Speak To Me
Chapter 77 –

(Gabriella)

I chewed my lip anxiously. Every step we took made my heart beat faster as I tried not to puke. I think this is the most nervous I have ever been..

"Hey, I'm right here with you..okay?" Jamie stated as we stood outside a bedroom door.

I nodded my head up and down hastily, trying not to have some type of mental breakdown.

"Gabriella, look at me..if you don't want to do this, we.." He began, making me cut him off as I gripped his arm tightly.

"N-no..it's..it's n-not that..l-I-I just..w-what if he d-doesn't like m-me?" I asked, feeling vulnerable and embarrassed by my confession.

Jamie just stared down at me in disbelief.

"How could he not like you? You are the most loveable person I have ever met Gabriella Sinclair..in fact..I think I would prefer it if he didn't like you..that would save me a lot of future headaches I think..." He grumbled the last part playfully as I couldn't help but smile and hit him on the chest softly.

"J-Jamie.." I scolded him, feeling his arms wrap around my body before I tilted my head back, peering up at him.

"I still don't trust the guy..but I can see how much you want this.. But just..try not to get your hopes up fully..okay?" He added worriedly, making me swallow hard before nodding in agreement.

He is right..I shouldn't go in there expecting a lot. I just have to treat this like meeting a stranger.

"Let's go." Jamie whispered before bending down and kissing me.

The feel of his soft lips pressing against mine made my body shiver as he suddenly deepened it.

By the time he finally pulled away, I was left gasping for air. He always knew how to take my breath away, I swear..but surprisingly, I felt a lot more calm. How can he always do that to me?

Jamie slid his palm down my arm before gripping my hand tightly in his own.

"One bad feeling and we are out of there..." He reassured..and it seemed more for himself than me as I nodded in agreement, knowing he needed me on his side for that at least.

Jamie reached his free hand forward and turned the doorknob, making me take a deep breath and hold it as the room slowly appeared before us.

My eyes wandered across the modestly decorated bedroom as my gaze settled on the bed, landing on the man who looked just like me...well..a boy version of me. His inky black hair was disheveled and hanging down his forehead. Those bright blue eyes that seemed so familiar snapped to mine and that's when all the air rushed out of me in a gasp.

"Gabriella." Grant said while scooting forward and going to stand.

"Remember what I said." Jamie rushed out, his tone firm and serious as the man froze.

He didn't even spare Jamie a glance as he sat back a little before adjusting his posture.

"You can sit over here baby." Jamie whispered against my ear before placing his hand on my lower back and leading me towards a chair that was across the room.

I nodded in agreement and followed him before sitting down and wringing my hands together nervously.

"Y..you look just like her." Grant suddenly spoke, making my brow furrow in confusion.

"Our mom.." He explained, making my cheeks turn pink as I nodded once softly.

We sat there in silence for a few moments, my words unable to form as I didn't know what to say or if I could say anything to begin with.

"I suggest you get on with it and say what you need to say..you only have ten minutes." Jamie suddenly spoke up, his hands resting on my shoulders as he stood behind me protectively..I'm sure he was glaring at Grant profusely.

That seemed to get Grant out of this trance as he cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak.

"Gabriella..I know my approach in telling you who I am was shitty..like..really shitty." He said before smiling sheepishly as I couldn't help but smile softly.

It was pretty extreme..

"I just didn't know how to handle it.." He confessed, and that's when I saw those clear blue eyes fill with emotion.

"I'm not sure if she told you about me...I'm guessing she didn't.. I mean..our mother seemed to want to escape that part of her life..but I have to know..did she ever mention me?" He suddenly blurted, surprising me by how hurt he sounded as my eyes widened. "Sh-she d-did..b-but..I-I-I.." The words jumbled in my mouth as I felt embarrassed with how much of an idiot I was making myself sound.

"Hey..it's okay..you are nervous." Jamie whispered against me as I nodded my head and stared down into my lap.

"Would you like me to explain?" He asked, knowing I was really flustered right now.

I nodded again, afraid to look at my brother and see what he was thinking of me right now.

"Gabriella didn't remember much from when she was a child. After Amber's..accident..we believe Gabriella must've shut it out. But after meeting you, she did remember that her mother mentioned a brother." Jamie explained to Grant for me. I couldn't tell he didn't like divulging this much, but I was grateful he was behaving.

"She..she told you about me?" Grant asked in disbelief as I slowly lifted my gaze, meeting his once again.

"Sh-she said..w-w-we would m-meet one d-day." I recalled, pulling at those new memories of my mom and how she spoke about Grant..saying one day we would all be a family.

That's when Grant suddenly let out a dry laugh..surprising not only me, but Jamie as well.

"I didn't think she even cared. Considering who she left me with." He stated sharply, his eyes darkening as the urge to comfort him suddenly washed over me. I didn't know much about George Easton, but from what Jamie said..he wasn't a nice man..he was in the mafia for goodness sakes..

"I-I'm sorry.." I whispered, making Grant freeze, his eyes widening by my words as he titled his head to the side curiously.

"Now, what reason do you have to be sorry for?" He asked lightly, making me swallow hard as I let out a shuddering breath.

"Th-that sh-she left you too." I confessed, making my chest swell with emotion as I felt bad..I felt guilty that he had to suffer through whatever he did alone..maybe he and I weren't so different..maybe he was just as lonely as me.

"Well..it definitely messed me up..I won't lie. But that isn't your fault..it was something I had to learn to accept. I guess at one point I felt like I might've deserved it. That frame of mind got me through a lot of shit." He chuckled while shifting on the bed slightly.

"I'm sure he has told you about my Dad and the lifestyle I grew up in?" He asked while motioning towards Jamie.

I nodded my head shyly, seeing Grant smile before sighing.

"My brothers and I..we decided not to follow in our father's footsteps. That doesn't mean I didn't before..but I can guarantee to you that we no longer participate in any illegal activities." Grant stated while looking at Jamie.

Jamie has been pretty quiet and seemed to be studying Grant intently.

"I'm sure you can understand how I'm not going to take your word for it..I would rather do my own digging first before this continues any further." Jamie said, making Grant nod once.

"That's fair..I know I came on a little strongly at first..I honestly just didn't know if Gabriella was in any danger. From what the articles said..and your father's past.." He trailed off, and then looked at Grant with surprise..

Wait..so, was he trying to come and save me? Was that why he asked those questions in the hospital? Did he think my dad was just as bad at Regina? And Jamie..maybe he thought I was being used..

"I can assure you that the moment I locked eyes with Gabriella..I vowed to protect her with my life..so don't think you can just pop up and this is going to fix everything. You are going to have to prove we can trust you..no lies..no secrets..I will replace them all out." Jamie stated firmly as Grant suddenly swallowed hard. His eyes darting from me to Jamie before opening his mouth to speak. "Well..um..there is something else I need to tell you.."