how the Creed truly worked that I know that’s not something that can ever be atoned for.”
“It’s done now,” I tell him gently. “It’s a part of my life that I’ll never forget. But we can’t change it. All we can do is look forward.”
“You sound a lot like Harper.” There’s a smile in his voice.
“Well, she sounds very sensible.”
We both smile. The lightness in my chest is genuine, a weight lifting from me.
I meant what I said to Rogue. I can’t keep looking back and using my shitty life experiences to stop me from living the life I want.
I don’t have it all worked out. I don’t know what I want to do with my life. But I do know that I want Cade, Hudson, Ax and Nate with me.
I want to sit with them on a porch one day and watch the sunset.
I just need to tell them. I’ve been drowning for so long, I couldn’t even see the light when it was offered. But no more.
No more.
ChapterFifty-One
Gabrielle
When I get back to Il Piacere, I’m intercepted by a frazzled looking Veronica. “Gabrielle!”
I shift on my feet. I haven’t been able to work since before my heat, but my first shift is on the schedule for tomorrow. “Hey, Veronica. I know I haven’t been around–,”
She waves me off. “I don’t care about that. I know you’re back in tomorrow. This is about Hudson.”
My panic is immediate. “What’s wrong? Is he okay?”
“Oh, he’s fine. Except he’s moping around my kitchen like someone kicked his puppy. Do us all a favor, and put the poor man out of his misery. Nathaniel too. In fact, him first. That way, he’ll stop distracting all the waitresses.”
I bite down a laugh. I don’t think Nate will ever stop distracting the waitresses.
I can’t really blame them.
“I’m working on it,” I promise, and her eyes light up in glee.
“Excellent. I can’t wait to have a functioning head chef again.”
My amusement dies off, replaced by nerves as I get into the elevator, putting in the code for upstairs. My hands shake as I press the buttons and the door closes, running through the speech I prepared on my way here.
Come on. You can do this. They’re not going to say no now.
But my nerves surge when I call out, my feet sounding loudly on the wooden floors as I walk through the apartment.
There’s… nobody here.
My nervous excitement deflates like a popped balloon.
I wasn’t expecting there to be nobody home. But I check every room, popping my head into Cade’s office, the kitchen, their bedrooms… but I’m alone.
