• [ y o u r d a m n l o v e r b o y ] •

♥ gabriel ♥

UNLIKE MOST PEOPLE, I genuinely thought that fuzzy socks were pretty cool. Of course, I'd never tell anybody that but deep down, the so-called unwanted Christmas gift held a special place in my heart. They were kinda underrated.

Very emotional, Gabe

"Thanks, Nanna. I'm glad chill burn won't be an issue anymore," I joked, standing up from the armchair to hug her. Her frail arms wrapped around me before she lovingly patted my head.

"You're more than welcome, Gabriel. I'm sorry I didn't have time to give you anything else to open today; things have been considerably different than usual," She suggested, looking at me through the reading glasses that she always wore, even if she didn't have a book on hand.

At this stage, I was damn certain that she did it just for the aesthetic.

Gabriel's groovy grandma.

"Tell me what you want and I'll buy it for you, Gabriel."

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you can't buy a person.

Smiling at her, I let out a chuckle. "You're going to regret saying that when I empty your bank account-"

Halfway through my sentence, a rustling sound came from the door as somebody pushed something through the letterbox. "Post on Christmas day? Didn't know that was a thing."

Nanna and I had barely caught a few hours of sleep. Yesterday evening, I'd returned home to Britain with Nanna, Prince and Arlo. It turned out that the pair of idiots had got along with Nanna super well, to the extent where I wouldn't have been surprised if she chose them over her own bloody grandson.

To be honest, it didn't matter. Nanna could faff over them as much as she liked. Thanks to the pair of them, I'd made it back home sweet home for Christmas.

"Sit back down, Mister!" Nanna scolded when I got up to collect the post. "Don't go acting like a dashing dandy. It's only been a week; you're not recovered yet."

"It's fine, Nanna. It gives me an excuse to parade around the house shirtless. What's the point of having these guns if you can't show them off?" I responded with a wink. She tutted in disapproval whilst I waved my hand dismissively and grinned.

It hadn't taken me long to pick up that joking about my injuries seemed to make them hurt a little less now I wasn't hooked onto pain-relieving a-class drugs.

My legs had recovered a lot but that didn't alleviate the fact that I had several stab wounds on my stomach alongside a bandage across my head. The cuts on my face had begun healing and formed hard maroon scabs.

A sly smirk crawled on my face when I recognised the handwriting on the cover.

If it wasn't dear old Mr Carpenter, our neighbour.

"To Beth," I read aloud from the hallway before wiggling my dark eyebrows at her. "Oi oi, things seem to be progressing fast. I see we've skipped first name basis and gone straight to nicknames."

Nanna blinked a few times before pushing herself up from the chair and hobbling towards me. "Give it to me, you crazy boy. You're talking nonsense. We're just friends."

A secret letter on Christmas Day itself?

Damn, the lad knew how to pull girls almost as well as me. That was saying something.

My grey eyes moved onto hers, the skin in the corner crinkling as I laughed. "I'm coming, I'm coming. Don't have a heart attack." I bent onto one knee and dramatically bestowed the red envelope to her, "An impassioned love letter from your sweetheart."

Nanna was sitting here getting daily notes from the eighty-year-old geezer and I couldn't even get a phone call back. Jeez, what was the world like nowadays?

Bro, you need to up your game. Perhaps handwritten notes are the way forward. You may as well put your utterly sexy handwriting to some good use.

"You know I might steal Mr Carpenter's idea of love letters."

"Oh, no you won't. I won't deal well with thousands of letters from your secret admirers popping through the letter box. And he's not my sweetheart, you nutter," Nanna lied, rosy pink tinting her saggy cheeks.

"Sure thing."

The drawstrings of my tracksuit bottoms dangled against my hips as I kicked my feet up on the sofa, flicking through the TV channels.

"It's nearly 8 pm. How about you have a little read whilst I find a good Christmas film to watch?" I suggested, sweeping my brown hair off my face.

Find a Christmas film?

