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Gabriel placed his hand under my chin and raised my head.
“If he hurts you, you have to tell me,” he said sternly. “He is my friend, but you are my sister. I will rip him apart if one hair on your head gets hurt by him.”
I shivered at the tone of Gabriel’s voice. He was serious, wasn’t he?
“Do you understand, Aria?” Gabriel continued. “You have to tell me if he hurts you. Not just him. Anyone. You are mine to protect, and nobody hurts what’s mine. You have to tell me everything, okay?”
I nodded.
“Words, Aria,” he said, not letting go of my chin.
“Yes,” I said quietly. “I will tell you if I get hurt.”
“Good,” he said and smiled.
He pulled me in for a hug, and I wrapped my hands around his neck. It felt a bit weird being protected like this. But I can’t begin to explain how happy I was. I was not alone. I had my brother. I had Nick. I had Cassie, Jake, and Blake. I was finally not alone.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR – Can’t Give Up
Gabriel’s POV
The next few days flew by in a blur. Aria and I were practicing magic, and she got better. She could focus on one person at a time, and she could manipulate it really well. Nick and I have been teaching them the basics of one-on-one combat. Jacob and Blake were great. The girls not so much. They weren’t fighters. But it made me feel better knowing that they at least knew some basics to defend themselves.
Mike, Jack, and Annie still hadn’t managed to locate Patricia. They still had one more village to go through, but I was beginning to lose hope. She was either dead or hiding pretty damn well.
Victor hasn’t called again. Nick was content because he thought that meant he believed our lie. I had a funny feeling. It just seemed too easy.
“Any news from Mike?” Jacob asked as we were eating breakfast.
“No,” I sighed. “They have arrived at the last village today.”
“They won’t find her,” Aria said quietly.
“Don’t be so sure, love,” Nick said as he twirled her hair between his fingers. “She could be in that village.”
“I don’t think so,” Aria said. “She is either dead or hiding somewhere where we won’t be able to find her.”
My thoughts exactly.
I got up and placed my plate in the dishwasher.
“What are we doing today?” I asked and turned to look at everyone.
“Can we please take a break?” Cassie sighed. “My brain is going to shut down.”
“I agree,” Aria added. “Can we take a day off? Watch a movie or something?”
“There is a battle coming, and you want to take a break?” Jacob frowned.
“Yes,” Aria said. “We need to relax, not just train.”
“I could use a break,” Nick said with a smirk on his face.
That man will do absolutely anything to please Aria.
Jacob looked at me for support. “Gabe? Talk to your sister, please.”
“Jacob is right,” I said sternly. “We can’t afford breaks. But we can cut it short today and spend the afternoon watching movies.”
