Chapter 7 - The Price of Loving a Dangerous Man
Gabriel woke handcuffed to his hospital bed.
Sheree stood beside the window.
He looked at the cuff.
Then at her.
“This is new.”
“Federal agents have questions.”
“They usually do.”
“This isn’t funny.”
“No.”
His expression softened.
“Did you sleep?”
“Did you commit twelve federal crimes?”
“Probably.”
Sheree stared.
Gabriel sighed.
“Sit down.”
“No.”
“Then at least stop looking at me like you’re deciding whether to disconnect my IV.”
“I’m considering it.”
He almost smiled.
Then Sheree placed the federal file on his bed.
“There are wire transfers. Shell companies. Bribes.”
“Yes.”
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“Were they Salvatore’s?”
“Some.”
“And the others?”
“Mine.”
Sheree’s chest tightened.
Gabriel did not hide.
“I’ve done terrible things, Sheree.”
“I know.”
“No. You know rumors.”
His voice became quieter.
“I inherited an organization built on fear. I told myself I could control it by becoming more frightening than everyone else.”
“Did you kill people?”
Gabriel looked at her.
“Yes.”
The answer hurt.
Not because she had believed he was innocent.
Because some small, foolish part of her had hoped.
“I never killed civilians,” he said. “Never children. Never someone merely because they inconvenienced me. But I won’t insult you by pretending my hands are clean.”
Sheree sat.
“What happens now?”
“I cooperate.”
She looked up sharply.
Gabriel stared at the ceiling.
“Salvatore built half his protection through corrupted officials. Marcus died trying to expose them. If I stay silent, his death means nothing.”
“You could go to prison.”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“I don’t know.”
Her eyes filled.
Gabriel looked at her.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Cry for me.”
“I’ll cry wherever I want.”
His mouth twitched.
She wiped her face angrily.
“You are unbelievably annoying.”
“I’ve been told.”
The investigation exploded across Chicago.
Judges resigned.
Police officers were arrested.
Businesses were raided.
Gabriel surrendered financial records, names, safe houses, and accounts.
In exchange, prosecutors considered his cooperation.
For three months, Sheree visited whenever permitted.
They never defined what they were.
It was easier that way.
Then one rainy afternoon, Gabriel was released pending sentencing.
He appeared outside St. Jude’s wearing a dark coat.
Sheree walked toward him.
“You look terrible.”
“You always know what to say.”
She hugged him.
His arms closed around her.
For the first time, there were no guards.
No blood.
No guns.
Just rain.
Gabriel whispered against her hair.
“I missed you.”
Sheree closed her eyes.
“Say it again.”
“I missed you.”
She pulled back.
“I was hoping for something more dramatic.”
He kissed her.
The kiss was slow.
Careful.
Almost uncertain.
It was the first uncertain thing she had ever seen Gabriel Moretti do.
When they separated, Sheree whispered, “That’ll work.”
He laughed.
For six weeks, they attempted something resembling normal life.
Gabriel cooked terribly.
Sheree discovered he secretly watched cooking competitions.
He discovered she sang loudly while cleaning.
They argued over thermostat settings.
He bought her a new television.
She made him return it.
He bought the entire electronics store.
She threatened murder.
For a while, happiness seemed possible.
Then Gabriel’s sentencing date arrived.
The judge acknowledged his cooperation.
Seven corrupt officials had been convicted because of his testimony.
More than $80 million had been recovered.
But cooperation did not erase history.
“Thirty months.”
Sheree squeezed Gabriel’s hand.
Two and a half years.
Gabriel accepted the sentence without expression.
Outside the courthouse, reporters screamed questions.
Sheree ignored them.
Gabriel turned to her.
“You don’t have to wait.”
“Don’t.”
“Sheree.”
“Don’t decide what I can handle.”
“Two and a half years is a long time.”
“So was nursing school.”
He laughed softly.
Then his expression broke.
“I love you.”
Everything stopped.
Traffic.
Reporters.
Cold.
Noise.
Sheree looked at him.
“You waited until federal marshals were standing behind you?”
“Timing has never been my strength.”
She grabbed his coat and kissed him.
Then whispered against his lips.
“I love you too.”
Gabriel closed his eyes.
For one second, the feared man disappeared.
He was simply the stranger she had refused to leave in the snow.
A marshal touched his shoulder.
Time.
Gabriel stepped away.
Sheree watched him leave.
She believed the hardest part was beginning.
She was wrong.
Because across the street, inside a parked sedan, a man photographed her.
Then he sent the image to an unknown number.
May you like
The message beneath it contained five words.
Moretti has one weakness left.
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