Chapter 48
Something was wrong.
Gianna hadn't been answering my calls or texts. She didn't do her morning or goodnight check-in with Melo. She wouldn't do that to him. She had an alarm set to make sure she did it daily. I went to the hotel and the staff said she wasn't answering.
I was forced to sit at home all night, stomach in knots, heart racing thinking the worst had happened to her.
And then she called in the morning. On time. My whole body relaxed as I quickly answered. "Baby, where are you? You okay? You had me worried sick," I rushed out.
I heard her sniffling.
I looked over at Melo who was finishing up his breakfast. Stepping from the table I moved out of his earshot. "You crying?" my voice softened. "Tell me what's wrong?"
"I'm okay," her voice cracked.
"You lying to me?"
She sniffled harder. "N-no. Just…tired."
"Baby—"
"Where's Melo?" She cut in.
I glanced back towards him. "Finishing breakfast. He was sad when you didn't call him."
"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "Can I say hi really quick?"
I paused. "I don't want him to hear you this emotional before he goes to school."
Her breath hit the line. "I'm okay," she said clearing her throat, voice clearer. "Just really quick. Please."
I exhaled slowly. "Okay, baby." Walking over I placed the phone on speaker. "GG's on the phone, buddy."
He perked up, smiling brightly. "Hi, GG!"
She chuckled softly. "Hi, little handsome. I'm so sorry I didn't call you. GG was just…really tired. Are you all ready for school?"
"Unh-huh." He nodded fast. "Daddy said you're coming over this weekend. Can we make French toast?"
I heard her breath sharpen. "We can make whatever you want, sweetheart," she said. "Melo—I love you, okay? You're the best, most handsome, smartest boy I know."
Something about the way she said it made me pause.
But Melo giggled. "I love you too, GG. Thank you!"
"Finish your breakfast. Bye, sweetie. Have a wonderful day at school."
"Bye, GG!" He waved to the phone happily.
I took the phone off speaker and placed it back to my ear. "You still at the hotel, right? Can I come see you before I head to the restaurant? I just wanna give you a hug."
"Yeah," she replied quietly. "You can."
"Alright. I'll be there in a bit. You need me to bring you some food?"
"No. I'm okay."
"Okay. I love you, Gianna."
She paused. "I love you too, Remy."
Relief made my shoulders drop when I hung up the phone. Once I saw her, talked to her…I could make it better.
Melo finished breakfast and after he brushed his teeth, we left. He chattered a mile a minute and I was grateful that talking to Gianna set his tone for the day. Once I dropped him off, I headed to the hotel.
Parking, I let her know I was downstairs. Ten minutes later she shuffled down wearing shorts, a tank top, and slides. My heart started fluttering and I stepped out to greet her. I didn't even get a chance to say anything before she fell in my arms, body trembling.
"Hey, it's okay. I'm here now," I soothed her gently wrapping my arms tightly around her, pressing my lips to the top of her head. She pressed herself closer against me like she didn’t want to let me go. I rubbed up and down her back. "I'm here, baby. I got you. I'm not going anywhere."
She lifted her head from my chest and looked up at me. My heart broke. Her eyes were red and swollen, tears soaked on her cheeks.
"What's going on, beautiful? You're scaring me." I searched her face, my heart thudding harder. "Is it Boss? Did he do something to you?"
"No," she croaked. "Can we sit in the car and talk?"
"Of course." I kissed her forehead leading her to backseat. I waited for her to settle in before I slid in the other side, scooting close. My hand reached out for hers, lifting it and pressing my lips to the top. "Talk to me, beautiful?" I said against her skin.
She stared down at our hands for so long my stomach started twisting again. Then finally she pulled her hand away gently. The loss of contact felt immediate and painful.
"I been thinking a lot," she whispered.
I frowned slightly watching fresh tears fill her eyes. "About what?"
Us. She didn't say it, but I felt it anyway. "Gianna?" I prompted.
"I love you so much." Her voice broke. "And Melo…" She shook her head trying to breathe through her emotions. "Being with y'all was the happiest I've ever been."
