Chapter 5 - THE KISS THAT NEVER HAPPENED
Gabriel barely slept.
The next morning, he sat alone in the library listening to the recording.
Again.
And again.
Sophia's voice.
Older.
Tired.
But unmistakably hers.
Claire stood in the doorway.
“You haven't eaten.”
Gabriel didn't look up.
“Neither have you.”
She glanced at the untouched tray beside him.
“I've been worried.”
“Don't be.”
“You're lying.”
He finally looked at her.
Claire walked inside.
“What did she say?”
“That she's alive.”
“Do you believe her?”
“I want to.”
That answer broke something in Claire.
Because she suddenly understood the man behind the reputation.
He wasn't fearless.
He was terrified of losing another person.
She sat beside him.
“You loved her.”
“She was my sister.”
“That's not what I meant.”
Gabriel looked down.
“She was everything to me.”
Claire reached for his hand.
He didn't move away.
“She blamed me,” he whispered.
“For what?”
“For her death.”
Claire's heart ached.
“She left a voicemail.”
“What did she say?”
Gabriel's eyes became distant.
“She said she should have listened.”
Claire squeezed his hand.
“Maybe she wasn't blaming you.”
He looked at her.
“Maybe she was warning you.”
Silence.
Then Gabriel turned his hand and gently held hers.
The gesture was so small.
Yet Claire felt it everywhere.
“You shouldn't be kind to me,” he whispered.
“Why?”
“Because I don't know what I'll do if you disappear.”
Her heart stopped.
Gabriel seemed to realize what he had said.
He released her hand.
“I'm sorry.”
Claire looked at him.
“Don't apologize.”
He stood.
“I need to protect you.”
“From whom?”
“Everyone.”
She smiled sadly.
“That's not protection, Gabriel.”
“What is it?”
“Trusting someone enough to let them choose whether they stay.”
He stared at her.
Then slowly stepped closer.
Claire's breath caught.
He lifted his hand toward her cheek.
Stopped.
He didn't touch her.
“Tell me to stop.”
She whispered:
“I didn't ask you to.”
Gabriel leaned closer.
Their foreheads nearly touched.
Then the door burst open.
Mason.
“Boss.”
Gabriel immediately stepped away.
“What?”
“We found Sophia.”
Claire froze.
Gabriel turned sharply.
“Where?”
“An abandoned medical facility outside Gary.”
Gabriel grabbed his coat.
Claire followed.
“No.”
He stopped.
“You're staying.”
“I'm coming.”
“No.”
“You need someone who knows her medical history.”
Gabriel stared.
Claire was a nurse.
He knew that.
Finally, he nodded.
“Stay beside me.”
At the facility, they found Sophia alive.
But barely.
She was chained to a hospital bed.
Claire immediately rushed to her.
“I'm a nurse.”
Sophia's eyes opened.
She looked past Claire.
Straight at Gabriel.
“Little brother.”
Gabriel fell to his knees beside her.
“Sophia.”
She smiled weakly.
“I knew you'd come.”
He held her hand.
“I never stopped looking.”
Sophia's eyes moved toward Claire.
Then to Eli.
Her expression changed.
“You found her.”
Gabriel frowned.
“Found who?”
Sophia looked at Claire.
“Your mother.”
Claire froze.
“My mother died when I was fourteen.”
Sophia shook her head.
“No.”
Then she whispered:
“Your mother worked for my father.”
Claire felt the room tilt.
Gabriel stared at Sophia.
“What are you talking about?”
Sophia closed her eyes.
“She knows where the original Kane ledger is.”
“What ledger?”
“The one that can destroy everyone.”
A noise sounded outside.
Mason reached for his weapon.
“Someone's coming.”
Gabriel stood.
“Get them out.”
Claire grabbed Sophia's hand.
But Sophia caught her wrist.
“Listen to me.”
Claire leaned closer.
Sophia whispered:
“Your brother isn't the traitor.”
Claire frowned.
“Then who is?”
Sophia looked toward Mason.
Her eyes widened.
May you like
“Mason.”
Everyone froze.
