Chapter 51
CHAPTER 51
GAbrIEL
Four Months Later
I haul myself out of the pool and grab my towel, drying myself off before pulling on a t-shirt and some joggers. Leah headed back upstairs a little while ago, her growing pregnancy meaning she can’t do the number of lengths she did before. After I proposed, we went to St Clair’s and purchased the ring Leah wanted. It was a lot less flashy than most of the women I knew would have wanted, but it suited Leah down to the ground. A simple, square-cut, flawless diamond in a platinum setting. Her mum and dad were over the moon. They are due back in a couple of months. The idea of becoming grandparents shortly after nearly had them cut their trip short. It took a lot of convincing to have them see out their trip, and the promise that if Leah was to go into labour early, I would get them home.
Our life is crazy, although Leah has replaced the stock market as my favourite pastime and is helping me get some perspective in preparation for the baby’s arrival. Not everything has stopped. We still game, make love. We annoyed Pen, having finally figured out that each of the latter levels required players to pair up to complete them. Teamwork was the key. One Leah worked out. Ironic, as neither one of us got to proclaim ourselves as King or Queen of the Games room on this occasion, but somehow, I don’t think the battle will be disregarded. My communication officer and completely sex-mad partner has quite a competitive streak.
“Mr Frazer.”
I look up as one of the concierge team approaches.
“Billy,” I say, making him smile when I use his name. Another thing that has rubbed off on me from Leah. She got him moved across from her old building when she knew a position had opened up. She knows every staff member’s name, and it’s paid dividends. The staff will do anything for her.
“Ms Walker called down. She would like you to return as soon as possible, please.”
My heart pounds as I make my way to the pool entrance.
“Did she sound distressed?” I ask, not that Billy is likely to know.
“No, but it might have something to do with the young girl who just turned up. She asked to be let up. She looked distressed, and when I called Ms Walker, she told me to send her straight up.”
“Thank you, Billy. You did the right thing.”
The elevator arrives, and I jump in, tapping my foot impatiently as the door seems to take forever to close.
There’s only one young girl we know, and that’s Lottie. Why would she be here?
I enter the apartment to the sound of heart-wrenching sobs. Leah is sitting on the sofa, with my niece encased in her arms .
“Lottie?” I say, sinking down in front of her. “Hey pumpkin, what’s happened?” I try to keep my voice neutral, but my stomach’s churning. I scan her for any signs of injury but come up blank.
I look at Leah, who’s as equally distressed as I am. I send her a questioning look, wondering if Lottie has given any more information on her state.
“Lottie,” I say again, her wracking sobs breaking my heart. “Talk to us, sweetheart. We can’t help you unless we know what’s wrong.”
She pulls up, her expression one of pure agony, her eyes red and puffy, her face scrunched. I cup her face in my hands, wiping away some of the tears that continue to stream down her cheeks. Leah’s arm is wrapped around her shoulders.
“Talk to us. Let us help you.”
She sucks in a shuddering breath as she tries to get her emotions under control.
“You...you can’t help. No one can,” she says, the devastation in her voice and on her face, telling me she truly believes no one can help her.
“Why can’t we help?” Leah asks tenderly, taking one of Lottie’s hands in hers.
Lottie looks at her. “He’s not my biological father. She’s going to take me away from him.”
A look of confusion crosses Leah’s face, her gaze shooting to mine. I shrug until Lottie’s words sink in.
Oh, shit... everything becomes clear like the sun breaking through the clouds on a dull grey day. Leah sees the horror in my expression as realisation dawns. I school my features, not wanting to broadcast them to Lottie.
Is this why Elijah never left? Why he and Darra never divorced? None of us could understand why he stayed, especially when it’s so clear they make each other miserable. Lottie’s words play over in my mind. Lottie is Elijah’s world, and has been since the day she was born. I remember watching my older brother pacing the floor, getting his newborn daughter to sleep. Wiping her tears when she grazed her knee. Building her the playhouse that still sits in the gardens of Mum’s home.
Shit. How long? How long has he known? I think back to their relationship. When did everything change? When did my brother change from a carefree, fun-loving man to a work-obsessed tyrant?
Lottie’s body continues to heave in Leah’s arms.
“What do you mean?” I say, taking her shoulders and holding her so she can look at me.
“Lottie,” I say again. “What do you mean?”
She turns her tear-stained face to me, the devastation of what she’s heard written all over her face.