Cold fear started creeping into my chest. "Baby, why are you talking like this?"
She covered her mouth briefly as a sob escaped her. I reached for her automatically, but she shook her head quickly.
"Please…let me finish."
That rejection hurt bad. But I slowly lowered my hand.
She stared out the tinted window instead of at me now. "Before I met you, my life was all over the place. And I got used to it—preferred it because I didn't think men like you existed." She swallowed hard. "And then you came and showed me peace."
"Gianna—"
"No listen." Tears rolled down her cheeks nonstop now. "You gave me a security. You trusted me around your son. You loved me more than anyone else." Her voice trembled harder. "And look what my life brought to your door."
I shook my head. "This isn't your fault."
"But it is," she cried finally looking at me. "You got bruises on your face because of me. Melo cried seeing you hurt because of me."
I moved closer. "Baby—"
"And what if next time it's worse?" she whispered brokenly. "What if next time you don't come home to him?"
That silenced me, but not for long. "You're worth whatever pain I have to endure to make sure you're safe," I replied honestly.
She shook her head. "Don't say that."
"It's true." I grabbed her hand again, but this time she didn't pull away.
"You said I brought security and peace into your life—baby—you brought life into mine.
Made me smile again. Made my son fall in love with you with just one look.
You're everything to me. You're my fucking light and now you're trying to take that away and put me back in the darkness. "
Her face crumbled. "Please don't…" she whispered.
"No—you please don't." I grabbed her other hand pulling her closer to me until our faces where right in each other's.
"Don't give up on us because you're scared.
Don't run away from me when you know I would chase you.
Stay still, Gianna." I stared into her eyes.
"Let me love you. Let me give you the life we both deserve.
You told me you wouldn't hurt me, so why do you wanna break my heart now when you know what it took for me to love again? "
A broken sob left her. Her body shook hard while tears poured down her face.
Seeing her cry like that was tearing me apart. "Babe…" I whispered softer reaching for her face. "Talk to me? Please. Tell me why you're doing this to us?" I pleaded.
"I can't," she cried.
"Yes, you can," I insisted
She shook her head desperately. "No, Remy you don't understand."
"Then help me understand!" My own emotions finally started rising now. "Because this don't even feel real right now."
Her eyes squeezed shut. "I love you," she whispered painfully. "That's why."
Confusion and hurt slammed through me hard. "What the fuck does that even mean?" I asked hoarsely.
"It means I can't be the reason something happens to you!" She broke. "I can't wake up one day and have to explain to your son why his daddy ain't coming home because of me!"
Silence hit the car hard. My chest ached so bad it physically hurt. I stared at her for a long moment before speaking again quieter this time. "So you'd rather leave me?"
Fresh tears slid down her cheeks. "I'd rather you live."
I leaned back against the seat trying to breathe through the pain building in my chest. She grabbed my face suddenly.
Before I could even process it, her lips crashed against mine.
Warm, shaking, and wet with tears. I kissed her back desperately, my hands gripping hers like if I held on hard enough, I could stop this from happening.
The salt of her tears mixed between our mouths while she cried softly against me. "I love you," she whispered against my lips. "I love you so much." Then she pulled away.
"No—" I grabbed for her immediately. "Gianna—"
She pushed the door open fast.
"Baby, wait—" I caught her hand before she could get out completely.
She froze for a second, shoulders trembling violently.
"Please," I begged. "Please don't do this."
She looked back at me with tears pouring down her face, heartbreak written all over her beautiful face. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Then she pulled her hand from mine and ran.
"Gianna!" I jumped out the truck. "Baby—please!"
She never stopped. She ran straight into the hotel without looking back once. I stood there frozen watching the doors close behind her.
And that pain…
Fuck.
It hit me all at once. Heavy and sharp. Felt like somebody reached into my chest and ripped my heart out. "FUCK!" I shouted slamming my fist hard enough on my hood to dent it, tears blurring my vision.
I turned away from the entrance dragging both hands over my face trying to get myself together, but I couldn't. Not this time. The pain hit me brutally the same way it did when I watched Kendrix die.
Only this time I was grieving a woman who was still alive.