Etched

Chapter 40

Gabriel's POV:

"...nothing you or I can do would save her"

I clenched my fist, not breaking eye contact with him. Repeating his words over and over in my mind, I rationalized them and thought them over trying hard not to let my anger aggravate. Now wasn't the right time. This was about Jenna and I needed as much awareness about her matter as it would take to keep her safe.

He said she was under threats and if that wasn't a common information to even a street go-er at this point. Bold of him to assume that I would let anything happen to her. He might consider himself to be weak, I am not. I'd fight the world for her before I even let them touch so much as a strand of her hair.

A chill however crept down my spine when he said that they wanted to kill her. Kill her? What has she to do with anything?

My anger was shadowing the fear that stayed resident in me for her but I knew that giving into the fear would leave a lose end for them to pick at. For her safety, I won't ever let anyone get a chance to have the upper hand on me.

I tilted my head to the side and observed this man who biologically is a human I relate to. The grey in his hair and wrinkles on his face were telling a tale of the life he's lived. He was portraying to be a man who'd lost to life but I knew better. I knew how he so easily tore apart the whole existence of his family. Him and her both, both of them ruined Mia and I.

There was so much I had bottled to say to him for the years I'd lived resenting him. Now that he was right here in front of me, I no longer wanted to say anything. It felt like it was all baseless and not worth the effort.

I had questions, I had complaints but now that so many years have passed they didn't deem important to me. He wasn't there for me and nothing would matter anymore. All he is to me is a contributor to the horrible memories of my childhood and no one else and those are the days I never want to revisit.

This isn't about me, I have never been any of his concern and today is no different. I'd keep him limited to the area he should only be speaking about and that is Jenna. She's the only link left between the both of us. I refuse to acknowledge any other.

"You think I'd let them even touch her?" I asked, my voice lacking any emotion, the irritation, the anger, the fear; nothing. I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of getting to me, he could never. He'd lost the right of being called a father when he walked out on us, leaving us to that couple.

What new did he tell me about Jenna? Like I knew anything different, I obviously knew that she was endangered here. She was constantly on a watch and it wasn't only mine yet it couldn't be as powerful as mine.

"I've tried, Gabriel. I've tried protecting her" he said and slumped against the arm chair. His hand was fisted and his thumb was moving in circles. An action I unconsciously perform whenever I'm concentrating. It suddenly made me look away, disgusted at myself for even doing it now that I know he does it too.

He continued when he didn't see me respond. I was left speechless and I just stood gazing at the wall length glass that overlooked the unbothered city.

"I made sure no-one from that world knew anything about her," he spoke making me distract my gaze to him. But they did! I wanted to scream this out at him but held myself from doing it. He doesn't deserve any emotion our from me other than hate which I'll make sure I'm delivering in abundance. Not like he'd care.

He looked at me, for signs of my attention and when he saw me looking at him, he looked down and continued.

"I met Jenna at therapy" he said with a small smile, lost in thoughts like he was revisiting the day when he met her for the first time, "She was eight or nine, I guess. Such a cute, adorable, little girl with pigtails. She reminded me of..." he sucked in a breath, "Of Mia" I clenched my jaw but didn't say anything. He really fucking knows where to hit.