Thirty five

GABRIELLE POV

I should've just taken the shot, and taken the old man into the fucking grave. I punched at the heavy bag in rapid succession until I broke the barrier, my knuckles raw and bleeding. I crumbled to the floor, a migraine making itself known as my head thumped.

Family? He never knew the meaning, he was always going to do whatever he wanted as the leader, not as a grandfather. I'd foolishly followed him like a puppet on his string, forgiving him for what he did to me, blaming myself for being weak. He should have never put me in the position to get hurt in the first place.

The door to the boxing room opened slowly, making me alert, but the footsteps closing in on me felt familiar. Simone. I looked up at him, and he faltered in his step. He looked sad somehow, and I wondered what was bothering him... Surely he didn't have much to worry about

"Your hand is bleeding," he said, a first aid kit in his hand. I waved him off.

"It's fine. I wanted to bleed a little. You'll need t