Find me

Chapter 52

Aria POV

I panicked.

I wasn’t going to tell them anything. I was going to go with Roger. I couldn’t let them get hurt because of me. I couldn’t let them get killed.

I came home, took what I thought was going to be the last warm shower in my life, wrote a letter to my dad and brother, and tried to calm myself down so that no one would suspect anything.

That last part didn’t go as I planned.

I kept thinking about his hand on my thigh. I remembered each and every time his hands touched a part of my body that made me want to scream. I remembered every time he told me that he was going to be my first and my last. I remembered everything, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t calm myself down.

When Gabriel came to tell me that the dinner was ready, I was on the verge of a panic attack.

When Gabriel and my dad started touching me, I couldn’t hold back anymore. Panic washed over me, and I just couldn’t hide it anymore.

In that moment, I realized that I didn’t want to leave. I couldn’t even pretend to be angry at them. Why would I be angry at people who gave me everything I ever wanted? Why would I be angry at people who gave me my first hugs and kisses? Why would I be angry at people who loved me? No. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t even pretend. I couldn’t leave them. I couldn’t be separated from my family again.

I wouldn’t survive it.

I was still terrified that Roger would hurt my dad and my brother. I was still so scared that I would lose them.

But a part of me knew that the only way I wouldn’t lose them was to tell them the truth. The only way we could stay together was to fight Roger together. If I left with him, we wouldn’t be together anymore.

My arms and legs were hurting from holding on to Gabriel, but I couldn’t let go. I just couldn’t. I felt safest right here, and I didn’t want to stop holding on to him.

“I love you.” Gabriel whispered as he kissed the top of my head. “I love you so much. No one will take you away from me, I promise. I won’t let them.”

I was the one that almost ended up separating us.

I looked up at him and saw tears on his face.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered.

“Why are you sorry?” he asked me as he wiped the tears from my cheeks.

“I almost left.” I said quietly. “I couldn’t let him hurt you, and I almost left.”

Gabriel tightened his jaw, and I saw anger flash in his eyes. I knew he wasn’t angry at me, though.

“It’s okay.” he mumbled as he leaned his forehead against mine. “I understand, Ari. I understand why you thought that it would be best to leave. I am so fucking glad that you didn’t. I wouldn’t survive if you did.”

“Me neither.” I mumbled.

I definitely wouldn’t. Roger would have killed me. My parents would have killed me.

I felt a hand on my back, and I turned around. Andrew was kneeling next to Gabriel and me. He had a small smile on his face.

“Thank you for telling us, cutie.” Andrew said, rubbing my back softly. “You are so brave and I am so proud of you.”

I didn’t know what came over me, but I let Gabriel go and wrapped my arms around Andrew’s neck.

At first, he didn’t do anything. I could tell that he was surprised.

But then he wrapped his arms around me and kissed my temple.

“I love you, cutie.” he said softly. “Thank you for trusting me and letting me hug you.”

“What about me?” Luke whined. “You can’t hug him and not me.”

I chuckled as I let Andrew go and reached out for Luke. He stared at me wide-eyed for a second before a huge grin spread across his face.

He kneeled down next to us and pulled me into a tight hug.

“This is the first time that my whining paid off.” he said as he kissed the top of my head. “I love you, shortie.”

I smiled and let go of Luke. Gabriel pulled me back to him immediately.

I looked around, expecting to see my uncle waiting to hug me too, but he wasn’t in the room with us. My dad was gone too.

“Where are dad and uncle Julian?” I asked, looking back at my brother.

“Living room.” he said, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Owen will be here any minute now.”

I nodded. I didn’t even hear them leave the kitchen.

“How pissed off will dad be when we tell him that Aria let us hug her first?” Luke asked Andrew as he smirked and crossed his arms over his chest.

“She hugged me first.” Andrew said and winked at me.

I smiled and shook my head. It surprised me to see how much it meant to them.

“Let’s go to the living room.” Gabriel said as he stood up with me in his arms. “Owen will be here any second now.”

Gabriel put me down gently, took my hand in his, and led me to the living room.

My dad and uncle looked at us as soon as they heard us come in.

“Hey, my baby.” dad said gently, walking up to me and pulling me into his arms. “Are you okay, love?”

I nodded, hugging him back.

“Aria let us hug her, dad.” Luke said, making my uncle gasp.

I let my dad go and reached out for my uncle before he even managed to speak.

“Oh, my little girl.” he said as he rushed to me.

He wrapped his arms around me and picked me up.

“Oh, honey.” my uncle said, kissing the top of my head. “I love you so much.”

I smiled and leaned my head on his shoulder. He rubbed my back soothingly and paced around the room with me in his arms.

“I waited for this moment for 17 years.” he told me. “From the first time I held you in my arms, I knew that I would love you endlessly. You and your brother are the best part of my Jo, and I never want to lose you.”

“You won’t.” I said as I lifted my head and smiled at him.

My uncle kissed my cheek and put me down gently. Gabriel was already there to pull me back into his arms. I was glad. I felt safest with Gabriel.

A knock on the door made my heart stop beating.

Sheriff Rivers was here.

“It’s okay, Ari.” Gabriel said softly when he felt me tensing up. “I’m here. I won’t leave you.”

I took a deep breath and leaned even more into my brother.

He was here.

He wasn’t going to leave me.

Gabriel holding me was the only thing that kept me from screaming in fear.

I started to doubt my decision to tell them about Roger. His words came back to me, and I couldn’t breathe. He said that he would kill my dad and my brother. What if the police didn’t catch him and he managed to do it?

Please, please, no.

Maybe I should have just left with him. I would do it if it would keep my dad and my brother safe.

I would do anything for them.