Chapter 3 - The Man Behind the Monster
Gabriel knew something was wrong the moment Penelope arrived.
She was smiling too much.
People often misunderstood him because he spoke little.
Silence, however, had taught Gabriel to observe.
Penelope normally entered like a storm.
That morning she was careful.
Controlled.
Afraid.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re lying.”
“Good morning to you too.”
Gabriel watched her hands.
Slight tremor.
“Penelope.”
She opened her bag.
The threatening photograph slipped out.
Gabriel saw it.
The room changed instantly.
He picked it up.
“Where did you get this?”
Penelope froze.
“Gabriel—”
“Where?”
She told him.
Not everything.
Then Gabriel noticed the black rose petal inside her bag.
His face went completely still.
That frightened Penelope more than anger would have.
“Marco.”
The door opened immediately.
Gabriel handed him the photograph.
“Lock down the property.”
“Gabriel, no.”
“Pull every camera between here and Penelope’s apartment.”
Marco nodded.
“Put two men outside her home.”
“I don't need bodyguards.”
Gabriel turned toward her.
“This isn’t a discussion.”
“It absolutely is.”
“Someone entered your apartment.”
Penelope blinked.
She hadn't told him that.
Gabriel held up the petal.
“Black roses don't grow in my garden.”
Silence.
“You're staying here.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You're my patient, not my father.”
Gabriel wheeled closer.
“And you’re now a target because of me.”
His anger vanished.
What remained was guilt.
That softened her.
Penelope crouched beside him.
“Then tell me why.”
Gabriel looked away.
“Tell me what happened to you.”
For nearly a minute, he said nothing.
Then he spoke.
“Eight months ago, someone betrayed me.”
The shooting had occurred outside one of Gabriel’s warehouses.
Someone inside his organization had given his route to a rival.
The first bullet killed his driver.
The second struck Gabriel’s spine.
Three more hit the vehicle.
Marco dragged him out alive.
“The man responsible was Victor Salerno,” Gabriel said.
“Another mafia boss?”
“A man who wants everything I have.”
“And he’s targeting me?”
Gabriel looked at the photograph.
“He believes you matter to me.”
Penelope’s heartbeat changed.
“Do I?”
Gabriel looked directly at her.
The question hung between them.
He could command hundreds of men.
He could move millions of dollars with one phone call.
But answering that question terrified him.
Finally he said, “More than you should.”
Penelope forgot how to breathe.
Gabriel reached toward her face, then stopped.
His hand remained suspended between them.
Penelope closed the distance.
She placed her cheek against his palm.
The powerful Gabriel Moretti looked suddenly vulnerable.
Then the mansion alarm screamed.
Marco burst through the door.
“Boss! Down!”
Glass exploded.
A bullet tore through the window.
Gabriel grabbed Penelope and pulled her behind the heavy desk.
Gunfire erupted outside.
Penelope clung to him.
Gabriel covered her body with his.
His wheelchair had overturned.
“Gabriel!”
“I’m fine.”
Blood appeared on his sleeve.
“You’re bleeding.”
“Glass.”
More shots.
Then silence.
Marco shouted from the hallway.
“They're retreating!”
Penelope looked at Gabriel.
His body was positioned between her and the shattered window.
“You protected me.”
“Of course.”
“You could have been killed.”
His eyes locked onto hers.
“I've been almost dead before.”
He touched her face.
“I wasn't letting them take you.”
And Penelope kissed him.
There was nothing delicate about it.
Fear, anger, relief, and weeks of buried attraction collided.
Gabriel froze.
Then his hand moved behind her neck.
When they separated, Penelope whispered, “That was probably unprofessional.”
“Extremely.”
“Should I resign?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Gabriel almost smiled.
“Because tomorrow we’re continuing therapy.”
Despite everything, Penelope laughed.
Neither noticed Marco standing outside the doorway.
He quietly stepped away.
For the first time since the shooting, Marco had hope for his friend.
But his phone vibrated.
A message from security appeared.
They had identified the vehicle used in the attack.
And the registered owner wasn't Victor Salerno.
May you like
It belonged to someone inside Gabriel’s own organization.
Someone Gabriel trusted.
