Chapter 7 - The Marriage That Had Been Planned
Audrey wanted an explanation.
Gabriel had none.
For two years he had believed their marriage was an impulsive act of rebellion against his father.
Now it appeared Vittorio had engineered the entire night.
Arthur's gambling debt.
The stolen money.
Gabriel being sent to collect him.
Audrey standing in that apartment.
Even the obscure Commission rule Gabriel used to protect her.
Pieces positioned on a board.
“Why would he want us married?” Audrey asked.
Gabriel paced the safe house library.
“Control.”
“That's not specific enough.”
“It usually is with my father.”
Audrey crossed her arms.
“No. Think.”
Gabriel looked at her.
She continued.
“If I inherited Thomas Bell's interests, why marry me to you?”
“To bring those interests back under Russo influence.”
“But he could have killed me.”
“Not if Bell's trust had protections.”
Audrey nodded slowly.
“Maybe my marriage activated something.”
Gabriel's eyes narrowed.
They needed the trust.
Two hours later, Gabriel's attorney arrived with sealed court records.
The truth was worse.
Thomas Bell had anticipated his own death.
His trust transferred the port shares to his biological child on her twenty-fifth birthday—but only if she was married.
Audrey had turned twenty-five three days after marrying Gabriel.
Vittorio had needed the marriage.
He had never intended to annul it.
Gabriel stared at the document.
“My father used me to unlock your inheritance.”
Audrey looked sick.
“And then?”
“Then he planned to control me.”
“Through me.”
“Yes.”
The room became quiet.
Gabriel thought of their wedding.
Audrey terrified.
A clerk trembling.
His own arrogance in believing he had outsmarted Vittorio.
He had not rescued Audrey from his father's plan.
He had completed it.
“I am sorry.”
Audrey stared at him.
Gabriel Russo did not apologize.
Not easily.
“For what?”
“For bringing you into this.”
“You saved my life.”
“I also made you useful to him.”
“You didn't know.”
“I should have.”
Audrey laughed softly.
“You really do think you're responsible for everything.”
“Usually.”
“That must be exhausting.”
“It is.”
She smiled.
A genuine one.
For a moment, the war disappeared.
Gabriel looked at her the way he had avoided looking for two years.
Not as collateral.
Not as the mother of his children.
As Audrey.
She noticed.
The air changed.
Then Lena entered.
“Boss.”
Gabriel stepped back.
“What?”
“Problem.”
Her face told him it was more than a problem.
“The twins?”
“Safe.”
Gabriel breathed again.
“Then what?”
Lena handed him a tablet.
Security footage.
A man had entered the clinic where Carmine was recovering.
He wore scrubs.
Medical mask.
Cap.
But Gabriel recognized the walk.
“Julian.”
Audrey moved closer.
Onscreen, Julian entered Carmine's room.
Seven minutes later he left.
Carmine was still alive.
But something had been written on the wall.
Lena zoomed in.
HE KNOWS WHERE THE CHILDREN ARE.
Gabriel's head snapped up.
“Move them.”
Lena grabbed her phone.
Too late.
The house alarm screamed.
Gabriel ran.
The nursery door was open.
The cribs were empty.
Audrey made a sound Gabriel would hear in nightmares for the rest of his life.
“No.”
Lena entered behind them.
“I was downstairs for three minutes.”
Gabriel saw an open window.
Then something on the floor.
Noah's stuffed dog.
He picked it up.
Audrey was shaking.
“Find them.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“Find my babies.”
He reached for her.
She shoved him away.
“No! You promised they were safe!”
The words hit because she was right.
Gabriel turned toward his men.
“Seal every bridge, airport, train station and private runway.”
His voice became deadly calm.
“Nobody leaves this city.”
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
Gabriel answered.
Vittorio's voice came through.
“Now you understand.”
Gabriel's hand tightened.
“If you hurt them—”
“I won't.”
“You have ten minutes to tell me where they are.”
Vittorio laughed.
“No, son.”
A baby's cry sounded faintly through the phone.
Emma.
Audrey heard it.
Her knees nearly buckled.
Vittorio continued.
“You have until midnight to bring me my wife.”
Gabriel went still.
Audrey whispered, “His wife?”
Vittorio spoke clearly.
May you like
“Tell Audrey to ask her mother who she was married to before Thomas Bell.”
The call ended.
