"You have got to be kidding me."

I wasn't hallucinating and it wasn't some kind of bad dream. It was 'the' Gabriel McGregor, that's who. I hadn't seen this guy in years and honestly, I thought that maybe just maybe when I saw him again, he'd be less intimidating and brutal but, I was too wrong.

He had changed too just like Jared had, being taller than Jared was, at least by several inches but not as tall as Ro was. He looked toughened up from the last time I saw him.

His thick brows knitted together, probably in confusion for the briefest of moments before his eyes regarded me perfunctorily. I shuffled nervously, under that scrutinizing gaze of his, waiting to just maybe be let in.

Then he advanced out of the building, leaving the door to slam behind him as he sneezed intermittently, almost doubling over as he scrambled onto the curb.

I watched him confusedly for some time on his procession before I clutched the burnished door knob and gained entrance into the house.

It wasn't till I spotted Faustina in the foyer that I understood what just happened.

Remembering what JJ had told me once, about Gabe's allergy to fur, I shook my head before reaching down to scoop the furry creature into my arms.

"Me-o-ow…"

I was still very surprised—shaken even. I mean, I knew he lived here, however, just seeing him again was something I didn't expect. I knew for sure where I would be having dinner that night.

Sifting a hand through the feline's fur, I wondered if JJ was home before aiming my gaze towards the door Gabe just stumbled out of.

That night, I assisted Louisa in the kitchen since thankfully, she'd already worked her shift. She made small talk with me, a habit which I was just getting accustomed to since she never did that. Then, Gabe stepped in and I excused myself so I could go set the table, deliberately avoiding the weirdness that would ensue for me if I stayed.

As planned, I had dinner in my room, exempting myself, even though Ezra insisted I sat amongst them. Jared was yet to come home and currently, I was doing the dishes when some shuffling at the door reached my ears.

Since it was quite late, I knew exactly who to expect on the other side. As expected, Jared was there, though barely standing and being held by…

"Philip?" My voice came out more surprised than I intended it to be. I did NOT anticipate Philip at all.

"Hello… Again. Carina…" His words were a bit slurred which was blatant proof that he'd had a little something to drink too. It was very similar to a scenario of one blind man leading another and maybe in a different circumstance, it could have been amusing. I guessed I should be getting used to having my best friend carouse and get wasted.

Some movement from behind induced me to turn, and I saw Gabe watching us from the stairs as he descended them. My hand on the door trembled and I worried greatly.

He acknowledged Philip, which pointed to a seeming acquaintance between them, and then when his eyes found Jared, his features morphed irrevocably, which I was guessing Philip took as his cue to scram.

"Shut the door…" He spoke through clenched teeth once he'd helped his younger brother into the house. I had almost forgotten how accentuated Gabe's accent was. They all had it but he always stood out. I didn't know why.

To say Gabe was angry would be putting it superficially 'cause he was livid… But that wouldn't deter me from what I wanted to do as I followed from a safe distance behind them just in case. All remained silent save for JJ's incoherent muttering and nonsensical babbling.

"Wait!" I cried, as soon as Gabe was about to slam the door in my face.

"What da hell do you want?!" He shot at me, still fuming and for a moment, his asperity almost had me backing down but I refused to be intimidated at least, not right then.

"I want answers," I replied, mimicking the boldness of a lion.

There was only so much to get out of a sober Jared, however, with a pie-eyed one, the possibilities were infinite.

"I want answers from him. There are some questions I've been meaning to ask and this is the only time I will get anything tangible." I clarified.

"Trust me when I tell you, he won't say nothing much less anything meaningful." He answered begrudgingly.

"But he will, when Jared's drunk, he's always thinking that I'm his girlfriend, Giselle." I blurted. It sounded ludicrous, however, I was indeed tired of just floating around.

"Girlfriend?" He seemed evenly bewildered.

"Yes, it's true."

However, he wasn't entirely buying my story.

"Even at that, it's not a guarantee that he'll talk. So e*f off."

"Please Gabe, don't just put me off." I pleaded desperately trying to appeal to the compassionate side of him—if he had that—as he tried to shut the door on me again. "We have to try, at least. If it doesn't work, I promise to never speak of it again."

He halted, a muscle ticking at his jaw. His eyes regarded my form coldly. I knew he loathed me to the point of ignoring my existence but I was sort of hoping he would put that aside, at least…for the greater good?

I was almost certain that trying to sway him was a lost cause, however, when he held the door wider, stepping out of the way, I was quite appalled.

"Thank you…" I appreciated it pertinently.

"Ten minutes…" was all he said.

I nodded, walking over to where JJ lay, still mumbling and laughing to himself. Taking in his disheveled state, I exhaled deeply before taking hold of one of his hands and looked back momentarily to Gabe who was resting against a wall, watching us like a hawk.

"Clock's ticking…" he drawled.

I gulped before facing JJ once more.

"G...G-Giselle…" he slurred, flashing me a grin. It wasn't the charming type as it bordered on ambiguity and lunacy but I acted along anyways.

"Yes, it's me."

All of a sudden, he pulled me flush against his chest from my position beside him and the odour of alcoholic origin emanating from him infiltrated my nostrils, just as my heart rate increased from the sudden movement.

