Chapter 6 - THE PRICE OF SAVING HIM
Paige did not think.
She moved.
A silver champagne bucket stood beside the table.
She grabbed it with both hands and threw it.
It struck Enzo’s arm as he fired.
The bullet went wide.
Nico tackled him.
Guests scattered.
Gabriel collapsed against Paige.
“Stay with me.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re bleeding.”
“I’ve done that before.”
“This is not the time to brag.”
His mouth almost curved.
Then his eyes closed.
“Gabriel!”
The next hour became sirens, police, doctors, and blood.
The bullet had passed through his shoulder.
No artery damage.
No organ damage.
Paige sat beside his private hospital room until sunrise.
When Gabriel woke, she was asleep with her head against the mattress and one hand wrapped around his.
He stared at their hands.
Paige woke.
Their eyes met.
Neither immediately moved.
“You threw a champagne bucket at an armed man,” Gabriel said.
“It was the nearest weapon.”
“You could have been killed.”
“So could you.”
“That’s different.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“It is to me.”
Silence.
Paige’s pulse changed.
Gabriel lifted her hand.
His thumb brushed her knuckles.
“You should stay away from me.”
“Probably.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“You’re terrible at following instructions.”
“You hired me.”
His gaze held hers.
Then Paige leaned forward.
The kiss was quiet.
Almost hesitant.
Nothing about Gabriel Moretti seemed built for hesitation, which made it feel more intimate.
His uninjured hand touched her cheek.
When they separated, Paige whispered, “You’re still terrifying.”
“Good.”
“But your coffee is awful.”
“There are limits to what I’ll tolerate.”
She laughed.
For several seconds, the world felt normal.
Then Nico entered.
Kevin had been found.
Alive.
Paige stood so quickly the chair fell.
He was being held in a warehouse in Queens.
Police recovered him during raids connected to Enzo.
Paige visited that afternoon.
Kevin looked ten years older.
He cried when he saw her.
Paige did not.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“You left me with your debt.”
“I know.”
“You forged my name.”
“I know.”
“You let men threaten me.”
“I thought they wouldn’t hurt you.”
“That isn’t an excuse.”
“No.”
For the first time, Kevin did not try to charm his way out.
He told her everything.
Matteo had promised money.
Enzo promised protection.
Kevin wanted both.
Then he discovered they had arranged Luca Moretti’s death years earlier.
The photograph of Gabriel had been insurance.
They planned to eventually frame him.
“Why now?” Paige asked.
“Because Gabriel was changing the business.”
Kevin looked toward the door.
“He was cutting off the illegal operations. Enzo was losing millions.”
Paige stared.
Gabriel had been dismantling his own criminal empire.
Quietly.
Kevin nodded.
“He wanted Moretti Logistics legitimate within five years.”
That evening, Paige confronted Gabriel.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
He sat near the hospital window.
“Tell you what?”
“That you’re trying to get out.”
His expression hardened.
“Kevin talks too much.”
“He said Enzo killed Luca because Luca wanted the same thing.”
Gabriel looked away.
That answered her.
“You’re finishing what your brother started.”
“Yes.”
“And every criminal connected to your family hates you for it.”
“Many.”
“Excellent. I was worried my life was becoming boring.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“Paige.”
“No. You don’t get to push me away because you’ve decided it’s noble.”
“I’m dangerous.”
“You got shot protecting me.”
“That proves my point.”
“It proves mine.”
He stood.
Pain crossed his face.
Paige moved instinctively toward him.
Gabriel caught her hand.
“I don’t know how to do this.”
“What?”
He looked down at their fingers.
“This.”
Her expression softened.
“Neither do I.”
For a moment, Gabriel Moretti looked less like a feared boss and more like a man who had spent too long believing tenderness was another vulnerability enemies could exploit.
Then his phone rang.
Nico.
Gabriel listened.
His face changed.
“What?”
Paige waited.
Gabriel ended the call.
“Matteo escaped custody.”
Her stomach dropped.
“How?”
“Someone inside the transport team helped him.”
Gabriel reached for his jacket.
Paige stopped him.
“You were shot yesterday.”
“He’ll come for the evidence.”
“No.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“He’ll come for me.”
Silence.
Paige understood something before Gabriel said it.
The flash drive was useless without someone capable of authenticating the manipulated files.
Paige was the witness who could explain them.
Matteo did not need Gabriel anymore.
He needed her.
Then Paige’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
Gabriel motioned for her not to answer.
She did anyway.
“Hello?”
A familiar voice spoke.
“Hello, honey.”
Paige went cold.
May you like
Matteo laughed softly.
Then he said, “If you want your mother to stay alive, you’re going to do exactly what I say.”
