First Love Only Love (The Life 2)

“I wouldn’t worry too much about Gabe; the kid has a good head on his shoulders. Now, my nieces, that’s a whole other story. Have you noticed how much like our mother they are?”

“Don’t borrow trouble; they haven’t reached there yet. They’re still my little girls who care only about spending my money on the latest fashion, and I aim to keep it that way for a long time to come.”

His amused laughter didn’t faze me. I know it’s only a matter of time before their brother turns them into whatever the hell he is. All I can say is thank fuck I’ve decided to take the family business legit, or the rest of the world would have a destructive force on their hands. The three of them had sucked the blood of vengeance in their mother’s milk—my sweet Sophia, who otherwise wouldn’t harm a fly.

I wonder if she knows that this little game he’s playing with the Fontanes is just the preface to what’s to come? Because of what she’d set in motion all those years ago. I haven’t told her yet that I know what she’d done, but that conversation is fast approaching. It’s time I call in the reinforcements I’d been keeping in the wings for just such a time as this.

GABRIEL

When have I ever been this excited before? Pop had texted a while ago that he’d come through on the car, and I’d received confirmation that the rest of the stuff I’d ordered her had been delivered. Now I’m sitting here in the truck waiting for her and my sisters to exit the building.

I hadn’t gone to pick her up from class after the last bell because there was no need to. With Victoria out of the picture, here at least, there was no one left to bother her. Those two friends of hers that were still here wouldn’t have the guts. I’d had to fight the urge to, though, and that scared me more than anything.

Ever since our lunchtime walk, she’s been heavy on my mind. Today was just the beginning, and really, in the scheme of things, there was still a long way to go. A few new clothes, no matter the price tag, are not enough to get her to where she needs to be, where I want her to be.

I saw a bit of fire in her earlier when I mentioned her friends, but she’s still too shy yet. Still way too innocent to face the world when I leave her, and there’s no doubt that I’ll have to at some point. The thought left me saddened, but it couldn’t be helped. I have a duty, an obligation if you will, to right the wrong my mother suffered to bring me into this world.

There was a fleeting thought in the back of my mind as I watched her walk towards me that maybe I can take a little bit of happiness for myself before I depart that maybe as a being who spent time here, I deserve that much. But that was just my selfishness talking. I felt a sorrow so deep it took my breath, and I was hard-pressed to find a smile when I unlocked the door to let her in.

She squinted at me as if sensing the stress in me, and the way she studied my eyes as if she already knew me well enough to gauge my mind, read my inner thoughts, something I know is damn near impossible even for those who know me well. “What’re you looking at?” She was startled, as if my voice woke her from a daze.

“Nothing, you look… different, somehow, I can’t. Were you sad?” Words got stuck in my lungs as I stared back at her in surprise. How could she…? The twins showed up just in time to save me from blundering to find an answer. All the way home, her question burned a hole in my gut. How could she know what I was feeling? I’m not so easily read—something to think about.

By the time we pulled through the gate, I’d put it aside in favor of enjoying her reaction to her gifts. “Wait!” I stopped her before she could open the door to let herself out then walked around to help her down. “There’s something I need to show you.” I grabbed her hand and led her to the garage where Pop had stored the car. “Funny!” He’d put one of those big red bows on the thing.

“How did you… Did my dad leave this here?”

“Not quite. I just figured you’d like to learn to drive in your mom’s car, so I made it happen.” She looked confused by my explanation but had the good sense not to question me further. I have no idea what I would’ve said to her had she done so. The repercussions of what went down today have yet to be felt by all involved. The least she knows about that, the better.