Chapter 46

Something isn't right. I woke up with a start this morning. My heart was racing. I have no idea what's wrong, but something is. My first thought was Gabe. I reached for my phone and called his number. It went straight to voicemail. I haven't tried again because I don't want to be that wife. But it's now lunchtime, and I haven't heard from him.

How long do I wait before I start reaching out to his family to find out what's going on? Would they even tell me?

A knock startles me out of my spiralling thoughts. I jump up, rush towards the sound, and pull the door open. Vin, Gabe's youngest brother, stands there with a grim expression on his face. And my stomach plummets.

"What happened?" I ask him.

"Can I come in?" He walks past me without waiting for an answer.

"Vin, where's Gabe? What happened?" I try again.

"Okay, don't freak out, but Gabe got arrested in Sydney last night," Vin says.

"Don't freak out? You have to be freaking kidding me. Arrested for what?" I question as I pace up and down the corridor.

"We don't know what the charges are yet, but Xavier Christianson is working on getting him out on bail," Vin tells me. "I'm sure he'll be home by the end of the week. But Gabe wanted me to come by and let you know, so you didn't worry when you didn't hear from him."

"Oh, because finding out my husband got arrested for God only knows what is nothing to worry about." I throw myself down onto the sofa with an exasperated sigh.

"Your what now?" Vin asks, and I can hear the shock in his voice. See it when I glance up to look at him. And that's when I realise I fucked up.

Goddamn it. I've turned into El, after just one day of marriage. But she is right. Saying my husband has a different feel to it.

"What do you mean your husband?" Vin presses.

"It was a slip of the tongue. I meant boyfriend." I shrug.

"No, you didn't." Vin lowers himself next to me on the sofa. "When did you and my brother get married, and why the fuck haven't either of you told anyone?"

"He wanted to tell everyone together. When he got back. You can't tell anyone, Vin. Don't take this from him," I plead.

"I won't say a word to no one. But fuck. Married? How?"

"We went and saw a judge, signed some papers, and that's it really."

"Gabe's an idiot. That's not how you marry someone. You deserve way better than a fucking courthouse."

"I don't want better, Vin. I just want him home. Tell me what's going to happen now?"

"Xavier's in Sydney with Gio. They're going to apply for bail. Xavier thinks they'll get it."

"Bail? And then what? What is he being charged with?"

"That's something you'll have to talk to your husband about. I don't know all the details. I just came here to tell you so you didn't worry."

"Where was Gio when this happened?" I ask. "I thought they were going together?"

"Again, I'm just the messenger." Vin lifts a single shoulder. "Why don't you come and stay with us until Gabe gets out? You and El can plot our demise or whatever it is you two do when you get together."

I squint my eyes at Vin. "Why do I get the feeling that this is a lot worse than what you're letting on?"

"It's not," he says, and I can't figure out if he's telling the truth or not.

"Why would you want me to come to your place then?"

"Because it's our place. You're my sister, Daisy, which means you should be at home with your family."

I blink at him. This seventeen-year-old kid just called me family. He has no idea how much that means to me, or how fucking scared it makes me at the same time. "Except no one knows that Gabe and I got married and they can't know until he's the one telling them."

"So, don't tell them. Married or not, you're our brother's girl and we look after what's ours. So, pack your stuff and come home with me. Save me the hassle of having to sleep on your sofa so you're not alone."

I roll my eyes. "I'm a grown-ass woman, Vin. I don't need you to babysit me. I mean, you do realise I'm the adult here, right?" I ask him.

"I'm aware. At the same time, age is just a number, Daisy. So come on. If I don't get you home, Gabe's gonna make me sit through one of his marathon lectures and nobody has time for that shit," Vin grunts.

"Marathon lectures?" I parrot with my ass still firmly planted on the sofa. I have no intention of packing anything.

"Gabe's a fixer. I can see why you two are so good together. You're both fixers and want to help everyone." Vin shrugs.

"You know what? I will come and stay for a bit, at least until Gabe's home." I nod.

"Perfect."

Truth is I'm not going to get any information by staying here. I need to be at the hub of the De Bellis household if I want to know what's actually going on with my husband.

I rush into my bedroom, pull a bag down from the top of my closet, and start stuffing random articles of clothing inside it. Picking up my phone, I message Dani. She's dating one of the partners at the law firm. She also works there, which means she's the perfect point person.

Me:

I need Xavier Christianson's number. Not the office line. I want his personal phone number.

Dani:

I'm on my way to your place now. We need to talk!

Me:

I'm just about to leave to go to El's. Meet me there.

Dani:

You might not want a crowd for this chat, Daisy.

Me:

It's a big house. We can find an empty room.

I have no idea what she wants to talk to me about. I just know I need to speak with her and see what she knows.

"I'm pretty sure you know the way to Gabe's room." Vin smirks at me as we walk through the front door.

"Uh-huh." I nod my head. Now that I'm in this house, I'm not so sure it was such a good idea to come here. But I need to find out what's going on with Gabe. I need to know what I can do to help him. And I need him home. So I head towards the staircase.

"Daisy, make yourself at home. Whatever you need, just ask someone and they'll get it for you," Vin says.

"Thank you." I smile at him, even though smiling is the last thing I feel like doing right now.

As soon as I step foot inside Gabe's room, I close the door behind me and fall to the floor. The enormity of what's happening hits me hard. Counting to ten in my head, I repeat the process twice more while trying to calm myself. I cannot fall apart right now. I will not fall apart. Whatever I have to do to get Gabe home, I'll do it. Because the idea of him sitting in some cement cell behind bars breaks my freaking heart.

"What the hell have you done, Gabe?" I whisper to the empty room, knowing no one is going to answer me.