Haha, you liar. As if you haven't already decided on watching The Grinch for the eighteenth Christmas running.

Uh... Shut up, Gabe.

"Actually before that, I have something for you," Nanna interrupted my train of thoughts, whilst fishing for something in her handbag.

I raised an eyebrow, dragging my eyes away from the television where a hot woman was dancing seductively in a scanty Mrs Claus outfit. Dammit.

"Yeah?"

In her hand was my phone. A little smile grew on her as she saw my face light up. "Is that my phone? I thought that gang broke it? Thanks, Nanna."

She nodded at me and placed it in my hand. "They did. I got it repaired back in Australia. It's as good as new."

Wait. Nanna had it on her since we were in Australia? My face fell as I thought about all those hours that I spent on the plane being tortured by pure boredom.

I looked at her in disbelief before groaning, "Nanna, why didn't you give this to me earlier?"

In return, she gave me a serious look as if she had already thought this through, "Because I knew you'd be glued to it on the flight and not sleep-"

"I wouldn't have done that."

I totally would have.

Seeing right through me, she shook her head with beady eyes. "Your body needed to rest. Just because your walking now doesn't mean that you didn't get hurt a mere week ago."

Holding my hands up in defeat, I let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Alright, fine. You're right."

When I unlocked it and saw the tonne of messages that were on it, I was reminded of the moments before the attack. Eyes furrowed, I read the notifications from Louisa.

Louisa Darling (27 new)

Gabriel, it's Louisa. Have you reached the Opera House yet?

?

This is urgent, Gabe. I've called you and it keeps going to voicemail. Can you call me back as soon as possible?

Pick up the phone

Gabriel, this is serious business. You're in danger. I need you to call me back now

For god sake, read this bloody message, Gabriel

You need to stay away from Logan. He's after you, Gabriel. This isn't some joke

I know you don't like him and don't believe he can touch you but he can. He isn't messing about. Please believe me

Get away from him as fast as you can

I'm still with Prince at the hospital. Come here and meet me

Gabriel, answer your fucking phone. You're usually glued to it so why not now?

Logan's the reason why Prince nearly drowned today, Gabriel. He's serious about all this. He hates you. He's drunk on jealousy and can't see straight anymore

It was meant to be you

He meant to drown you, not Prince

Gabe, read my messages! Stop ignoring me

Get the fuck away from him

Now

Don't tell Talisa or Arlo. Just come and meet me

He's planning something else because his original plan backfired and hurt Prince instead as you switched regulators

I'm probavly not making sense right now so just call me and I'll exolain

I've got a bad feeling about this

He's going to do something tonight

Gabriel, pkease answer the phone or at least reoly

Wait, are you okay?

Has he alreasg done something? Gabr, please text me back

Gabriel, please. I can't let someken else get hurt because of me

Answer the phone

"What?" My cloudy eyes were wide as the cogs turned in my brain. The reason Prince was in the hospital that day was that he'd unknowingly taken my dodgy regulator instead of his working one.

It hasn't been an accident after all.

Logan's a fucking psychopath. I should have known he'd try something like this.

Who in their right mind would do something like that? He was sick. Twisted and sick.

The palms of my hands clenched into strong fists as I read the messages again, feeling myself getting more and more riled up. I wanted to punch something. Scrap that. I wanted to beat the living hell out of something. To put it more specifically, someone particular.

You did promise yourself that you'd put someone in a hospital bed.

My teeth clenched as my jaw pulsated thinking through everything again.

Did that also mean-

"That piece of shit," I burst furiously under my breath, bare chest heaving. He must have also been behind the stabbing. That was what Lou's had been talking about in those messages.

It hadn't been a random group of men. They'd been sent by him to specifically target me.

"Bloody bastard. He doesn't have an attitude problem, he'd downright fucked in the damn head!" I exclaimed, standing up.

"Gabriel!" Nanna exclaimed, putting her letter back in the table. The bun pulled her head back as the pair of grey eyebrows in her face shot up. "What's got into you? I've never heard you talk that like!"

