Chapter Twenty Nine

Chapter Twenty Nine
THORNES BEHIND THE SMILE

GABRIELLA'S POV

The ceiling above me blurred and shifted, my mind dragging through a fog of half formed thoughts.

The way Benson had come in here earlier with a serious expression on his face flashed through my mind. The way he had told Jax that something was wrong and the way his shoulders hung up, was enough to make my skin tremble in fear that something might actually be going down. That maybe, something serious was wrong again.

I had hoped it was not anything serious. I had hoped it was not Flynn or Hunter. I had hoped it was not a rogue attack.

I shifted slightly on the bed, wincing at the sharp pain that shot up along my ribs. The sterile scent of the room stuck to the back of my throat. I amidst felt like throwing up.

A soft knock at the door interrupted my thinking, and before I could even answer, the door cracked open. Samantha came inside, with a bright wide smile on her face like it belonged there. She moved with an effortless grace, carrying a small bouquet of vibrant red hibiscus flowers in her hands. She looked radiant, almost glowing in the sterile hospital lighting, and for a second, I almost forgot that tiny unease I always felt around her. She came into the room, her eyes soft and filled with what looked like genuine sympathy.

"Hey," she said warmly, stopping after taking a few step towards my bed. "I heard what happened and oh ny gosh, I’m so sorry this happened to you. I brought some flowers and I thought that maybe some flowers would cheer you up a little."

She smiled, stepping towards me, shaking the flowers in front of me. Immediately she had brought the flowers closer to me, something in my body snapped. I felt my throat close up and then a violent cough ripped through my throat. I flinched, feeling my chest pounding heavily as fear and panic overtook my body.

"Oh my gosh, Gabriella! I didn’t know you were allergic," she exclaimed, retreating quickly toward the trash can. She stuffed the flowers inside unceremoniously, her hands fluttering nervously.

"It’s okay," I gasped, trying to steady my breathing even though it was anything but okay. My lungs felt like they were on fire, and a faint rash already prickled along my skin. I pressed my palm to my chest and forced myself to breathe.

Samantha turned back around, her face full of apology. She hovered awkwardly for a second before easing into the chair beside my bed. Her perfect hair fell over one shoulder as she leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping into a softer, guilty tone. "I seriously didn’t know. I just thought some color might help brighten up the room. I’m really sorry, Gabriella."

I nodded stiffly, my wariness returning in full force now that the adrenaline was draining from my system. She settled herself more comfortably in the chair, crossing her legs casually and smoothing the hem of her skirt with delicate fingers. For a moment, she just sat there, her expression open and friendly.

"So..." she said lightly, as if trying to reset the mood, "how did you and Jax meet?"

I hesitated, picking at the edge of the blanket covering my legs. The question seemed innocent enough, but there was a slight edge to it, like she wasn’t just making conversation. Still, I didn’t want to be rude, and I didn’t exactly have the energy for a full interrogation right now.

"At the packhouse," I said simply, keeping my voice neutral. I wasn’t about to hand her every detail of my life tied up with a neat little bow.

Samantha’s lips curved into a playful pout. "Come on, there has to be more to it than that! Was it love at first sight? Did he sweep you off your feet?"

I shrugged, the movement tugging at my sore ribs. "Not really. It’s complicated."

She let out a soft laugh, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "Isn’t it always? But seriously...I’ve never seen him like this with anyone before. He looks at you like you’re the only thing keeping him grounded."

I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I didn’t. The silence between us stretched for a beat too long before Samantha, seemingly unbothered, leaned back in her chair and launched into a lighthearted story about how Jax once nearly burned down the kitchen trying to make pasta. The mental image of Jax panicking over a pot of boiling water was so ridiculous that despite myself, a small laugh escaped me. Samantha laughed too, and for a brief moment, the tension in the room ebbed away, replaced by something almost resembling comfort.

The laughter faded, leaving a gentle, humming quiet between us. Samantha smiled at me, a soft, almost sisterly look on her face. Then her gaze sharpened just a touch, almost imperceptibly, and she leaned forward again.

"Oh," she said, reaching out slightly, "what’s that on your face?"

I frowned, my hand instinctively flying up to my cheek. "What?"

"There’s something right here," she said, motioning vaguely. "Let me get it for you."

She leaned in, her hand hovering close to my skin, her touch so light it barely stirred the air between us. I hesitated, unsure, but before she could touch me, the door slammed open with a loud bang that made me jump.

Jack strode into the room with his usual casual arrogance, holding a large paper bag in one hand and a shit-eating grin on his face. "I come bearing gifts!" he announced loudly, his voice cutting through the thick air like a blade.

His eyes flicked over to me, then to Samantha who seemed to have frozen, still leaning over me.

"What the fuck, Samantha?" Jack said, his voice low, sharp, and dangerous in a way I had never heard before.