Page 140 of Hidden

“How?”

“You could be dead!”

“Do you know what, Gabby? After everything, maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing.”

“You don’t mean that,” I whispered. “And I’m not letting you die. You have some safety right now. I know it doesn’t seemlike it, given our current situation, but my sacrifice has kept you alive!”

“And you think that makes it better?”

“Yes.”

“It doesn’t.”

We stared at each other for a long moment, the silence between us stretching tight enough to snap.

“I’m not leaving you here,” I said finally.

“I know.”

That caught me off guard. “You… know?”

She nodded slowly. “Of course I do. You’ve made that very clear over the years. I’ve always known you’d be a martyr and die here with me.”

There was no judgement in her words, but she seemed so unbelievably sad, as though she was somehow responsible.

“You shouldn’t have to,” she added, softer now. “That’s the part you don’t seem to understand.”

“I’m not here because I have to be, I’m here because Iwantto be. Because without Dad or Damien here, it’s my job to keep you safe.”

She sighed heavily. “You don’t understand.”

“Idounderstand!”

“No, you don’t!” She leaned forward again, her hands clasping together tightly in her lap. “Because if you did, you wouldn’t still be here. You’re here because you didn’t think you had another option.”

I opened my mouth to argue, and yet nothing came out. Because she wasn’t wrong. What other option was there? Vienna would accept me if I left—of that I had no doubt. And his club would come around, eventually. But they would never, ever accept my mother. Not after her husband brutally murdered Zach and her son was directly responsible for Crash’s death.

“I know what you gave up,” she said quietly. “What you were forced to give up. I know what your life could have been. I know more than you think I do.”

My stomach dropped.

“Mum—”

“I’m not blind, Gabriella.” Her voice softened again, but there was something steadier beneath it now. “I saw it. The way you were. The way you used to be before all of this. Before…” She trailed off slightly, her gaze flicking away for a second. “Before everything.”

My throat tightened.

Because I knew exactly what she meant.

“You were happy,” she continued. “And then one day… you weren’t.”

I swallowed hard. “That’s life.”

“No,” she said gently. “That wasn’t life. That was something taken from you. Something yourdadtook from you. I know what he forced you to do. And since then… you’ve just accepted all the shit thrown at you. You think Nico punishing you is what you deserve. Because of what you did.”

“I made my choices,” I said, though it sounded weaker than I intended.

“Yes,” she agreed. “You did.” Another pause. “And you’ve been paying for them ever since.”