Chapter 48: The Truth
POV: Gabby
November 29, 2008; Saturday
Thanksgiving had gone amazingly well, Shawn and Grace were able to join us at Zac’s parents and everyone was there. It was a family event that was filled with stories, food, and lots of desserts. It was a very nice holiday but as soon as it was over they were back to work. They were recording a new album next year and they were thinking of another fall tour so they wanted to see if they could get plans done. Added, new merchandise needed to go out to customers.
I had two custom paintings to finish for Debbie, I’d already turned in the drawings and they’d already sold. So, I was doing a few larger pieces for the holiday. One of the paintings was a dragon, while Shawn had possession of the blue tipped one this one would be different, the client asked for a black and white drawing, because he couldn’t see color. I was in the little room I’d been using when Ike poked his head in.
“That’s looking good, it’s huge though.”
“It’s the size he asked for, I’m just drawing now and then I’ll have Zac inspect for anatomy issues.”
He walked over and pointed to a spot. “That scale is mildly off but not much.”
“Thanks.”
I went ahead and fixed it because otherwise the rest of them would be off as well. He returned to the meeting area and throughout the morning they checked in. Taylor helped with the eyes, Isaac the scale, Zac pointed out the back foot area was too small. I wasn’t sure what I’d do without them. The other canvas was nearly done too, it needed final touches. It was a scenic view of the grand canyon, a photo that the client took and wanted as a large scale painting.
“Baby, we’re going for lunch. Want to come with us?”
“Naa, I’m making good progress but where you going?”
“I don’t know really.”
“Just bring something light back, I think I’ve been eating too heavily.”
“You going to be okay alone here?”
“Well, unless you leave the door open no one can get inside without me opening the door.”
“I’ll make sure they are closed.”
I smiled and they left, I heard the front door when he closed it. I went back to light lines and making sure they were all perfected. When I was happy with the lines I took a break, going to the kitchen for some water and I was headed back when I heard the intercom clicking, so I walked to the front. The few other employees were here making sure orders went out, so perhaps one of them stepped out.
“Who is it?” I asked.
I waited and I heard the intercom come on, but no one said anything. I pressed it again and asked again who it was indicating that I wasn’t opening the door until they did. No answer was bad because employees knew to say something. Another moment or so passed before the intercom came on.
“It’s Max Gabby, can we talk?”
“We have nothing to talk about.”
“Please? I don’t care if Zac is there or not.”
“We don’t have anything to talk about Maxwell.”
“Come on Gabby, just talk to me, please.”
I checked the peephole and he was standing there alone, so I checked the window too. Once I was sure he was alone I opened the door. I wasn’t sure if he was like Tera as well and I just couldn’t risk it.
“I have nothing to say to you Maxwell. There is nothing you can tell me or say that will change my mind about this. You fucked up this time and not me.”
“Please?”
I really shouldn’t let him inside, the guys weren’t here and if he decided to hurt me he could. Yet, it appeared that whatever he wanted to talk about was important so maybe he was ready to tell me why he was acting this way. Why he was being a douchbag when he never had been.
“I’ll let you in. But if you lay a finger on me, I will call the police and I will file charges this time. Twice you’ve hurt me and I’ve let it slide, I won’t do it again. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“We can talk right here, no need to go beyond this point.”
He stepped inside and I closed the main door, but I remained near the door because if I needed to kick him out, I could. He stepped just in front of the window and I know he looked toward the back, he had no idea that the boys weren’t here, but that was okay.
“What do you want?”
“To come clean with you.”
“By all means, I’d love to hear this. I’ve been waiting for this moment.”
“Do we have to do this right here? We can’t be more private?”
“No. Either you start talking or you can go, I’m not playing Max.”
He leaned against the counter. “I know you remember when I left, I’m sure you do. But, did you ever find out who I was on tour with?”
“I remember but no I didn’t know. I never asked Abby and I never asked you. I honestly didn’t care who it was, the pain from you leaving was bad enough.”
“The band I toured with was Suffocated Mosquito. It was their second tour, 1999. They had one in 1997 as well, I’d been following and they offered me the job.”
I just stared at him. “Stop fucking with me Maxwell. That is not funny at all.”
He got something from his wallet and laid it on the counter, slid it to me. “I’m not fucking with you and I’m not trying to be funny.”
I pulled the picture to me and it was him with the band, he was standing beside Simon in the middle. The only way he’d have the picture is if he toured with them. It really wasn’t helping his case though.
“What the fuck is this?”
“First you were right about Abigail and I, we were together a few months before I left, we just didn’t tell you because we were both aware of how you felt. I toured with them the rest of the year and into the next year, in March I was talking to Abby and she was telling me about your dyed hair and how she didn’t know what to do, Simon heard me and asked about you. I didn’t tell him anything beyond you were a friend. I didn’t want to walk away Gabriella, I had too.”
