Page 81 of Vengeful Lies

What did that mean?

And did she even want it to mean anything at all?

Chapter

Twenty

September 23rd

10:47 A.M.

Standing outside Gabriella’s hospital room yesterday while his daughter and the rest of his family celebrated inside had been hell.

Not just because he wasn't there with them, but because Gabriella didn't want to see him.

Cade knew she was aware that he had been the one to find her unconscious in her room. He’d ridden with her in the ambulance, stayed by her side in the emergency room, it wasn't until she finally started to wake up that he’d reluctantly left.

It had been hard.

Certainly not what he wanted to do.

But his brothers had made too much sense telling him that he’d messed things up badly enough with Gabriella that the strong, fiery woman they’d always known had just given up. He shouldn’t be the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes, even though there was nothing he’d wanted more than to get loststaring into those green depths of hers and prove to himself that he hadn't lost her.

That there was still hope.

It was time to put Gabriella first, so he’d left her room, listened from the hall as Jax had spoken softly to her in soothing tones, assuring her she was safe and being taken care of. He’d rallied the rest of his family, knowing he couldn’t have the conversation he wanted with Gabriella until she was stronger. Until then, he didn't want her alone. Not even for a second.

He had a new mission in life, and it was ensuring that never again did Gabriella see herself as trash that was easily thrown away.

Yesterday he’d hung back and allowed Gabriella and his daughter to enjoy Essie’s birthday together, like they should have all along. Sometimes admitting you made a mistake sucked, but sometimes it was a relief.

And right now, Cade felt relieved.

There was still a knot in his stomach because he knew he had a long road ahead of him to convince Gabriella to give him a second chance, but it was a relief to finally admit that he wanted her in his life. There was no more hiding from his feelings. No more pretending he wasn't aware of Gabriella’s feelings.

It was freeing in a way but still terrifying.

Because his family was in danger and even though he acknowledged that sending Gabriella away to protect her hadn't been the right move it didn't change the facts. Losing her wasn't just some hypothetical he could lose her kind of worry, there was a very real possibility his entire family could be taken out.

With a deep breath, he knocked on the door to Gabriella’s room once. She hadn't wanted to see him yesterday and while he’d been disappointed, he’d still wanted her and Essie to enjoy his daughter’s birthday together, so he hadn't minded stayingoutside. He’d had plenty of time to enjoy Essie on her birthday and wanted to share his child with Gabriella.

But today he had to try to talk to her. Explain. Pray she was at least a little bit receptive to what he had to say.

There was no response to his knock and a tiny niggle of doubt tickled the back of his neck. Gabriella was improving slowly. Unfortunately, she’d completely run herself into the ground by not eating and was extremely weak, but she was improving with the help of antibiotics and fluids.

Just because she had been doing okay didn't mean she still was.

After all, no one had known she was even sick to begin with.

Shoving open the door, Cade stormed into the room and froze as he saw Gabriella walking out of the bathroom. She was wearing an oversized T-shirt he’d seen her sleep in plenty of times before, it was one of the things he’d packed in the bag he’d sent to the hospital with his brothers after he’d known Gabriella was stable. With her long red curls hanging free around her face, slightly less tangled than when he’d found her in the hotel, and her face free from makeup, she looked so young and vulnerable. Beautiful though, even the paleness of her skin, and the slight feverish splash of pink to her cheeks couldn’t diminish that.

“Cade,” she said, shocked that he was standing in her room.

On the other hand, he couldn’t seem to say anything.

All he could do was stare at her and drink in the sight.

She was alive, still sick, still weak, but alive.

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