Page 49 of The Beast

“No, and I don’t care if he wants to see me or not.”

Travis studies him for a long moment before his gaze shifts to me.

“You came back.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that like it’s a surprise?”

“Because it is.” He uncrosses his arms. “Most people run from Gabriel. Especially people who’ve gotten on his bad side. Whether deserved or not.” I see a hint of a smile and hope that means I’m now on Travis’s good side.

We walk a bit together, then pause when his phone chimes. He glances at the text, then frowns before looking at me. “You remember the way?”

I nod.

“All right, then. Don’t go wandering.”

“You’re not coming with us?”

He lifts his phone. “Duty calls.” Then he turns and heads in the opposite direction as I lead Leo through the maze of corridors echoing with the distant thuds of fists on flesh and leather. Gabriel’s empire, and it was built on pain.

“I’m surprised he let us walk alone,” I say, mostly to drown out those pervasive thuds.

Leo just looks up.

Cameras. Duh.

When we arrive, the door is wide open, but Gabe’s at his easel and doesn’t seem to see or hear us. Leo shrugs, then knocks on the doorjamb. When Gabe still doesn’t look up, he steps inside, gesturing for me to do the same. The slight shift in position gives me a view of what he’s working on—and it’s not much. Just a blank canvas with one long, red brush stroke. I remember what Anissa said—that he only sketches now, but doesn’t paint.

Something’s changed, and as I feel a twist in. my stomach, I can’t help but think that the change is me.

A glass of something that’s probably whiskey sits on the nearby desk, apparently untouched.

As for Gabe himself, he’s looking past the canvas to the painting that now hangs on the far wall—my face rendered in shadow and longing, trapped behind bars.

Caged.

“That wasn’t yours to take,” I say, my voice low, as if I’m in a church. “You gave it to me.”

He turns, and for just a second, I see something flash across his face, too fast for me to even tell if it’s relief or fury or something in between. “I gave it to a woman I loved. Not to a bitch who betrayed me.”

His gaze slips over me to land on Leo. “Little brother.” His voice is cool, but it cracks at the edges. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“No.” Leo’s fury explodes out of him. “You don’t get to do that. You texted me. Said you were alive, that you were coming to the apartment. Then nothing—just dodging my calls while you played your revenge games.”

“I knew you’d take her side.”

“Side? There are no sides, you dolt.” Leo’s voice is level. Cold. “There’s just the truth, and you’re too much of a coward to hear it.”

“Truth?” His eyes flick to me. “I was stabbed in the back by truth.”

“I thought you were dead, damn you. I gave a eulogy.” Leo’s voice breaks, and his hands are fisted at his sides. I tried to figure out how to live in a world without my brother. And you’ve been alive all along. Alive. Keeping our photographs with you while you let us drown in grief, you goddamn bastard.”

Gabriel flinches, but when he speaks, his voice is flat. “Your brother died in Aspen. The man who crawled away from that cabin isn’t him. Isn’t anyone.”

His eyes flick to me, cold and empty. “I’m on a mission now. That’s all. And I won’t stop until I’ve destroyed everyone who stole my life from me.”

“Bullshit.” In two long strides, Leo gets right in his face. “You’re hiding behind revenge because you’re too afraid to face the possibility that you were wrong about her.”

“No.” Gabriel’s voice is low, as if he’s working hard to keep everything about this moment dialed in. “Hart sends his regards. And that bitch,” he adds with a nod toward me, “she...” He trails off.