You're Family Now

Part 22

Simons pov-

My phone went off, alerting me that I had gotten a text.

From: Em
To: Simon

I need to talk to someone, please, I just need to talk. I'll explain everything at the café down on 53rd at the corner post?

From:Simon
To: Em

Of course, see you in ten minutes or so.

I clicked my phone off then shouted to everyone.

"Lads! I'm going out! I'll be back in a little while."

"Whoever it is! Use protection!" Jj shouted and I would have laughed had I not been super worried. I mean, now often do you get a text from someone begging to talk to you at eleven-thirty at night?

After using the sick lambo we rented (per Jj's request) I was there in no time. I park the car and spot Gemma walking down the sidewalk, four feet away from a lamp post and a homeless man slowly standing behind her. Wait what?

I squint to make sure I'm seeing correctly but the man wraps his arms around her throat and starts to pull her towards the wall.

I leap out of the car running as fast as I can up to a thrashing Gem and the older man.

"LET ME GO YOU SON OF A BITCH! I'M IN NO FUCKING MOOD TO DEAL WITH THIS!" Gem shouted then elbowed him in the gut twice, each time loosening his grip on her.

"Hey! She said let go you prick!" I shout as I get right beside the two. The man get startled then goes running off, a pocket knife pointed at the two of us. I stay staring at the man as he runs out if view then hear a rustling of fabric and scuff of concrete beside me. There is a cough before I turn and see Gemma on her knees clutching her chest and gasping for air.

I kneel down to her level so I can see her face. She's shaking but it's not really in fear but anger and she's laughing?

"Em? Gemma? Are you okay?" I question utterly concerned.

"I just can't catch a fucking break can I?" She laughs, her tone one of pain and annoyance.

"What's wrong Emmy?" I ask and she flinches at Emmy.

"Don't. Don't call me that. Please don't call me that. Please." She begs rambling, staring me straight in the eyes and could tell it hurt her, then I remembered what Vikk had told me about her past. He got permission from her first of course. "They called you that didn't they?"

She nodded. "Just please."

I nodded and we headed inside the late night café. We sat in a two person booth with my on the opposite side of her.

"What would you like?" A perky waitress asked.

"Earl Grey tea." Gem stated without looking of from her phone.

"I'll have the same." I added then the waitress of off. "What happened Gemma?"

She shrugged at first then launched into the story, starting from the beginning when they left for Florida.

After she finished it was like I was hurting too. I could feel what she felt from the way she described everything, how tears slid down her face when something that hurt her more than the rest came up. Her eyes glistened from the tears she was obviously holding back.

We had finished our tea about fifteen minutes ago but I just sat and listened, trying to figure out how to respond but nothing came to mind. Finally she added what happened just as I pulled up and visibly stopped breathing but it didn't seem to bother her. For that moment she seemed lost, gone even, her breath was gone, her eyes seemed to wonder as they seemed perfectly still and it was as if her soul and thoughts just consumed her for that moment then in came reality once more.