Chapter 5 - Gabriel Finds His Children
Gabriel drove north alone.
No convoy.
No Luca.
No weapons team.
Only a black SUV moving through freezing rain.
When he reached the lakeside house, dawn was beginning to color the horizon.
The front door opened.
Evelyn stood there.
She searched him.
“No weapon?”
“No.”
“Phone.”
He surrendered it.
Then Norah appeared behind her.
Gabriel forgot how to breathe.
She looked exhausted.
Pale.
Fragile in ways he had never seen.
But alive.
In her arms was a newborn wrapped in cream.
Gabriel stared.
His daughter.
Everything else disappeared.
Norah watched his face.
For once, Gabriel Costa had no mask.
No intimidation.
No control.
Only wonder.
“Can I…”
He stopped.
He did not finish the question.
Norah studied him.
Then carefully placed the baby into his arms.
Gabriel had held weapons.
Men's lives.
An empire.
Nothing had ever frightened him like holding his daughter.
“She weighs nothing.”
“Five pounds, three ounces.”
His eyes filled.
“Hi.”
The baby's face moved slightly.
Gabriel smiled through tears.
“I'm your dad.”
Norah looked away.
The words hurt.
Because being someone's father required more than biology.
Evelyn brought the boy.
Gabriel looked between them.
“My son?”
Norah nodded.
Gabriel held him next.
Dark hair.
Tiny fingers.
His son's hand closed around Gabriel's finger.
Gabriel bowed his head.
“I missed you.”
Norah's expression changed.
He had not said I almost lost you.
He said I missed you.
Because he finally understood the difference.
Later, they sat in the small living room.
Gabriel gave Norah his father's letter.
She read it twice.
Then she cried.
Not dramatically.
Silently.
Eight years of anger collapsed inside her.
“My father knew?”
“About Matteo, yes.”
“And your father covered it up.”
“Yes.”
Gabriel did not defend him.
Norah folded the letter.
“You didn't kill my father.”
“No.”
“I spent years hating you.”
“I gave you other reasons.”
She looked at him.
“Bianca.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Gabriel could have lied.
Instead:
“Cowardice.”
Norah's eyes narrowed slightly.
“I kept telling myself our marriage was already broken. That you were distant. That I was trapped.”
He looked toward the bassinets Evelyn had improvised.
“But I was the one disappearing.”
Norah said nothing.
“I don't expect forgiveness.”
“Good.”
“I mean it.”
“You humiliated me.”
“I know.”
“You left me alone when I needed you.”
“I know.”
“I called you.”
Gabriel's eyes lowered.
“Seventeen times.”
His head snapped up.
“I was the first seventeen.”
He looked devastated.
“After that Evelyn called. Then Harris. Then Luca.”
Norah's voice trembled.
“I was in labor, Gabriel. And I kept thinking surely you would answer the next one.”
He could not look at her.
“I won't ask you to forgive that.”
“Then what do you want?”
“To keep you alive.”
“And afterward?”
Gabriel looked at his children.
“I don't know.”
It was perhaps the first completely selfless answer Norah had ever heard from him.
Then Evelyn entered.
“We have a problem.”
A tracking device had been found beneath Gabriel's SUV.
Matteo had known Gabriel would lead him directly to Norah.
Gabriel stood.
“Take the babies.”
Headlights appeared outside.
Several vehicles.
Norah looked at Gabriel.
“You said you came alone.”
“I did.”
He moved toward the window.
“These aren't mine.”
Matteo stepped from the first vehicle.
Gabriel's expression hardened.
But instead of reaching for a weapon, he locked the door and called Luca.
“I need you.”
“Location?”
Gabriel gave it.
“How many?”
“At least six.”
“We're coming.”
Gabriel ended the call.
Norah stared at him.
“You called for help.”
“Yes.”
“You usually handle everything yourself.”
Gabriel looked toward his children.
“That's how I got us here.”
Outside, Matteo called his name.
“Gabriel!”
Gabriel remained inside.
Matteo laughed.
“You really think that woman loves you?”
Norah flinched.
Gabriel didn't.
He finally understood Matteo's weapon.
Division.
Secrets.
Manipulation.
For years Matteo survived because everyone reacted emotionally while he remained hidden.
Not anymore.
Gabriel opened the curtain enough to look outside.
“Matteo.”
“Come talk.”
“No.”
Matteo smiled.
“You've changed.”
“Yes.”
Gabriel looked back at Norah.
“I became a father.”
Sirens appeared in the distance.
Not police.
Luca.
Matteo realized too late.
His men scattered.
But Gabriel did not chase him.
He stayed inside.
With Norah.
With the twins.
Matteo escaped through the woods.
Luca entered minutes later.
“He's gone.”
Gabriel nodded.
“We'll find him.”
Norah watched him.
The old Gabriel would already have been outside hunting.
This Gabriel remained beside the bassinets.
Then Luca said something unexpected.
“Boss, Matteo left his phone in the car.”
Gabriel turned.
“Anything useful?”
Luca's face became grim.
“Everything.”
Because inside Matteo's phone was a list.
Payments.
Officials.
Costa captains.
Security personnel.
And one name Gabriel never expected to see.
Luca Moretti.
May you like
Gabriel slowly raised his eyes toward his oldest friend.
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