Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN HE COULDN’T TRUST
By morning, Claire had been moved into one of Gabriel's private residences.
She hated it.
She hated the marble floors.
The enormous windows.
The silent guards.
The fact that every door seemed to have someone standing beside it.
Most of all, she hated the man who had brought her there.
Gabriel Kane.
He had saved her life.
He had saved Eli.
Yet Claire couldn't forget what people said about him.
Murderer.
Kingpin.
Monster.
She sat at the breakfast table, staring at untouched toast.
Across from her, Gabriel read a newspaper.
He hadn't spoken in nearly ten minutes.
Finally, Claire broke the silence.
“Why am I here?”
“Because your apartment is compromised.”
“You don't know that.”
“I do.”
“How?”
Gabriel folded the newspaper.
“Someone entered your apartment last night.”
Claire's stomach tightened.
“What?”
“They didn't steal anything.”
“Then what did they want?”
Gabriel looked directly at her.
“You.”
Claire's fingers curled around her coffee cup.
“Why?”
“That is what I'm trying to determine.”
She stood.
“I need to go home.”
“No.”
“Mr. Kane—”
“Gabriel.”
She stopped.
He rarely used her name.
And somehow, hearing it made her more uncomfortable.
“You're staying here until we know who's behind the attack.”
“I can't afford to stop working.”
“I'll pay you.”
Claire's eyes flashed.
“I don't want your money.”
“I didn't offer charity.”
“Then what?”
“Protection.”
“I don't need protection.”
Gabriel looked at the bruises on her wrist.
“You almost died yesterday.”
Her face fell.
“That's not the same thing.”
“How?”
Claire looked away.
“Because I don't want to owe you.”
Something changed in Gabriel's expression.
“You don't owe me anything.”
“Everyone owes you something.”
“Not you.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
Gabriel didn't answer.
That silence frightened her more than any explanation.
Before she could ask again, Mason entered.
“Boss.”
Gabriel stood.
“What?”
“Someone tried accessing the company security archive.”
“When?”
“Twenty minutes ago.”
“Location?”
“Your office.”
Gabriel's eyes hardened.
Claire watched him.
“You think I did it?”
Gabriel looked at her.
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Claire blinked.
“You don't?”
“If you were working for them, you wouldn't have nearly died protecting Eli.”
She swallowed.
“Then why do I feel like I'm being investigated?”
“Because you are.”
At least he was honest.
Gabriel walked away.
Claire remained at the table.
Then she noticed something.
A small silver cufflink lay near the edge of Gabriel's chair.
She picked it up.
There was a tiny symbol engraved into it.
A black raven.
Her heart skipped.
She had seen that symbol before.
Not on Gabriel.
On one of the men at the warehouse.
Claire stood abruptly.
“Gabriel.”
He stopped.
She held up the cufflink.
“This.”
His eyes immediately narrowed.
“Where did you get that?”
“It was on the floor.”
Gabriel took it from her.
His face went completely still.
Mason stepped closer.
“Boss?”
Gabriel stared at the engraving.
“This isn't mine.”
Claire's pulse quickened.
“Then whose is it?”
Gabriel didn't answer.
He walked toward the window.
“Everyone leave.”
Mason hesitated.
“Boss—”
“Now.”
The room emptied.
Gabriel turned toward Claire.
“Tell me everything you remember from the warehouse.”
“I already told you.”
“Tell me again.”
Claire closed her eyes.
She forced herself back into the memory.
The concrete floor.
The smell of gasoline.
The men shouting.
Eli crying.
A man wearing a dark coat.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“There was another person.”
Gabriel stepped closer.
“Who?”
“I didn't see his face.”
“What did he say?”
Claire struggled to remember.
“He told the others not to hurt me.”
Gabriel's expression changed.
“What exactly did he say?”
Claire whispered:
“Don't touch her. Kane will come.”
Gabriel's blood ran cold.
Someone had expected him.
Someone had known exactly how he would react.
But there was more.
Claire looked at the cufflink.
“The man who said it…”
“Yes?”
“He was wearing this symbol.”
Gabriel took one slow breath.
“The Raven.”
Claire frowned.
“You know it?”
“I thought they were dead.”
“Who?”
Gabriel's voice became colder.
“A group that disappeared ten years ago.”
He walked toward her.
“They were called the Black Ravens.”
Claire felt a chill.
“What do they want?”
Gabriel looked into her eyes.
“I don't think they want me.”
“Then who?”
May you like
His gaze fell toward the hallway where Eli was sleeping.
“I think they want him.”