I didn’t like that they’d both lied to me for so long, but Abby had already told me they’d been together before he left. She’d come clean a long time ago.
“No. You didn’t have to leave, you left because you wanted too.”
“Yes, I did. Because I am right about one thing you were following me and not your own dreams.”
“So, you knew Simon, did you know he was doing drugs?”
He was quiet for a moment. “Yes. I learned everything from him, he taught me how to run my own business.”
“Are you a dealer too?”
“I do both. Come on Gabby, you aren’t dumb. Do you really think I afford my apartment, bills, and take care of you for months on a roadie salary? The roadie job is because I get bored and it gets me out of the state and it covers my ass. My income is primarily from drugs. I thought being a roadie was this lucrative thing and you made a lot of money, it never was. Simon taught me how to make money.”
I had tried to justify that his name on the dealer’s list was a mistake or Simon’s way to keep up, but clearly that wasn’t why. His name was there because he really did deal drugs and he was a supplier that Simon used.
“How did you hide this?”
“From you? It was easy. For most of the time you weren’t talking to me, so I didn’t have to really do anything. I hid it from Abigail easily as well, she’s in school and didn’t really question where my income came from.”
“What about when I was living there? Surely it wasn’t that simple.”
“Not all of my trips to the store, the market, visiting bands, and all that were legit trips Gabs. There was a reason why I didn’t let you go all the time, because sometimes I didn’t really go.”
He was right, there had been times where he’d not let me leave or go with him. Said it was better I stay home. I guess that explained why. The numerous occasions where he told me he’d be home by some time, but it was hours later. Everything made sense now.
“This is not really explaining anything to me Max about your behavior. You are a dealer and a supplier, but my advice would be to cut ties with that because Simon has you as his supplier, I’m betting as payback.”
He didn’t comment on that and I moved away from you, keenly aware something was off. “You still talk to him don’t you?”
“I’m his main supplier of cocaine Gabby, I talk to him every day.”
“So, you knew I was with him all along then?”
“I never gave him your information, I was trying to protect you because I know how he was and I didn’t want him to be busted and you be there. I don’t know how he found you, but by the time I learned that you were on the tour with him it was too late. I was hoping you’d quit being a whore, I didn’t expect you to find him in the process. I tried to get him to leave you alone, but he said how bad you were on drugs and that he could help you.”
“You believed that crock of bullshit?”
“Come on, you were being a whore and we both know that Gabriella. Going home with any man just because he claimed to love you. Simon knew about every guy you went home with, he told me about things I didn’t know about because Abby didn’t even know. You told Abby and I both that he didn’t find out until January, six months after you began dating. That’s a lie. He knew when you met.”
“No doubt he learned most of it from you. How can you be so fucking stupid about that? You should have come to me then.”
“I came to the tour to see how you were and you were doing better! You had gained weight, you looked healthier, your hair was shorter, still black but shorter. You looked like you were doing better. I didn’t know what he was doing.”
“Sure, I was better alright. I didn’t mind being forced to eat whatever he provided, didn’t mind being beaten because of my hair or being held down as he hacked it off.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t know what he was doing to you. I just thought he’d gotten through to you! No one else had.”
“But the important part was I got away, I got to get rid of him and move on. Freedom and is what I needed and that’s a good thing.”
His head dropped some and I looked at him, that really hurt when the realization occurred to me. Simon had known where I was.
“He knew where I was the whole time, didn’t he?”
He nodded. “That was the plan actually. He called me in January, said that he needed a place for you that was well controlled, because your ability to make smart decisions was not present at all. He said it had to me because Abby couldn’t, I agreed to watch you. He cheated on purpose to piss you off, I didn’t expect that he was going to hurt you though, but we both knew you would come to me when he put you out.”
“For fucks sake Max, how did you know? I could have gone to anyone.”
He looked at me. “You had no one else to go to, don’t even fake that bullshit. Simon didn’t allow you many friends and Abby was in the city. He made the subtle suggestion before you left. He mentioned me before hand, it planted a little seed in your brain. When you left he called me so I knew you’d be coming. That was a plan Gabriella. He never really left you, he never broke up with you.”
“He didn’t have too. I left him and I broke up with him. Why would you do that?”
“He told me he made a mistake, he’d made a disk that had names on it. Someone informed a higher level dealer about it, apparently his name is on there too. He was informed they were going to raid the house, if they found the disk they’d kill him and everyone inside. He put the disk in your bag when he packed it, he made sure you left with the disk. You and the disk would be safe and he knew when he called you, that you’d come back to him.”
“So, you knew about the disk all along?”
“Yes.”
“So, you lied to the police when three men broke in, beat the crap out of me, raped me, and nearly killed me? You didn’t think it was important enough for them to know about it? You didn’t think they needed to know?”
