Hey everybody!
It's me again. I just finished my finals and will have a lot of time on my hands, meaning I'll probably post on a daily basis.
A big thank you to my beta: FictionWriter91
Enjoy your reading!
Pavs.
Prologue:
[Gabrielle]
The faces around me were lost as I was staring at the picture of my mother. She'd been so beautiful, and it was a shame that we couldn't have an open casket ceremony. My father, who would have normally admonished me for not talking to people, was standing next to me with tears in his eyes. I couldn't stop crying.
The past weeks had gone by so fast. Between my mother's social events and her meetings, we almost forgot that she was dying. Almost. I had tried to convince my parents that spending time together should be more important that worrying about the others, but, apparently, people of our social class can't afford to be dying. It would be bad for the image.
I felt anger building slowly in my chest, and I looked at them with contempt. My mother wasn't there to blame me and God only knew how many times she'd had to do it. I had never been able to blend in with her special crowd, and I knew she loved me for it even if she couldn't tell me. She kept telling me that I was just like my father. I didn't understand why.
Mathieu Lacasse (although he was more emotionally expressive than most of the man who'd crossed my path) was the perfect example of a member of the elite society. I was constantly wondering how he didn't end up crazy with all this manipulation going on around us. We might have a lot of…resources, but we weren't happy. At least, not always.
I had found time to learn hunting and fishing, to buy myself a collection of the best music that the 70's and the 80's had to offer, to watch action movies and to collect books, lots and lots of books. Passions that were kept secrets, because…well…image you know?
I suddenly felt nauseous and excused myself to go outside. I leaned against a tree and looked at the house. I couldn't stay there. I wanted to travel, meet people…be myself. I looked up at the sky and hoped that my mother would forgive me for wanting freedom more than my inheritance. This family was a cage, and I needed to get out.
''Gabrielle, '' my father said, and I turned to face him. ''You are leaving, aren't you?''
I couldn't speak, and I could see in his eyes that I didn't have to. He just knew.
''I understand, and I hope that you know…I won't give up on you. If you ever need anything…Please, just don't forget I will always be there, '' he added. I nodded.
Something was off, and I had to know why.
[Barney]
Barney Ross was a difficult man to surprise, really, but Sarah had been a unique woman, and her death had not changed her. He'd thought he'd never hear from her again after she refused to go with him a few years earlier, so the call he'd just received had unsettled him.
Tool looked at Barney with concern, having only seen him in a shock state on the field. Even then, it had been rare. He wondered what had put him in such a state. Something serious had happened, Tool was sure of it.
After a few seconds, Barney ended the call and tried to calm himself before looking at Tool.
''Tell the guys we're not taking jobs for a while and that I'll take emergency calls only. I've got something to do, '' Barney said.
Tool looked at him like he had grown a second head. Barney never put his personal life before his job, if he had any that is.
''You okay?'' Tool asked and Barney sighed while getting on his bike.
''No. No, I am not,'' he answered before starting the engine. ''I've got a daughter who just lost her mother.''
''You have a kid?'' Tool asked, surprised.
''Yeah, I didn't know either,'' Barney said before getting out of the shop, leaving a shocked Tool behind staring after him.