Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty
CONFRONTATION

JACK'S POV

I never thought it would hurt so much when I found out Gabriella was pregnant with my brother’s child. I remember the day I heard it. It felt like I couldn’t breathe. I just stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do. She was supposed to be mine. I knew from the first day I met her that I wanted her. But Jax had gotten to her first. I didn’t show it, though. I never showed anything. I just kept on pretending like it didn’t matter. Like she didn’t matter. But deep down, she did. She mattered more than anything. After a while, I decided I couldn’t just sit back and lose her. I had to do something. I told myself that if I wanted Gabriella, I had to change. I couldn’t be cold anymore. I couldn’t be distant. I had to be her friend. Her best friend. Someone she could trust. Someone she could cry to when things got hard. That way, she would have no choice but to lean on me. And when the time was right, she would realize I was the one she needed, not Jax. That was my plan. Simple and clean.

Then came the day I heard she had been stabbed. I had been in my car when I got the call. My hands tightened around the steering wheel. I was so mad I could barely think straight. Someone had hurt her. Someone had touched her. I wanted to find the person and tear them apart with my bare hands. But at the same time, a dark thought crossed my mind. I hated myself for thinking it, but it was there, whispering at the back of my mind. Maybe, just maybe, the baby would not survive. I told myself it was wrong. That it made me a bad person. But I still felt it. If the baby was gone, maybe she would be free. Maybe she would not be tied to my brother forever. I hated myself for it, but I could not deny it. I even tried to find the one who had attacked her. I pulled strings, asked questions, paid people. But nothing came out of it. It was like the attacker had disappeared into thin air. My frustration only grew.

Fast forward to today. I decided to visit her with gifts. I picked up chocolates, her favorite ones, and a few other things I knew she liked. If I was going to win her heart, I had to do it right. I had to be there, always. Always smiling. Always understanding. Always her safe place. When I got to her room, I knocked and stepped inside when she called out weakly. She was lying back on the bed, looking pale and tired, but still beautiful. I smiled to myself, about to step closer, but something caught my eye. Samantha. She was standing by Gabriella, holding something in her hand. I squinted and saw the syringe. It was inches away from Gabriella’s neck.

“What the hell, Samantha!” I growled, my voice coming out sharper and louder thank I had intended. Samantha flinched in shock, and the syringe clattered to the floor. My heart was pounding in my chest. I looked from Samantha to Gabriella, who looked confused and out of it. I sighed, trying to control my face. I didn’t want Gabriella to panic. She didn’t need more stress. So I forced a smile onto my face. I shoved the anger deep down and said, “I mean, what the hell, Samantha, I didn’t expect to see you here.” My voice was lighter, more casual. Gabriella blinked at us, unaware of what had almost happened. Good. That was good. She didn’t need to know.

Samantha bent quickly and picked up the syringe, shoving it deep into her bag. I pretended not to notice. I walked over and handed Gabriella the bag of chocolates and gifts. She smiled weakly and thanked me. I sat down beside her, careful not to look too tense. Samantha stayed for a bit, trying to act normal, but I could see it. She was uneasy. She kept glancing at me from the corner of her eye. I didn’t say anything. I kept the conversation light, asking Gabriella how she was feeling, if she needed anything, telling her silly stories to make her laugh. I hated seeing her so weak. I wanted to scoop her up and protect her from everything. But I knew I had to be patient. I had to let her come to me.

After a while, Samantha stood up, mumbling something about having to leave. Gabriella nodded and thanked her. I waited a few seconds, then stood up too. “I’ll be right back,” I said, smiling down at Gabriella. She nodded and closed her eyes, resting against the bed. I slipped out into the hallway, moving quickly. Samantha was already halfway down the hall. I caught up with her, grabbed her arm, and spun her around. Her eyes widened in fear. Good. She should be scared.

“What the hell was that?” I hissed, shoving my hand into her backpack. She tried to pull away, but I was faster. My fingers closed around the syringe. I pulled it out and held it up between us. “What the hell were you doing, Samantha?” I asked, my voice low and dangerous. She stammered, looking around like she was trying to find an escape. There was no escape. Not from me. “It’s not what you think,” she said quickly. “It’s just vitamins. She needs strength. I was going to help her.” I stared at her for a long moment, my mind racing. She was lying. I could see it. I could smell it. But Gabriella was too fragile right now. I couldn’t cause a scene. Not yet.

I shoved the syringe back into her backpack and zipped it up roughly. “Get out,” I said coldly. Samantha nodded quickly and ran off down the hallway. I stood there, watching her go, my hands clenched into fists. I would deal with her later. Right now, Gabriella needed me. I took a deep breath, forced a smile back onto my face, and walked back into the living room. Gabriella was half asleep, her head resting on a pillow. I sat down beside her, carefully, and pulled a blanket over her. She stirred and mumbled something, but didn’t wake up. I smiled to myself. She trusted me. That was all I needed.

One day, she would look at me the way I looked at her. One day, she would realize I was the one who had always been there. I leaned back against the couch, letting my eyes close. I could wait. I would wait as long as it took.

Then I turned around and walked back to the room and she had already sat up, her eyes fixed on the chocolate on the couch where I sat earlier.

I smiled and went over to go to sit next to her on her bed, taking her hand in mine. She let out a weak smile and gently took her hand away from my grasp. Fuck. That hurt. That hurt so bad.

I had the irresistible urge to grab back her hand and leave them back in mine, but I held back.

Friends.

Best friends.

I had to make sure I made her so comfortable that she would trust me. I had forcefully kissed her that day, so she might have been upset by that.

I smiled. "I brought chocolates," I say, trying to lighten the mood that seemed unbearable. Thankfully, she smiled back, but barely.

"Really? They're for me? These are my favourite, Jack," she squealed weakly.

Damn the person who had hurt her.

I forced a smile.

"Of course. They're not for the trash. So they belong to you. Here," I stood up, going over to the couch, grabbing the pack and then going over to place it on the table beside her.

Then I picked up a chunk, then told her to open up her mouth. She hesitated fora while, as if she was considering it. Then she opened her mouth and ate it.

The look of ecstasy on her face was enough to make my heart swell.

"It is so good," she said, her mouth still half full with chocolate.

She swallowed it all after a while and we stayed, discussing about mundane things. I was glad our conversation was easing and maybe, just maybe, squeezing myself into her life as a friend if I got to see her laugh and be comfortable with me was enough.