Caught in the Middle

Chapter 5

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion.  Everyone had stopped talking and were now staring at Mace.  Which was surprising because even Paul had become quiet who know looked up at Mace with a worried expression.

Mace looked like he had seen a ghost and he came to me cautiously.

"Jules?"  He asked stopping inches from me.  I glanced around the table my eyes landing on Gavin.  He looked at me in confusion.

"Is it really you Jules?"  He asked bending down to eye level with me. 

I was so shocked that I couldn't seem to move, let alone speak, so I nodded.

He laughed, tears gleaming in his eyes, pulled me into an embrace.  I didn't know when I had started crying but when he pulled away he wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"I can' t believe it's you."  He said staring into my eyes.  He had the grayest eyes that sparkled as he looked around at everyone who was now staring at us.

"This is my sister, well..."  He paused looking at me, "Would we even be siblings anymore?"  He asked.

I looked up at him and shrugged, "You will always be my brother no matter what happens."  I say and he pulls me into another hug. 

I notice how tall he has grown since he pulled me up to hug me tighter.  I laid my head on his muscular chest as his arms held me close.  It felt so good to feel safe again, and I did. 

He pulled away again and looked at everyone who was still staring with looks of shock on their faces, except Gavin.  His face was turned into a scowl and he was glaring at me. 

"This is my sister."  He told everyone.

Paul jumped up, "Glad to welcome you to the family."  He said checking me out once more, he waggled his eyebrows at me, "You have one major hot sister Mace, and here I thought she was just another one of Gav's many girlfriends."

Mace snapped his head towards Gavin, "What?" He asked his voice had a tinge of coldness to it.

Gavin sat frozen like deer in headlights.

"Actually..."  I said making everyone turn to look at me, "Gavin and I are not dating... he..."  I paused and glanced at Gavin who was looking at me intently, "He's just helping me out, giving me a place to stay for a while, until I get back on my feet."  I finished hastily. 

"Yea, well if sleeping in the same bed with you is just a friendly thing, I'm next."  Paul said once more making the tension in the room rise.

"If you don't shut up I'm going to kill you, Paul."  Gavin said through clinched teeth.

Mace glared at Gavin, "You slept with her?"

Gavin scoffed, "No of course not, I wouldn't... I mean, I didn't..."

"I'm right here, ya know?"  I said holding up my hand making everyone turn again towards me.  "I had a nightmare is all, he just slept beside me, that's it, nothing happened." 

"So your single?" Paul asked hopeful.

"Paul, Shut it!"  This came from Silas who had been quiet through the whole exchange until now.

Paul's face dropped, he looked like a puppy that had just been scolded with his tail between his legs.

"Well, you can stay here for as long as you want."  Mace said making me look back at him, "I want you to live here, permanently."

I glanced at Gavin who was staring at me intently, I didn't know how this was going to work.  How did the gangster who was keeping me prisoner happen to be best friends with my brother?  Now to make matters worse, I had just been asked to live in the same house with him. 

"Ok."  I said softly, "For now, until I get back on my feet." 

Mace nodded and gave me another hug, "It's so good to see you Jules.  I've missed you."

I smiled, "I've missed you too."  My voice cracked.

He pulled back and looked at everyone, "I've got to go to work, but I take it you guys can manage to make her feel at home."  He glared at Paul when he said this making Paul smile sheepishly at him.  Then he turned his glare on Gavin, "And since you know her so well already, you can take her shopping to get her some clothes, you can take my check book, get her whatever she wants."

"Mace, I can't..."  I started but he put a finger to my lips hushing me.

"Money is not a problem here, besides, I doubt you want to wear that outfit everyday.  Go get some clothes, make sure you get a couple of dresses too." 

I blanched, "Dresses?" I asked and I knew my face had gone completely white.

It had been forever since I'd worn a dress, my every day attire consisted of jeans, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. 

He smiled at me amused, "Of course, you need to look your best, especially for the community ball coming up."

I stood there confused, what the hell was a community ball?  Before I could ask he pulled me into another quick hug, kissed me on the cheek, and was out the door with Emily right behind him. 

As soon as they went out the door Paul came over to me stopping inches away from my face.  I blushed as I glanced up at him.

"It's ok, you can kiss me if you want."  He said a big grin on his face.

Before I could say anything, Gavin pulled Paul back by the neck of the shirt, "Stay away from her Paul, or else."  He said his voice taking on an edge of a threat, but still managed to keep it friendly.

"ohhhh, What are you gonna do Gav?  Kill me?"  He said mocking.

Gavin glared at him and I flinched because I knew Gavin would do just that, but these were his friends.  He wouldn't do that to his friends would he?