"Turns out my stabbing wasn't a random mystery," I barked out in agitation, my hair falling upon my forehead. "Logan sent those people after me to-"

I stopped talking when another notification app watered on my phone stating that Louisa had started a live stream. My jaw slackened when I joined in and saw Louisa. Her face flickered onto the screen as she hurriedly started the video with trembling hands.

The words coming from a familiar douchebag's mouth worsened my urge to wrap my hands around Logan's throat. "Oh, you're gonna regret that, you worthless deliberated piece of crap!" he shouted at her as every muscle in my body tensed.

How dare he speak to somebody like that. The way he was acting was inhumane. He seemed more like an animal than a person.

"W-Who is that, Gabriel? Why is he talking that way?" Nanna questioned, clearing her throat when she stuttered a little.

My stomach dropped when Louisa came into proper view again. Blood was trickling down her arm as she lay on the floor.

Get up, Louisa.

She thankfully pushed her hands if the floor before glowering at him in contempt, "You're the debilitated one, Logan!"

I'd never seen her like that. So full of hate and so bent upon causing havoc. I would have applauded her for it but a feeling in my gut told me this wasn't going to end well for her.

Come on, just show me where you are Lou. I'll get there in time. I promise.

"Gabriel! Tell me what's going on," Nanna exclaimed, breaking me from my daze. When my seething eyes ripped themself away from my phone, I saw the anxiety flooding her pair. "Now Gabriel."

"I've got to go, Nanna," I rushed, pulling a black t-shirt over my head. "Louisa's in danger. She needs help."

Nanna was horrified as she caught sight of my phone screen. "Is that that Louisa? The one I met at the hospital? Oh god. I knew something was up with her. It's that fiancé of hers. He's beating her? I-"

Hearing Nanna spell it out like that made me feel disgusted at myself. There had been so many signs. How the fuck had I not pieced it together? I was an idiot. The time I'd seen her on the bus, the makeup to cover up bruises, her paranoia around him. I knew something had been up. I should have tried harder to figure out what it was.

Whatever happens to her is your fault. You could have prevented it.

"Where the hell are you, Lou?" I murmured, eyes still on the screen as I slipped some shoes on. My eyes fell upon the background behind the pair of them. It seemed familiar. Was that where Darling and I had been that day? The monument looming in the background confirmed my guess.

"I know where they are. Call the police and tell them to go to the area near City Hall. I'll get the train there," I quickly squeezed Nanna's shoulders as I vaguely heard Lou and Logan continue arguing. "Love you and I'll keep you informed."

I glanced at the comments people were making.

Logan's a maniac!

Did he just hit her?

What the hell?

Bless Louisa!

Has this been going on for a long time?

Anyone know why we spent so long looking up to him?

He's an asshole.

An abuser.

I'll be telling myself Dad. This will be on the front covers tomorrow.

He's messed up.

Just as I pulled open the door, she stopped me with a panicked voice. "But Gabriel, wait! It's Christmas. There's no train service."

I stopped in my step. Shit, she was right. All public transport was suspended. The shaking in my hand got worse as I heard another feminine scream from my phone.

Just hurry the hell up, Gabriel.

"Fuck. I-I'll take the car," I stuttered out, anger overwhelming me when Logan launched Louisa in the floor as if she were a rag doll.

Nanna looked at me with huge eyes, "Car? Are you sure, Gabriel? You haven't driven sinc-"

"I can't just sit here and do nothing!" I interrupted, scrambling for my driver's license which was buried, almost untouched at the bottom of my wallet. "Please can I use your car, Nanna? Please?"

"Honey, are you sure you can handle it? It's b-"

I quickly interrupted her, stormy eyes raging like a hurricane. "Yes."

No.

"Please can I have the keys? I'll be careful."

She looked at me as if I'd asked her a stupid question. "Of course, you can. Go and help the poor girl," Nanna declared before doubt clouded her. "Just don't hurt yourself, my boy. I know what you're like so just promise me that you won't do something impulsive. You've barely recovered yourself. Promise me, Gabriel."

