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“Don’t… you dare!” I continued fighting him even as I heard footsteps. The sight of Gabriel walking into the room left me petrified. Blood trickled down the side of his head, his features contorted as rage swept through him. He held the gun in his extended arm, pointing the barrel at my face.
“You shouldn’t have done that, Sarah. Now, I will need to punish you.” Gabriel cocked his head, dragging his tongue across his lips and it was all I could do not to retch in front of him. As he lifted his gaze toward the man holding me, anger returned.
“You fucking lost her,” Gabriel snarled. Then he shifted the weapon toward the man. “That was the last time.”
“I’m sorry, boss. I thought she was in surgery,” the man said. There was no pleading done, just a dull emptiness, as if he knew his life was over and accepted it. That was crazy. However, he loosened his grip, maybe prepared to toss me aside when the bullet went through his brain.
“Don’t you dare kill him. It was my fault. I had another surgeon do a procedure for me.” What the hell was I doing defending the bastard? What was wrong with having one less criminal in the world?
Because you’re not a killer. You save lives.
The thought was both cathartic and irritating.
Very slowly Gabriel returned his gaze to my eyes. In all the times he’d looked at me, studied me, wanted me, he’d never had such an intense look in them. He was looking into my soul, ripping it apart then putting it back together. Next would be my body.
And he’d dared try with my heart.
Fuck him.
“I’ll take his punishment,” I added, which shocked the man I’d once thought I cared for.
A smile slowly spread across his angular face. “You’d take punishment for a man you don’t even know?”
“Yes,” I said without reservation.
“That either makes you a martyr or a woman with a heavy conscience. I wonder which it is.” He debated my offer, taking a deep breath then lowering his weapon. “Then so be it, my beautiful bird. But remember the deal you made for his life.”
I could no longer swallow, my body trembling as the man held me.
Gabriel placed his weapon in his jacket then walked closer. He gripped my chin painfully, rubbing his thumb across my lips. “You do know who I am.”
“Yes. You lied to me.”
“No. I did not. I simply didn’t tell you my given last name. I’ve used Riccardo for years.”
“Why? Why hide who you are?”
He debated my question. “Because it was necessary. Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re coming with me.”
“Why?”
“One life for another. You took my brother’s life. Now, I take yours.”
“Then go ahead and kill me.”
His firm hold remained, and he nodded to the man who instantly released me. Gabriel fisted my hair at my scalp, dragging me into my toes, forcing me against him. I was repulsed, slamming both fists against his chest.
“If I’d wanted you dead, your family would be mourning by your gravesite,” he stated with utter dominance in his voice.
“You are such a bastard. I didn’t kill your brother on purpose. You know that. And why did you save my life? Why? So you could torture me?”
His eyes opened wide for two seconds, long enough for me to realize he was surprised I’d recognized him completely. “Because he asked me to.”
There was no reason for the information to hit me hard, but it did. I was still sick inside, my mind foggy as events from that horrible day played out. Suddenly, I felt weak, disgusted with myself even if I knew there was no reason.
He lowered his head, taking several deep breaths. “I’ve waited patiently for this day to come, to have what belonged to me on the day he died.”
“That’s insane. I don’t want this.”
