Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO STOOD BETWEEN THEM
Mason raised both hands.
“Don't move.”
Gabriel stared at him.
“You?”
Mason shook his head.
“No.”
Sophia began crying.
“It's not him.”
Everyone stopped.
She looked toward the hallway.
“The traitor is already inside.”
A gunshot exploded.
The window shattered.
Gabriel pulled Claire down.
Mason tackled Sophia's bed away from the window.
Three men stormed through the side entrance.
Chaos erupted.
Gabriel moved with terrifying precision.
He dragged Claire behind a concrete wall.
“Stay here.”
“I can help.”
“No.”
“I’m a nurse!”
“And I'm telling you to stay alive.”
He disappeared into the corridor.
Claire hated how frightened she was.
Not for herself.
For him.
Minutes later, the attackers fled.
Gabriel returned with blood on his shirt.
Claire rushed toward him.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Let me check.”
“Claire—”
“Sit.”
He actually obeyed.
She examined his shoulder.
A shallow cut.
Nothing serious.
Still, her hands trembled.
Gabriel noticed.
“You were scared.”
“Yes.”
“For me?”
She looked at him.
“Yes.”
Something changed in his eyes.
He reached up.
Touched her cheek.
This time, he didn't stop.
Claire closed her eyes.
His thumb brushed away a tear.
“I shouldn't have brought you here.”
“I wouldn't have stayed behind.”
“I know.”
She smiled.
“You're learning.”
A quiet laugh escaped him.
It was the first time Claire had ever heard Gabriel laugh.
She looked at him.
“You're different when you laugh.”
“So are you.”
“How?”
“Beautiful.”
Her breath caught.
He leaned closer.
This time, neither of them stopped.
Their kiss was soft.
Almost hesitant.
Nothing like the dangerous man the city feared.
It was the kiss of two exhausted people who had spent too long pretending they didn't care.
When they separated, Claire whispered:
“This is a terrible idea.”
“Yes.”
“You're dangerous.”
“Yes.”
“I don't know if I can trust you.”
Gabriel looked into her eyes.
“You shouldn't.”
She frowned.
“That's not very romantic.”
“I mean you shouldn't trust my reputation.”
He touched her hand.
“But you can trust me.”
Before Claire could answer, Sophia called from the other room.
“Gabriel!”
They rushed back.
Sophia was holding a photograph.
“This is the man who betrayed your father.”
Gabriel took it.
His expression changed.
Claire looked over his shoulder.
The photograph showed a younger man.
Standing beside Gabriel's father.
And beside him—
Claire's father.
Robert Bennett.
Claire stopped breathing.
“My father?”
Sophia nodded.
“They worked together.”
“But my father was a schoolteacher.”
“No.”
Sophia's voice was weak.
“He was an intelligence accountant.”
Claire stepped backward.
Her entire childhood suddenly felt like a lie.
Gabriel reached for her.
She pulled away.
“Don't.”
“Claire.”
“My father died thinking I knew nothing.”
Gabriel stared at her.
“Because you didn't.”
“Then why was my family involved in yours?”
Sophia answered.
“Because your father tried to expose the Kane family's criminal network.”
Gabriel went still.
Claire looked at him.
“Did your family kill him?”
“No.”
Sophia closed her eyes.
“Not the Kane family.”
She whispered:
“The Black Ravens did.”
Claire's knees weakened.
May you like
Gabriel caught her.
And this time, she didn't pull away.