“Mum and Dad were arguing. It was so loud. She told him if he didn’t do what she wanted, then she would take me away. We’d leave.” She sucks in a breath. “He then... he then said. I may not be her biological dad, but I’m not letting you take her away from me.” Her eyes are wide when she stares at me. “He’s never left her. He’s stayed because of me.”
There’s a hammering at the door. What the hell? Only one person would have been able to get past security and upstairs. Mainly because his company installed the system.
“Lottie? Lottie, are you there? Gabriel, open this damn door.” Elijah’s voice echoes through the apartment.
Lottie freezes.
“I know you’re in there, please, darling.” Elijah’s voice changes as if every ounce of fight has left him. I don’t think I’ve ever heard my brother sound so desperate, helpless.
“Lottie, I’m going to speak to your dad. Are you okay if I let him in?”
I don’t know if there is more to the story, but I am not going to traumatise my niece if she needs five minutes without my brother breathing down her neck. I’m quite happy to step in. I still haven’t forgiven him for his treatment of Leah.
Lottie nods before wrapping her arms around Leah, dropping her head to her shoulder. Leah’s bump awkwardly sat between the two of them.
Elijah hammers once more. “Gabriel... please.”
I’m up and on my feet, making my way to the front door. Leah pulls Lottie into her arms, holding her tightly as she continues to shake.
“Elijah,” I say, opening the door to my frantic brother. His face is ashen. He looks like he’s aged twenty years.
“Gabriel, is Lottie here?” he asks, looking around me, his movements manic. “I tracked her phone.”
“She is.” When he goes to push past me, I press my hands into his shoulder, stopping him. He shoots me an impatient look.
“She’s distraught, Eli. Whatever she heard.”
I watch as he crumbles in front of me. His face screws up as if he can no longer contain the pain. His enormous frame folding in on itself. He lets out a mewl like a wounded animal.
I grip his shoulders and shake him when his breathing becomes erratic.
“Eli. Listen to me. There’s a very confused little girl in there. She needs her dad. That man is you. You need to pull yourself together and be that for her.”
Elijah looks at me, and I watch his all-too-familiar mask fall into place before he straightens his shoulders.
“I’ve got you. We can talk later, but first, you need to see Lottie.”
He moves to step around me and stops. “No one can know,” he says turning towards me.
“I won’t say a word. ”
He nods, before stopping in the doorway. His eyes locked on Leah and his daughter. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that my fiancée is comforting his daughter.
“Dad,” Lottie mumbles, her tears reigniting.
She stands up and throws herself into her father’s arms. He scoops her up, holding her tight. His eyes close as if she’s his lifeline.
“I’m sorry, Lottie. So sorry. You were never supposed to find out.”
My heart breaks as I listen to my brother and watch his life unravel before my eyes. Leah moves around them to stand beside me, wrapping her arms around my waist. The look in her eyes lets me know she’s grasped the severity of what we’ve just been told. Her heart is aching for the two people who are now crying in our living room.
“Oh, Lottie,” Elijah says, eventually putting his daughter down and wiping his eyes on his sleeve. He sits down on the sofa, pulling her into his side.
“Lottie, look at me,” he says, using a tone he’s only ever used for Lottie.
“But Dad, I heard what Mum said,” she says, her voice breaking.
Elijah recoils at her words.
“I may not be your biological father, but I’ll always be your dad, princess. I never want you to doubt that. You were mine from the moment they placed you in my arms. I love you. You’re my baby girl. You may not have my blood running through your veins, but you have my love and heart. Nothing can or will ever change that.”
Lottie throws herself at Elijah, and my vision blurs at the nightmare unfolding in front of us. I wrap my arms more tightly around Leah, pulling her into me. She comes willingly, encasing me with her love. I’m so happy I have her in my life. That I overcame my fears and allowed myself to feel. Elijah looks up at us, his eyes connecting with mine over his daughter’s head. They radiate his helplessness. Only time and some seriously good lawyers are going to fix it. His gaze moves to Leah, and I freeze. He bows his head, mouthing the word, “Thank you.”
Leah acknowledges him before motioning towards my office. Elijah nods as we walk away. They need time to talk but know where we are when they’re ready. That’s what family is for.
As we walk into the office, our own child kicks against my hand, making themselves known, my heart melts. Elijah’s reaction to Leah and I makes more sense now. What had he felt? I can’t easily forgive him. Leah is a good person and didn’t deserve his attack, but maybe I can try to understand him.