Raphael POV *One week Later*
I wake up to my phone ringing. I blink a couple of times and I stand up looking for my phone. Itâs still dark outside. I find my trousers on the floor and I pick up the phone from the pocket.
I answer without seeing who was calling.
âHello?â - I say while I rub my eyes âDaddyâ - I hear Gabeâs voice âGabe? What happened?â - I say looking at my watch to see the time. Itâs three in the morning. Why is he awake? Why is he calling me âDaddyâ - he says crying and I can feel my heart beating faster.
âI am hereâ - I say holding the phone between my shoulder and ear while I pull the trouser up my legs.
I start getting dressed because this is not normal.
Olivia opens her eyes and I signal her to pass me her phone .
Olivia grabs it and passes to me while I put Gabe on speaker.
âGabe. Whereâs mommy?â - I ask while I message the security guards that are outside Alexâs house.
âI donât knowâ - he says and Oliviaâs hand fly to her mouth and I can feel my blood boiling.
âIâm on my way sonâ - I say âDaddy Iâm scaredâ - Gabe says while I put on my shirt and I do the buttons.
âDaddy is on his way babyâ - Olivia says next to me and we can hear Gabe crying.
âGabe, zane is outside, can you open the door for him?â - I say while Olivia nods at me âYesâ - he says and I hear Zaneâs voice âHey little one, fancy a hot chocolate?â - he asks Gabe.
Gabe didnât reply but I assume he nodes his head because I could hear them walking.
âIâm going thereâ - I whisper and Olivia nods.
I run down the penthouse towards the door. It flys open and the ride on the lift down was excruciatingly slow. Once I am outside the building I run to the building next to mine. Thatâs where they are living at the moment.
I go up the lift and I open the door that was unlocked.
I rush down the corridor into the kitchen and when Gabeâs eyes meet mine I feel my body shaking.
âDaddyâ - he says running to me after he jumped out of the kitchen stool.
âHey buddy, how are you feeling?â - I ask him while I kneel on the floor âI am okay nowâ - he says and I pick him up and I take him to the sofa.
âWhen is mommy coming back?â - he asks while I caress his hair while his head is supported in my legs and he is laying down on the sofa.
âSoon buddy, go to sleepâ - I say looking back at the tv. There are some cartoons on. I donât know what they are but he seems to enjoy it.
I am not paying attention and thatâs when I hear heels clicking on the floor. Gabe lifts his head and looks at the door.
Alex walks in and her face is bright red. Oh, she should be.
âMommyâ - he shouts and runs to her.
Alex falls on her knees and hugs Gabe.
âGo get Zane and wait for me in your room buddyâ - I say while Alexâs face goes harder.
Her eyes donât meet mine and she is biting her lips.
I can tell I was the last person she was expecting to find here right now.
Gabe walks to Zane and offers him his hand and they both walk to his bedroom.
âRaphaelâ - she starts saying as she walks towards me and I lift my hand.
âDonât you fucking dareâ - I say âIâm sorryâ
âIâm not gonna talk to you right now. But I am taking Gabe with me and he will be living with me right nowâ
âYou canât do thatâ - Alex says giving another step towards me.
âTell me, Alex. How many times have you left leaving Gabe on his own?â - I ask her âWas the first timeâ - she says looking at her fingers while she fiddles them âHow could you leave a kid home alone? Are you insane?â
âThereâs always security around that I thought it was okayâ - she says and with that, I can feel my blood boiling more than before and I walk to Gabeâs room.
âHey buddy, youâre coming to daddyâs houseâ - I say and I can feel his smile grow.
âCan I play with the babies?â - he asks and I nod my head picking him up.
âYou canât do this, you canât take him away from meâ - Alex cries and I walk past her.
âMommyâ - Gabe says and I stop letting him go down so he can say goodbye.
Alex hugs him and kisses him in the head.
âI love you baby and I will see you tomorrow â - she says and I look at her. I am going to be the bad guy for this.
âNot tomorrow â - I say and Gabe looks at me with tears in his eyes.
âWhy?â - he asks âMommy will be busy tomorrow, right?â - I give her a killer look and she smiles at Gabe.
âYeah mommy will be busy tomorrow, but I will see you soonâ - she says giving him another hug.
âCome on buddy we need to get you to sleepâ - I say offering him my hand and he takes it.
We walk out of the flat and the building in silence. I think Gane knows what is happening. He is not stupid. I just hope he doesnât hate me for doing this but if itâs up to me he will never go back to live with her.
I gave her a chance.
How the fuck did she even leave without anyone noticing?
Where did she go?
I will deal with all of this tomorrow. I canât right now. I am too tired to be thinking about Alex.
Once inside the penthouse, Gabeâs hand falls on his side and he walks in silence to his bedroom. I walk behind him and when he is in bed I start reading him one of his favourite books.
Eventually, he falls asleep without another word. Gabeâs eyes close and I kiss his forehead turning down the light and walking out closing the door. The monitor in his room is always in the same way in mikeâs and Melâs.
I stop on my feet and I take a deep death passing both my hands through my messy hair. Shit. I am sorry Gabe but this is for your good.
I walk back into the master bedroom and Olivia is sitting on the sofa reading a book.
âHey how is he?â - she asks âHe is asleep in his roomâ - I say âYou brought him here?â - she asks with a smile on her face. Olivia loves Gabe.
âYes. She wasnât home, can you believe this?â - I ask her while I take my clothes off and I walk into the bathroom.
âWhere was she?â - Olivia asks walking behind me.
âI donât know but I will find out tomorrow. We need to sleep, itâs lateâ - I say and Olivia nods.
âYou have a big day tomorrow â - I say and Olivia smiles nodding her head.
Hello everyone.
I know this is not the most amazing chapter ever but this had to happen. Raphael had to get Gabe in his house. You will understand why.
Stay safe Love Peyton