“What was I going to tell them Gabby? The disk has my name on it, I couldn’t tell them where it was and I really didn’t know, because they didn’t find it.”
“So, Simon sent me to you, why? So you could babysit me until he felt it was safe?”
“Pretty much. He said he would call you when it was safe and that he was positive you’d come back on your own. He did tell me what to do to keep control of you, but I really didn’t believe you were that stupid or that incapable of making decisions. You proved me wrong.”
“What did he want you to do Max? Hit me?”
“He sent the paddle home with me Gabriella. I didn’t think I needed it, but maybe I should have taken his word for it instead. I got you the job with Hanson because Abigail was bitching at me for not encouraging you to work, for not getting you on your feet. I did it because she kept bitching.”
“So, you didn’t care to get me out of the house or to help me.”
“No, Simon did not approve of that decision, he was furious with me for that. But I told him it was Hanson, some sugar pop bitches that don’t do drugs, don’t party, they are literally as tame as a fucking newborn kitten. They bored me when I toured with them.”
“It’s why you warned me what an asshole Zac was, why you told me he only did one night stands and he was just all around a bad guy?”
“I assumed you would fucking listen to me and avoid him. Simon was right, you did not make good decisions and you didn’t jump when he called and when he showed up, you didn’t defend him or agree to go. In fact, you let Zac protect you. Stupid.”
“You and Abby told me I didn’t need to go back to him, that I was better off without Simon. YOU told me that Maxwell more than once. Yet, you are telling me that you knew the plan and that was all bullshit?”
“I did and it was, I thought he was right that whatever we said wouldn’t stick. It never has.”
I couldn’t believe this bullshit, he knew and yet he’d said all the right things and thought I wouldn’t listen? He’d known the plan all along, then a thought occurred to me.
“You didn’t know about the men he was sending to the apartment, did you?”
Surely, he didn’t know about that! But he didn’t immediately tell me no, which is what I expected. He claimed that he cared about me, if he knew they were coming he would have told me. But he didn’t deny it, he didn’t say anything, just stood there. That may have hurt the most out of everything he’d done, hitting me included.
“I think you need to leave now.”
“Gabriella.”
He started toward me and I held my hands up. “Don’t touch me Maxwell. Don’t even get near me.”
“They were only suppose to restrain you and get the disk, that was it!”
“That’s bullshit and you know it.”
“They weren’t suppose to hurt you! They couldn’t find it and they told Simon it wasn’t there.”
“Taylor had it, I was mad at Zac and left the bag on the bus. He brought it to me earlier this year.”
“Do you have it?”
The excitement in his voice didn’t help how I was feeling. “No. Unlike you I couldn’t lie to the police, so I gave it to them. I also gave them the codes to decipher the disk, Simon taught them to me. It’s why he wanted you to control me Max, it’s why he didn’t tell me about it, why he insistent I come back to him and why he sent Damien to get me.”
“You gave it to the police? Are you fucking stupid?”
“No, three men nearly killed me for that fucking disk and I didn’t want it in my hands. I trusted you Maxwell, I thought you were my friend or at least that you cared enough to protect me from Simon. Yet, all this time you’ve been helping him. He didn’t get my number from some log on the tour, you gave it to him. It’s how he got my new number, my e-mails, it’s how he knew where I was. All this time you’ve been lying to me.”
“You should have gone back when he called. I mean really, you’re decision making skills suck. You should divorce your husband and go back to him, he can do so much better.”
“I’m not doing that Maxwell. I’m not getting a divorce, I’m not leaving Zac. I’ll never go back to Simon, I don’t care if Zac divorces me tomorrow.”
“Bad decision.”
“It’s time you leave. We have nothing else to discuss.”
“So you can run to your little boy toy and cry on his shoulder now? Predictable.”
The nagging pain from this betrayal was bad but then the little blip of anger came over me. He was blaming me for what happened? That my decision to not return to someone who raped and beat me was bad? I really had no idea what came over me. I heard the door open and I heard Zac’s voice, but they walked in about the time I punched him in the face as hard as I could.
Max stumbled and then fell to the floor, when he looked up at me confused there was blood gushing from his nose which looked completely weird.
“Get the fuck out and do not ever come near me again. You can take your fucking beliefs and Simon and you can shove them both up your ass. I do not ever want to see you again. Now Get out.”
“Gabby...” He started. It was a bit gargled due to the blood.
“GET. OUT!” I screamed.
To punctuate my words, Isaac held the door open. Taylor and Zac laid down the bags in their hands fully prepared to help him if needed, but he got up without help and left. Isaac closed the door behind him and then they looked at me, all three were confused and stunned.
“We brought you lunch Mrs. Hanson. They didn’t have the pickles you liked though, please don’t go hitting me for that.” Isaac said.
“I won’t hit you.”
