Sorry this chapter is so short, but I plan on making it up to all of you!

Chapter 37

Gabby

I quickly find Antonio sitting at a table for two as I walk into the dim coffee house.

"Hey little sister," he greets me as he stands up and gives a hug.

"Hey," I say as we break from our family embrace. "Thanks for meeting me here," I say as we both take our seats from across each other.

"No problem. So what's up?" Antonio asked, he was never one to beat around the bush.

"Nothing, can't I ask my big brother to meet me for a cup of coffee?" I did my best to try to sound as innocent as possible.

"Gabby, I'm not stupid. What is going on with you?"

"I saw him," I blurt out as quickly as possible.

"Saw who?" Antonio asked as he leaned in to me.

"The guy who attacked me, I saw him at one of the fires yesterday. I climbed in the ambulance, and there he was standing in the street just watching me."

"Did you tell Casey?" he asked as his nostrils flared.

I looked away from him, "No," I answer knowing what was going to come next.

"Why didn't you say anything? We are trying to catch this asshole and you didn't say anything?" his voice began to rise.

"I know how dumb it sounds, but I froze and I don't want to involve Casey anymore than I have."

"Why didn't you call me right away?" he sighed as the question left his lips.

"What do you think I'm doing right now?" I pointed out. "I need your help," I say as he eyes me. "I have a plan, but I need you."

"Why does this sound like a bad idea?" he said as sit up straighter. He looks at me with a smirk, "Go on, I can't wait to hear this."

"The only way he is going to come after me again is if I'm alone. So, I was thinking that we use me as bait."

"Absolutely not! Have you lost your mind?" Antonio said as if he was ready to jump across the table.

"Listen to me before you hulk out!" I shout back as quietly as I can, so not to draw attention to us. "Antonio he is already following me, I can't go on living like this," I take in a deep breath as tears threatening to make them known. "What if I move back into my apartment and you set up police surveillance?"

"Gabby, I know this is a lot to deal with, but you need to give it more time," Antonio placed his hand over mine.

"I need my life back! If you're not willing to help me, I'll find someone that is!" I say as I'm about to get up.

Antonio grabs my hand and pulls me back down, "Fine," he says as he takes in a deep breath, "we will give it a try, but you and I both know that Matt is never going to go for this."

"That is why we are not going to tell him," I say as I take in a deep breath and look my confused brother in the eye.

"You don't think he is going to know you're not at his place?"

"I'm going to tell him I'm staying with you and Lauren for a couple of nights."

"Gabby, this is not…"

I quickly cut him off, "not a good idea?" I retort. "I know that, but I don't want him to know because it will make everything so much harder." Without evening realizing it tears have begun to flow freely down my face, "He holds him responsible for everything and I just don't want him to feel like that anymore."

"We can find another way," Antonio states as he take in my appearance.

"No, there is no other way."

"Fine, when do you want to this?"

"Tonight, I want this all over tonight," I say.

"Alright, I'll see what I can do."

Matt

As I come to life from my sleep, I reach my hand for Gabby's warm body, but find nothing. I open my eyes to find she is no longer in bed.

"Gabby," I call but I hear no response. I pull the covers off me and make my way down the hall and into the living room but it is empty. I run my hands through my hair as I go toward the kitchen, but before I can make it into the other room; I hear the lock turn and the door open. I turn around to find the missing burnet standing in the doorway.

She looks up as sees me, "Hey," she says as she shuts the wooden door behind her.

"Hey," I answer back as I watch her take her shoes off. "Where were you?"

"I meant Antonio for lunch around the corner."

"Why didn't you wake me, I would have gone with you," I say as she takes off her jacket and she moves closer to me.

"I know, but you looked so tried when we got home from breakfast I knew you needed your sleep," she smiles as she wraps her arms around my waist.

"So how was lunch with your brother?" I ask as I lean down and place kisses along her jaw line.

"It was good," she says as she closes her eyes. "We talked about the kids and it made me realize how much I miss spending time with them."

I remove my lips from her skin, "We can go see them if you want," I state.

"Well I was thinking that I would go spend the night with them tonight and tomorrow night, that way you could go hang out with the boys and do your own thing."

"Are you trying to get rid of me?" I asked eyeing her.

"Definitely!" she replied with a smirk.

"Well I guess we don't have tonight," I say as I pick her up and carry her to my room.