Nevertheless, I reminded myself that he was simply thinking that I was Giselle, his beloved girlfriend.

"Jared, I want you to tell me something," I spoke, having managed to calm myself.

"A-Any-thing for…you."

Taking that as a cue to continue, I quickly blurted the first one out.

"What did you do to Pedro?"

My heart sank when my question was met with silence, a stark one. That would be proving Gabe right and deeming me a fool. My eyes strayed to where he was; his face was void of emotion, watching us with narrowed eyes.

"...we beat za ever living shit outta him… Such a f*cking as*hole we wanted...to deal with him...for...a long time." He finally answered.

So, he did have a hand in whatever happened to Pedro as Bethany had speculated.

"She is. Like sister… I never had. Rina…and Pedro hurt her so I hurt him, we hurt him back." He continued.

That bit touched me. He probably wouldn't tell me this normally and for the first time since I resolved to put up an equivocal attitude concerning his case till this point where I'm taking advantage of his vulnerable state, I actually felt kinda guilty.

Gabe walked over briskly, requesting that I  ask about the people who helped him beat up Pedro. He couldn't give coherent responses and as a result, I had to rephrase the question.

"Who is Kade to you? Was he among those who helped you?"

"My pal, Kade, and me. Collin, Marcus we beat Pedro up? I-I woulda...killed that son of a pig. Filthy, filthy pig…"

On hearing those names, I watched Gabe's hand clench, the tick at his jaw returning.

He beat someone up for my sake, taking such an enormous risk… I didn't know what to say. Even if it was so wrong...he cared for me and now I truly understood just how deep it went. Now, I felt contrition for acting so nonchalant that day he lashed out at me for what I did.

But… I feared for him. Feared that he was following the wrong path. His hand was spearing steadily through my hair until it slackened.

"Jared…" I called, immediately looking up.

But he'd already drifted off.

"That's enough."

Gabe's voice was strained as he talked.

Heeding his order, I gently peeled myself off him, staggering to my feet.

My eyes strayed from Jared's sleeping form to Gabe. I didn't know what went on in his head and I couldn't understand why that bit about Kade had him so crazed.

On my procession to my room, I thought about what just happened although I knew that this wasn't the end of it. The thoughts persisted as I lay on my bed and I lifted my medallion in my fingers, staring meaningfully at it…

Decadent sounds of crazed argument struck me awake the next morning and I didn't even need the Universe to point that out. I'd perceived it the night before…

And true to my words, Gabe and Jared were engaged in a heated exchange with Louisa in the middle of it, trying to calm her sons.

I briefly wondered where Ezra was and why he left Louisa to handle this on her own but I was sure that he'd had his fair share of this before. And so, in like fashion, as it wasn't my place most especially to get involved in strenuous family issues like this, I absconded too.

"It's obviously nothing they can't settle on their own." I thought, before going to prepare for work.

In the subsequent days that followed, their arguing only magnified and grew.

That morning, they were at it again, yelling at each other in the kitchen.

"Godd*mmit dude. I've warned you, get the f*ck outta my business!" I could tell that it was Jared.

"What f*cking business, you go out, come back drunk, as wasted as can be. And what about all da motherf*ckers ya hang with?! Ya think Kade's yer friend? Or that—that he's looking out for you?-"

"-Gabe! Gabriel! Godd*mmit I'm warning you, watch your f*cking tongue-"

I noticed how Gabe's accent was thicker especially now that he was angry.

"-yer dropped outta school, you probably think you've got it all worked out, I hate to break it to you but that's so f*cking stupid and ya ain't got a life, ya ain't got nothing. Believe me that I ain't gon' be alive and watch you s*rew everything up for yourself!"

"So whatch you gon' do, tie me up in this bloody house like a bloody animal! You don't know nothing about me and you don't f*cking know what I'm capable of!

Ya go to your college, come back whenever you want, and then you be thinking that you can restrict me?! Well, that's some bloody b*llshit man 'cause imma walk out that door and you ain't gon' do nothing 'bout it!" Jared yelled.

"Don't f*cking try me, J. Don't freakin' do that. I'm your brother and I care about you…" Gabe's voice had fallen in quite a crescendo and I wondered what caused that. "Believe it or not, I'm tryna help you. Look, look if we could just talk about this-"

Then he sneezed instantly, just as I felt a presence beside me.

Faustina! The cat was licking herself near me and I froze.

"Oh no…!"

I was now hearing footfalls coming our way and almost immediately I began panicking. The last thing I wanted was to get caught eavesdropping like that and there was no way I could take off without being seen.

To my relief, the feline darted off into the kitchen which offered the distraction I needed to get away…

                *             *              *
                       *              *  

A few police cars sped past me on my way home that day and of course, it was of the least concern to me since that was a frequent occurrence. My day at work had been really pleasant and a nice fat plate of one of Louisa's delicacies was what I needed.

I took off in a small sprint when I got tired of walking and I considered taking the bus one of these days. However, my train of thoughts was cut short and I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the small fleet of police vehicles once more and they were...right in our neighborhood!