Find me

Chapter 17

Gabriel POV

"Welcome home, love." my dad said as he opened the door and let Aria walk through.

She looked up, and I saw her eyes roam around in wonder.

I was so freaking happy to have her here. I couldn’t wait for her to get more comfortable. I couldn’t wait to do the things I always wanted to do with a sibling. Well, we were too old for sleepovers, but just waking up and knowing that she would be in the room next door will be more than enough.

"Are you hungry, baby?" my dad asked her as he closed and locked the door. "The dinner will be done in an hour."

Aria looked at our dad and furrowed her eyebrows.

"I am not hungry." she said, looking down at her feet. "Thank you so much, Sir."

My eyes widened, and I looked at my dad. Did she really call him Sir?

Dad stared at her, confused and a little bit hurt.

"Aria, love, please don’t call me that." he said, walking toward her and lifting her head gently. "I would love it if you called me dad, but I know it’s too soon. But please, baby, don’t call me sir or mister. Call me Henry for starters, okay?"

She nodded, and dad kissed her forehead. He pulled her into a hug and pressed her head on his chest. She was so short. She barely reached above his stomach.

"I can’t believe that I have my baby back." dad mumbled, his voice shaking. "I’ve never stopped searching for you, Aria."

"Thank you." she said quietly.

Dad smiled and bent down to kiss the top of her head.

"Do you love lasagna, baby?" dad asked as he let her go.

"I do." she said, but she seemed unsure. "But I’m not hungry. Thank you."

Dad bent down and caressed her cheek.

"When was the last time you ate, love?" dad asked her.

Her eyes widened, her cheeks reddened, and she bit her bottom lip.

"Just before the police came to the house." she said quietly, looking down.

Dad looked at me, and I sighed. She was lying. We knew because I did exactly the same things she did when I was a kid. I would always blush and bite my lower lip when lying. My dad didn’t have issues with knowing when I was doing something I wasn’t supposed to.

"Do you know how I just confirmed that you really are Gabriel’s twin?" dad asked, turning back to look at her.

She glanced up and shook her head.

"Because he would do exactly the same things you just did when he was lying." dad said softly.

Aria looked up at our dad, and I could tell that she was terrified. She took a step back and clenched her fists.

My heart broke, and I walked closer to her, wanting to grab her and hold her close to me. I wanted to tell her that she didn’t have to be afraid.

"I am sorry." she mumbled, her voice trembling. "I didn’t mean to lie. I am really, really sorry."

Her fearful eyes snapped to mine, and she took another step back.

My stomach turned. It was breaking me to see her afraid of me. She had nothing to be afraid of.

"It’s okay, love.” dad said, reaching out for her. "I am not angry. Gabriel is not angry. There is no need to be afraid.”

She looked from dad to me, and I nodded.

"We love you too much to hurt you, Aria." I said. "Hurting you would feel like I was dying. I could never do that. You are my missing piece. How could I hurt you after waiting for you my entire life?"

The tears that fell on her cheeks made me move. I was in front of her in a second. I wrapped her up in a hug and kissed the top of her head.

Dad wrapped us both in a hug and kissed my temple.

"I love you, guys.” dad said. "I love you so much."

I looked up at him and tried to give him a small smile.

It was hard because I was worried as fuck. Looking at my dad, I could tell that we shared the same feeling.

It wasn’t just verbal abuse. She was too afraid. She was too guarded.

They’ve done so much more to her, and I haven’t even started getting angry. I didn’t have time for anger right now. All I could feel was fear and pain.

"Aria, baby, how about I show you your room?" dad said softly, looking down at her. "You can shower and change. I will give you Gabriel’s clothes until we go shopping. Perhaps you will be hungry when you are done showering."

Dad looked back at me, and I could tell that he wanted to talk to me.

"Okay." she said softly.

I let her go and kissed her forehead.

"I will start dinner." I said, looking at my dad.

"I will be right down, bud.” dad said, taking Aria’s hand in his.

I nodded and smiled at my sister.

She didn’t see it, though. She was staring at the floor. Again.

I sighed and walked to the kitchen.

I opened the fridge and took out the lasagna my dad made this morning. I started the oven and took the plates out of the cupboard.

I took the lettuce out of the fridge and started cleaning it.

I didn’t even realize how much time had passed because my dad’s voice startled me.

"The oven is ready.” he said softly.

I looked at the oven and grabbed the lasagna. I opened the oven and put the lasagna in.

"Where is she?" I asked my dad as I turned around.

"Shower." dad sighed worriedly.

"We need to talk to her." I said, my voice breaking. "They’ve hurt her."

Dad nodded, wiping the tears from his cheeks. I didn’t even notice that he was crying.

"We need to be gentle." dad said. "She is afraid. She probably won’t even tell us anything."

I nodded, crossing my arms over my chest.

I will kill them. I will rip them to pieces.

They’ve hurt her. They’ve hurt my sister. Nobody gets away with that.