“Sure about that? I think you just broke his nose. I’m pretty sure that’s how Zac’s nose looked when his was broken.”
“Baby, what happen?” Zac asked.
“He knew they were coming to the apartment for the disk, he knew because Simon told him and they’ve been talking since he left. He gave him the number, he was suppose to fucking babysit me for Simon.”
“Wow, Max knew they were coming?” Zac asked.
“Yes. Apparently they weren’t suppose to hurt me.”
“Which way did he go?” He asked.
“Zachary.” Taylor and Isaac both said.
“The bastard would deserve to have me stomp his ass into the concrete since he knew, he could have told her to leave the house.”
“Yes, but you don’t need to be in jail. Max made his decisions and he’ll have to live with them.” Taylor said.
I explained what he said to them how he’d basically been an asshole the whole time. I ate lunch and they checked my lines and once approved I began to paint, but about six Zac went to the front to answer the door and several moments later my brother came in. I looked at him and blinked, he had a busted lip and a obvious black eye and yet I knew he was still pissed off. But, why was he here? Why was he pissed? And what happen to his face?!
“What the hell happened Shawn?”
“You’re little fucking friend Max came to the hospital with a broken nose, which you apparently gave him.”
“Did I?”
“It was broken, yes.”
“So…what happen to your eye and your lip then? I mean, you didn’t do that to yourself.”
“As I am assisting the nurse in ER with his nose and he’s making shitty comments about you, how you are a whore, can’t make decisions, stupid, I mean it was bad. Before he left I told him I was glad my baby sister broke his fucking nose. I get off and the bastard is waiting by my car. Tells me I need to do something about my out of control sister.”
“Didn’t realize I was out of control.”
“Well, he revisited the ER, pretty sure I broke that nose a little more and I’m certain his arm might be broken too. Funny, no idea what happen to him. I told the guy that called I left and didn’t see him, but considering he was flapping about some girl breaking his nose earlier when we saw him I assumed he was on drugs.”
Zac smiled. “You did good, I would have broken the arm for sure.”
“Won’t they know when you show up for work tomorrow?”
He smiled. “I shall tell them I was here with you and my brother in law and I got into an argument and well, he won. Let’s face it, Zac’s arms are twice the size of mine it’s totally believable.”
“Which would explain why you’re here then.”
“Of course. I mean, you were here and they were here. I have witnesses.”
“Totally possible for Zac to do that, we gotcha back. No problem, I think your sister has the killer right hook though.” Taylor said.
He smiled and I just blushed a bit. “He deserved it.”
“So, I beat his ass for the comments he was making, what did he do to deserve that punch? It’ll help me justify the ass beating he just got.”
Again, I explained what he told me and Shawn was not very calm after that, but the boys didn’t let him leave.
“Well, let’s hope my message gets through because next time I may break a lot more. Now see you’ve been making great decisions all along.”
“I guess I have been, without even knowing.”
Zac just smiled as he’d been trying to tell me.
“Oh, is this another dragon?”
“Yes, black and white commission. The future owner is color blind, so he wanted black and white.”
“You’re specialty.”
“It’s big, Zac and the other two confirmed my lines earlier.”
He came over and reviewed it too. “You got this. Didn’t you have a second one?”
“It’s almost done, it’s right there. I needed to let it dry good to make sure the colors were legit.”
He viewed it too and approved. “I’m hanging on to my originals. Oh! You told me to tell you when my red dragon goes on my chest. Major problem sis, you drew that fucker huge. It covers like my sides, my entire chest, way too far down the front. I mean the head is like…It’s…well, it’s low.”
“Do you want me to re-do something that will fit?”
“I will love you forever.”
“That’s not a bargaining chip, you’re obligated to love me forever.”
“I will…I don’t know what do you want?”
I really didn’t have much of an idea but the first thing that came to mind is what came out.
“Go with me for the final fitting for my dress, it’s on the tenth at nine am. After that you’re free because I meet the other girls at eleven for their dresses.”
“You want me to go with you?”
“Yep.”
“I’ll go.” Zac said.
“You are not going, so stop asking!”
“I tried!”
“I’ll go.” Shawn said.
I got the drawing tablet and taped two pieces together. “Where do you want it?”
He indicated his upper chest and mid-abdomen. So I traced myself a pattern so I knew the lines and since he was picky and didn’t want to have to tattoo the nipples I marked them off too. I then put it up and he made his way home. Our new tattoo’s were healing nicely too, Zac’s looked awesome. Since I had basically been distracted enough I stopped and they did too, closing up and heading home. The studio would close the 19 th and I had to have his painting shipped by the 15 th. He’d already paid for it. The downside to this new income source was Zac had to teach me about taxes, because I was clueless about those and how to properly send the right amounts. Yet, he was patient with me and made sure I understood.
We were comfortable in bed and asleep by eleven.