Page 81 of In Every Lifetime
“You think he’s been planning this for a while?” Scarlett asked.
I shrugged. “From what Fai said about his office, he had multiple files on everyone in my life. Extensive files—not something you could put together quickly. He had been at the cabin he rented long enough to get comfortable with the space.”
“I’ll call the station out there to see if they can figure out when the booking came in for the cabin,” Scarlett mused. “If this is the case, do you have any idea when he found out about you? Met you? Anything that explains why you’re the object of his… stalking?”
I shook my head. “I don’t recognize him.”
“It could be from anywhere, truly,” Jackie interjected. “You have multiple published works, have spoken at conferences, and have guest lectured at multiple universities. It may not have been significant to you. Hell—he could have seen you on thestreet, and if he wasn’t getting the help he needed to treat the different mental disorders he struggled with, that could have been enough to draw his attention.”
The room was quiet for a moment, the silence heavy between us all. We could talk all day, throwing our theories and speculations around, but without further information, we couldn’t know the truth. Hell, we didn’t even know if Gabriel was really his name.
“So… is he actually my brother?” Fai asked quietly.
My heart broke, knowing the pain he must have been feeling, losing the one family member he thought he had. I opened my mouth to answer, but Nate beat me to it.
“We don’t know—we can’t know—not yet. But…” Nate sighed deeply and trained his gaze on Fai. “You don’t need him. If he is your brother—well, no offense—he sucks. But you have the rest of us here for you. You don’t need him.”
I stared at Nate in shock. Out of all the people Fai had harmed during his addiction, I would have thought Nate would be the one to never forgive him. While this wasn’t forgiveness, it was an olive branch.
“We’ll figure it out; we’ll get you your answers.” Scarlett looked to me as she spoke her next words. “We’ll get answers for both of you. Let me make some calls, okay? See if I can figure out who Gabriel is and what he wants.”
She wandered off toward her office, Nate following her. Jackie glanced between me and Fai.
“You two should probably talk,” she mumbled. She walked toward the front door and yelled down the hall toward her brother, “I’m going home! Don’t let anyone kidnap my friends!”
“Deal!” Nate yelled back, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the two of them.
Fai was still silent, standing completely still. He didn’t even seem to be breathing.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
He shook his head—not saying anything, but as if he were trying to bring himself back to reality. “So… you think Gabriel used me to get to you?”
I nodded. “I’m so sorry, Fai. It’s not fair to you. You just wanted a brother, and he exploited that.”
“So it’s not my fault?” he asked quietly.
I was taken aback. “I’m going to need you to expand.”
“It’s not my fault you were hurt? That this man is fixated on you?” he asked again—his voice quiet, his eyes pleading for an answer.
“My God, Fai. You thought this was your fault?”
He nodded.
“Faizal… even if it turns out he did find me through you, you are not responsible for the actions of others,” I explained as I stood, moving in front of him and placing my hands on either side of his jaw. “This was not your fault.”
He took a deep breath, his eyes closing, and finally, he pulled me into a hug. An audible “oomph” slipped from my lips from the force as I collided with his chest.
“I’m sorry I’m making this about me,” he mumbled into my hair as he held me tightly. “I just couldn’t be responsible for hurting you again. Never again, honey.”
For the first time in years, I truly believed him when he said he wouldn’t hurt me again.
