"I'm sorry you had to find out like this..." Lina said softly.
I was in shock but most importantly scared. All these years I thought he had stopped, thinking I'd be a lesson for him to stop what he had been doing. But he didn't, and he continued to do it which I can't help but feel is also my fault. If I had just said something when it all happened instead of running, this would all be different.
"Gianna stop blaming yourself I can already see you doing so," Lina shook her head and grasped my hand. "You were also a child, you can't blame the fact you were scared of what happened after you escaped your nightmare."
"If I had just said something when you and your family wanted me to, he never would've done it to anyone else." I whispered, blinking away tears.
The waiter approached our table setting down the glass of bourbon I had ordered and proceeded to take our dinner orders.
I wondered how much Callum had known now. After all, his mother was the lead on the case so he must know something and just the thought of him finding out about that part of me scared the shit out of me.
"Stop blaming yourself." She shook her head and reached for her glass clearing her throat. I reached for the bourbon and took a large gulp.
"Does Callum know?" She whispered, placing the glass back down. "No," I shook my head, meeting her eyes. "He knows about changing my name and running from foster care but he doesn't know the why or how."
She studied me for a moment and then nodded.
"Well I think you should tell him. I think he should hear it from you. I'm not sure what your relationship is but I think it'd be easier for him to hear it from your mouth than from that of his mothers." She finished.
She was right. Not that he deserved or had a right to know or dig through my past. But that I should be the one to tell him before his mother digs deep enough to reveal my true name along with its backstory and he would immediately recognize the name. I'm sure I'm already on a list somewhere in the case file.
My head spun at the thought of everything I worked to keep in my past all come forward within a matter of weeks and on national television. I'm sure a case like this was front page news.
"Let's just enjoy dinner, we can talk more after."Lina said with a smile and I just shook my head in agreement.
Our food arrived quickly and we ate in a nice silence with an occasional conversation here and there. She told me about her life and how she had gone to King's College London for college and then proceeded to seek a career in journalism. She got a pretty amazing job offer in London which is why she's here now.
"And your parents? How are they?" I smiled softly while opening the door for her as we exited the restaurant.
"Good! Very good. They still live up in the London area but they visit often." She thanked the valet driver as he brought her car around.
"I want to tell them I've found you Amelia, but I think we should wait." I watched as she turned the car on and then looked over to me. "They deserve to know you're alright but I know you need time to process all this so I'll respect that. But just know they deserve it."
She put the car and drive and slowly left the valet.
"Of course. Just give me a few days to take this all in." I sighed meaning my head on the window. "You and your family deserve a novel's worth of apologies and explanations, and I want nothing more than to give that to you. And I will." I looked back to Lina.
"I'm glad I've found you again Gianna. I've fucking missed you." I cracked a smile at her words and she just smiled brighter.
"Now tell me where the hell you live." I shook my head and rambled off my address and then proceeded to give her directions.
As we were driving, I took out my phone to see if Callum had maybe answered my text from earlier only to see he hasn't. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. He always answered quickly and always gave an obnoxious reply. Who called him?
"This it?" Lina asked as she pulled into my small apartments' small parking lot.
"Yes."
She pulled into a spot and parked the car turning to me once more.
"Give me your phone so I can give you my number and we can talk." She said while holding her hand out. I pulled my phone out and placed it back in her palm and watched as she added her contact.
"OK, done." She handed back my phone and I smiled at her reaching over to give her a hug. She wrapped her arms around my neck and we both just held each other for a moment. Having Lina back in my life was a shock, but more importantly so comforting.
"You drive safe and have a goodnight okay?" I said while pulling back to open my door.
"Of course, I missed you." She smiled and I returned it. "Missed you more." And with that I stepped out of the car and waved goodbye as she reversed out of the spot.
As I made my way to my apartment I checked my phone to see if Callum had replied only to find there was still none. Maybe I was being dramatic, but it didn't help the fact all I could think about was who called him. I needed to talk to him about Matt, I know I did. I just didn't know when or how.
Opening the door to my apartment, I turned all my lights on and headed for my room. I needed a shower and time to think about what just happened. But of course that wasn't the case. My phone started ringing and my heart rate spiked thinking it was Callum, of course it wasn't but it was Amy who I haven't talked to since Saturday.
"Hello" I said while putting the phone on speaker so I could get undressed and ready for a shower.
"Hi babes, was just checking in. How is everything?" She asked.
"Good, just got home and am about to shower." I answered and then headed for the bathroom in my robe with a towel in one hand and phone in the other.
"So Saturday, I don't like this Jameson guy AT ALL. He seems stuck up and I have no idea what Cel sees in him." She explains. I laugh at her outburst.
"Well she can date whoever she wants, but I agree I get weird vibes from him." I said while turning on the shower.
"Me too," I heard her sigh. "Well you shower but I have a pretty busy week so how about a brunch on Saturday?" She asks.
"A whole week without me!" I fake gasp. She just laughs and says "You know I'd be by your side 24/7 baby."
I shake my head. "What about Leo?"
"He'll live, I'm pretty sure he's with Callum and Zack tonight which is why he couldn't hang out." Callum's with Leo?
"Oh okay, well it's a yes to brunch. I have a lot to tell you." I explained as I slipped my robe off.
"Ok babes, I'll talk to you soon." I said goodbye and then we hung up.
Jumping in the shower I scrubbed my body clean and relished under the hot stream of water. I wonder why Callum hadn't answered the phone and who called him and why he was at Leo's? God that man was consuming me but I don't hate it.
I missed the way his body felt against mine as we slept. How he slowly ran his fingers along my leg as we were tangled up together in the sheets. I missed him. And we needed to talk.
I finished showering and proceeded to get dressed into some pajamas.
Curling up on the couch with my laptop I immediately opened up google and searched Callum's mom. This case was real and it was happening. I had to know more before I told Callum or Amy anything.
I looked up Kacey Black and was met with a flood of articles. All talking about different cases she had covered throughout her career, but the top three were about Matt Fraiser. Oh god. The article was long and was published by The BBC News. It talked about Kacey's credentials and her effort to bring this case to trial.
Apparently Matt had been on the run for months now and it was a matter of time before he was caught. I didn't know how to feel.
Weeks ago I hated the thought of the past. Hated Callum for using it against me, and I still do. But in a weird way since then, I've been forced to face it which I haven't done in years. Mari had entered back into my life because of Callum and now his own mother was about to stand up against my biggest nightmare.
He had undoubtedly barged into my life unannounced and on unfair terms, but he has made me come to terms with who I am. I am Gianna Ruth, no longer Gianna Johnson and I deserve to be happy. I deserve to watch Matt and his family be thrown in prison.
Before I could go any further, my thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of my phone. I quickly picked it up and the name Unknown flashed on the screen. I smiled at the fact I never changed it and then instantly got nervous.
I slid my finger across the screen and answered the call.
"Hello," I said while closing my laptop.
"Gianna, we need to talk." He said in a deep voice. He sounded determined and my heart raced with nerves.
"About what, is everything okay?" I asked. He took a moment to respond and I racked my brain for what possibly could have gone wrong.
"Yea, it will be. Can you come by this Friday?" He asked. Still letting nothing through with his tone of voice.
"Okay," I whispered and furrowed my brows.
"Okay, goodnight love." He said and then hung up the phone.
My heart raced as I put the phone down. I knew that whatever he needed to talk about wasn't good and just the thought of him finding out about Matt before I could explain it myself made me nervous.
And with that I got ready for bed. Determined to save myself the relentless never ending questions about what he needed to talk about, I settled into bed and closed my eyes.