Page 71 of Gabriel's Salvation

“Actually,” the officer says, cutting me off,. “She told me to start the paperwork and that she would send your brother here ASAP, although fuck knows why. If you were my brother-in-law, I wouldn't think twice about making you spend the weekend here. Maybe it would teach you some goddamn manners.”

“What? She's actually sending Nate to get me?” Where is he getting the money? $800 is a hell of a lot of money to find in the middle of the night. Fuck, what if John has him doing jobs on the side? I’ve worked so hard to keep Nate away from that side of the business. My mind spirals as I'm escorted back to the cell while my paperwork is filed.

Just over forty-five minutes later, the officer comes and escorts me through the station. I expect to see my brother waiting for me on the other side of the door, but am shocked when I see Isabella's face instead.

"Oh, for fuck's sake, why is she here?" I snap. Where the fuck is Nate? Did he send her? Is he mad at me? Doesn't he care? The thoughts run through my mind at hyperspeed.

"I assume she's here to get your sorry ass out of here," the officer fires back at me.

"I don't fucking want her here. Just take me back!" I say feeling angry, hurt, confused, embarrassed and incredibly vulnerable at this moment.

"Well, it's 4 a.m., and I've already maxed out my card to save you. So you might as well come with me," she sighs, sounding exhausted. Wait? She maxed out her card… to save me? Why?

"Who says I need to be rescued by YOU?" I spit back. As my walls instinctively fly up. What the fuck is going on? Is this some sort of trap? What does she want from me for helping?

"Well, no one, I guess," she stammers and I can hear it in her voice that she's either frightened or nervous, "but I can't just leave you here," she says before giving me a timid looking smile. But it makes me uneasy. Not because it seems disingenuous, but because it reminds me so much of the pitiful smile I saw so many times on Nate’s face when we were just kids. The smile he’d give me or Dad when he was trying to be brave, praying that if he was a good boy, Daddy would love him and not hurt him.

"I suggest you leave now before I book you back in," the officer states coldly.

"Are you sure you're okay with him, ma'am? It's not too late to change your mind," the officer proposes, this time looking directly at me.

"Yes, I'm fine. He's family," Isabella says despite the fact it's clearly a lie. Her words take me back for a moment. So much so that I can't even reply, instead I just rush ahead, needing a moment alone to process the last thirty seconds.

I hear her fast steps behind me, as she desperately tries to match my fast pace. I stop at the bottom of the steps to give her time to catch up, but I must stop too quickly as I hear her stumble on the last one. I reach my hand out instinctively and catch her by the arm just before she falls.

"Should I call us an Uber?" Isabella mumbles as she steadies herself and looks down at my hand that's still on her arm.

"Where's Nate?" I demand as I pull my arm away. God, I wish Riley were here as well.

"Well, he's taking care of my friend Harper, who's pretty sick. I got the call and came straight here in an Uber," Isabella explains and I notice that same shit-eating grin on her face as Nate gets whenever he talks about her, too.

Shit, do I have that stupid face when I think about Riley? Shit, Riley! Does she know about her sister? Is she there with her now? Surely she would have come too, if she were. Again, my mind goes into overdrive as I continue walking.

"Wait! Do you want me to call us an Uber or not?" I hear a distant voice say behind me.

"No, I'll walk!" I toss back absentmindedly. I continue walking a few more steps, consumed by my thoughts when it dawns on me - Isabella. Fuck, I can't leave her out here alone. I glance back and see her shuffling from foot to foot as she looks down at the floor, mumbling something to herself.

"So, you coming or what?" I call out. Deciding it's the least I can do; to make sure she gets home safe, after all, she did just save me from a weekend in lock-up. I see her head pop up and a grateful little grin forms on her face as she begins running over to me. What the fuck is she wearing? Only now do I take in the fluffy, pink trousers poking out the bottom of her coat. And wait, are those slippers on her feet?

"Nice pajamas," I tease when she finally catches up to me.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, sir. I should have dressed better for bed, knowing I'd have to bail your belligerent ass out of jail!" she snaps back as she looks down at herself.

"It was a fucking holding cell, not jail," I grumble. I may be a dick, but I'm not like my father, I don't deserve to end up in jail.

The thoughts of that bastard, the one I've spent years trying to forget invade my mind. I think about the shit he put us through. About what happened when we moved away, what happened when Nate abandoned me to stay with his stupid foster family.

Why couldn't he have just left with me? I would have taken care of him. But no, his stupid new family and stupid new school were more important. I bet that's why he didn't come tonight. He probably hoped I'd stay in the cell and get sent to prison so he’d never have to deal with me again. After all, I'm nothing but a disappointment to him, and everyone who has ever known me. That's why no one ever stays, not for me. No one cares about me, not really. But then... if he really wanted rid of me, and I'm sure Isabella does too, why did she come tonight?

"Why did you come?" I ask quietly. I see her turn to look at me strangely, like she either didn't hear or doesn't understand the question.

"Why... did... you… come?" I repeat slowly.

"What do you mean, why did I come? They called and said you had been arrested. I couldn't just leave you there to rot," she says with a confused frown, but so matter of fact, like the answer is obvious.

"Why didn't you just leave me in there and pretend you didn't get the call?" I snarl. I just don't understand this girl. Surely this has got to be a trap. I've made her life hell since she started dating Nate. I always thought this nice girl act was just that, an act. Something to make my brother fall in love with her. I was so sure she'd come here to either trick me and watch me squirm, or to demand something in return. But she's done neither.

"Pretend I didn't get the call? Why would I do that? You needed help, so I helped you. I really don't understand the question, Gabe,” Isabella snaps and it's clear I've upset her.

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