“Hannah?”
Memory crashes harder now.
Older than Avery.
A boy sitting beside me in the dark during storms.
Giving me half his bread ration.
Threatening another child for making me cry.
Protecting me.
Always protecting me.
Not like a soldier.
Like family.
My chest tightens painfully.
“You told me stories.”
Gabriel closes his eyes briefly.
Just once.
Pain flashes across his face.
Real pain.
When he opens them again—
I finally see it.
Not just familiarity.
Grief.
“Oh my God…”
The words barely leave me.
“You’re my brother.”
Everything stops.
Even Wu goes completely still.
Clay stares at Gabriel sharply.
Russ mutters,
“Holy hell.”
Gabriel looks wrecked suddenly.
Like he’s been holding something together for years and it just shattered.