"I promise. Just call the police."

Taking the car keys from her hand, I closed the front door behind me and hurried to the car.

This was the moment of truth.

The last time I'd sat on the front right-hand side of the car was when I'd crashed it a year ago. A lump formed in my throat as I placed my two hands in the steering wheel. Memories punctured my mind as I let out a shaky breath. squeezing my eyes shut for a second.

You're not strong enough to do this, Gabriel. Go on. Get out the car and go home. Walk away like you always do because you're too scared the face reality.

My eyes swelled with tears as images of that girl whom I'd seen on the records ruthlessly tormented me.

I had easily told Nanna that I'd be fine driving again, but deep down I was utterly terrified. The seatbelt that was wrapped around me lacerated at my stab wounds, aggravating them.

You're weak, Gabe.

What is something went wrong again? What if I had a flashback halfway through? What if I accidentally hurt someone?

Taking a deep breath, I rested my head against the wheel and took a deep breath, ignoring the sheen of sweat that had clouded my forehead. Slowly, the shaking in my hand reduced as I gritted my teeth and thought about Louisa.

I had to do this. If not for myself, then for her.

The sound of her voice ripping into Logan's false beliefs rang from my phone, giving me the confidence boost that I needed. I hit my foot against the accelerator, listening to their conversation.

"Your damn loverboy seems to have boosted your ego too much. Maybe it's time to pay him a visit in the hospital. This time he won't step foot out."

My hand on the gear stick tightened. "The only reason why you dislike him is that you're bloody insecure of your masculinity."

Yes, Louisa. You fucking tell him.

Somehow I managed to get there in one piece and I was beyond thankful that the streets were empty. Parking the car in a side street, I rushed towards the area where Louisa and I had met that day whilst biting back the pain from a few stitched that I'd ripped during the journey.

"Fuck." The sight that lay in front of my eye was horrific.

Louisa lay almost mutilated in the floor with shards of glass splayed all around her like sunken flowers. Blood was everywhere. Images from that night seemed to be triggered at the sight in front of me yet I bit my tongue and forced them away.

Come one. Be strong, Gabe.

Where the fuck was the bastard? If he were anywhere to be seen, I'd have pummeled him and chucked him into the bloody river. Nothing but empty streets met me. No wonder nobody had come to help. The place was dead.

What worried me the most was the fact Louisa looked as if she wasn't breathing.

You should have picked up the signs.

"Come on, Darling! Please keep breathing." I fell to my knees, wincing as a few shards of broken glass pierced my skin, desperately scrambling towards her and holding her hands. They were absolutely freezing. My heart hammered against my chest as I looked at her with wild grey eyes, dark brown waves splayed messily in all directions.

Part of me was grateful that nobody else was here; otherwise, they'd see that my cheeks were moist from tears of fear.

I'll never forgive myself if something happens to you. I don't want to hate myself even more.

My hands were trembling in fright as I pulled her into my lap and gently held her face. There were bruises on her cheek and I could have sworn I made out an imprint of a ring.

Please be breathing.

I let out a sigh of relief when I saw her chest move up and down but that didn't change the fact that Louisa didn't look as if she was going to hold on for long. "You gotta stay with me a little longer. J-Just hold on. God, you can't leave me, Lou. Please."

Pulling her closer to me, I pressed my lips against her forehead, eyebrows furrowed in confusion when tears began streaming down her face. "Shh, don't cry," I whispered hoarsely as Louisa shivered a little on the floor.

"It's alright, Lou. I've got you."

In case you didn't realise, the events in this chapter occurred at the same time as the events in the last chapter. Hope this gave you a little insight. Thank you so much for 18k!

I literally can't wait to hear what you guys think at this stage! Go drop me a PM of your thoughts (and if you've generally liked reading TPOG) and I'll be sure to reply.

Kiwi x

♥ 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫! ♥