Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN HE THOUGHT WAS BETRAYING HIM
Gabriel did not speak to Claire for the rest of the day.
She noticed.
Of course she noticed.
He had always been quiet.
Now he was distant.
There was a difference.
Claire sat in the library with Eli sleeping beside her.
She could hear footsteps outside.
Guards.
Constantly.
She wondered whether she was being protected or watched.
By evening, she couldn't take it anymore.
She found Gabriel in his office.
“You're avoiding me.”
He didn't look up from his desk.
“I'm busy.”
“That's not an answer.”
“It is.”
Claire closed the door behind her.
“You think I know something about your sister.”
Gabriel's pen stopped.
“You shouldn't have heard that name.”
“Someone called me.”
“You should have told me immediately.”
“I did.”
“After you answered.”
Her eyes flashed.
“What was I supposed to do? Let the phone ring forever?”
Gabriel stood.
“You don't understand what you're involved in.”
“Then explain it.”
He walked toward her.
“You're not trained for this.”
“No.”
“Then stop trying to investigate.”
“I’m not investigating. I'm trying to understand why people keep threatening me.”
Gabriel's jaw tightened.
“You were seen leaving my building three weeks ago.”
Claire frowned.
“What?”
“Someone reported you meeting a man.”
“I meet hundreds of people.”
“This man wasn't one of them.”
She stared.
“Who?”
Gabriel pulled up a photograph.
Claire's blood turned cold.
It was her brother.
Daniel.
She hadn't seen him in six months.
“That's my brother.”
“I know.”
“You found him?”
“He contacted someone inside my organization.”
Claire stepped closer.
“Why?”
Gabriel's eyes hardened.
“That is what I'm trying to determine.”
Claire felt betrayed.
“You've been investigating my family behind my back.”
“I investigate everyone.”
“Even me?”
“Yes.”
The answer hurt more than she expected.
She stepped backward.
“Then why did you save me?”
Gabriel didn't answer.
Claire laughed softly.
“I thought maybe you saw me as a person.”
“I do.”
“Then trust me.”
His expression shifted.
“I can't.”
She nodded.
“Fine.”
She turned to leave.
Gabriel suddenly caught her wrist.
Claire flinched.
He released her immediately.
“I’m sorry.”
She looked at him.
His voice was quiet.
“I forgot about your bruises.”
Something inside her softened.
But before she could answer, Mason entered.
“Boss.”
Gabriel turned.
“What?”
“We found Daniel.”
Claire's breath caught.
“Where?”
“Chicago Union Station.”
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“You stay here.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“He's my brother.”
“You're not going.”
“Then I'm coming anyway.”
Gabriel stared at her.
She stared back.
Finally, he sighed.
“Get your coat.”
Mason smiled faintly.
“She's going to be trouble.”
Gabriel looked at Claire.
“I noticed.”
For the first time, the corner of his mouth almost lifted.
Claire saw it.
And hated how much she liked it.
But at the station, everything changed.
Daniel wasn't alone.
He was standing beside a woman in a red coat.
When he saw Claire, his face went white.
“Claire?”
She ran toward him.
Gabriel caught her arm.
“Wait.”
Daniel looked behind them.
“Gabriel Kane.”
He looked terrified.
Then the woman in red stepped forward.
She pulled a gun.
Mason reacted instantly.
A shot cracked through the station.
Gabriel pushed Claire down.
The bullet shattered a glass panel.
Security screamed.
People scattered.
The woman ran.
Daniel grabbed Claire.
“You have to listen to me!”
“What?”
“I never betrayed you.”
“Then why were you meeting her?”
“Because she said she could tell me who killed Sophia.”
Gabriel stopped.
Daniel looked at him.
“And she said your sister isn't dead.”
Silence.
Gabriel's face lost all color.
“That’s impossible.”
Daniel shook his head.
“She was taken.”
Claire stared at Gabriel.
He looked like a man whose entire world had just shifted.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A woman's voice whispered:
“Hello, Gabriel.”
His eyes widened.
May you like
He knew that voice.
Sophia.
