Chapter 15
Gabriel
The hand of corruption reached all corners of Irongard, even a place as forgotten as Ashfall. Crime ran rampant here, yet the powers that be turned a blind eye to it. A criminal’s playground, some called it, a well-known dumping ground for the sins of bad men.
Gabriel crouched on the rooftop he and Nicholas had visited earlier, watching Kyrin’s men unload heavy artillery into a condemned building one avenue down.
Across town, Kyrin’s warehouses were engulfed in flames, leaving him scrambling for a place to hide his cache of weapons and drugs. The turf war was heating up.
“Let’s go!”
A small contingent of men stayed behind, guns drawn. The rest filed into the truck’s cargo bed. They sped off, tires screeching as they turned the corner without slowing.
Gabriel considered shadowing them, but he’d already spent the last couple hours feeding on anything he could get his hands on. He needed to get back to Nicholas.
An urgent text came through. One he couldn’t ignore. With one last look at Kyrin’s new stronghold, he strode for the roof’s ledge, stepping off.
Hip hop blared from Hamza’s apartment, setting Gabriel’s teeth on edge. He knocked before entering, opting to show the respect he was never afforded by his brother.
“Must it be so loud?” he asked as Hamza swaggered down the loft steps. He wore what appeared to be lounge pants, the comfortable fabric moving with him.
“I thought I was the grouchy old man. Alexa,” he called. “Turn the music down.”
He was older and reveled in following the rules, but Gabriel tended to be more broody, more opposed to anything considered cool.
“I see you’re wearing your killing gloves.”
Gabriel flexed his fingers. “You sound disappointed. I’m just following your demands.”
Their fingerprints registered as ‘other.’ It was easier not to leave any behind.
“You wearing them isn’t what disappoints me, Muharib. It’s why you’re wearing them.”
Same song, different day.
“You wanted to see me? Your message said it was urgent.”
“Have a seat.” Hamza crossed the living room, rounding his ostentatious bar.
“I won’t be here long.” Gabriel remained by the door.
“Gotta get back to Nicholas?” Hamza approached with two tumblers of scotch, handing one to Gabriel.
“You don’t sound bitter about it.”
“Why would I be?”
“I can list a number of reasons.” Gabriel considered the amber whiskey before bringing it to his lips. It went down smoothly. His brother hadn’t skimped.
Hamza dropped onto the sectional, shoving back his lion’s mane of hair.
“I’d never begrudge you happiness, brother.
I grew up watching our father cherish our mother.
You saw the defensive wounds. He fought with everything he had to save her.
We were educated on the bond between mates and the protective instincts that come with it.
I admit, part of my problem was thinking it was all for nothing.
That the deal you’d made was a farce. That you’d been scammed. I can see it wasn’t now, but—”
“You still don’t think my love for Zayn was worth the bargain I made to bring him back.”
“Is that so wrong?”
Gabriel grunted. “Let’s hope one day you don’t find yourself in a similar situation, faced with the same choices.”
“I’ll never have a mate.” His jaw worked. “But I can empathize with you to a point. I would do anything to protect my family.”
Gabriel stared at him, stunned. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe him.
Hamza was steadfast—even though it killed him to be.
If a choice had to be made between his morals and his family, Hamza’s family would win every time.
He’d follow Gabriel and Marcus to the ends of the earth and always had done.
In all these years, they’d never separated.
But his brother had never admitted that out loud.
It felt as though he were extending an olive branch, so Gabriel took it, settling down across from him.
“I don’t have long. What did you want to see me about?”
Hamza leaned forward, his damp hair doing the same. “I was called to the scene of the fires tonight.”
Gabriel could smell the smoke beneath the scent of his shampoo.
“I’m assuming you heard about them.” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Those warehouses were filled with bodies, all Kyrin’s men.”
“If you’re asking if I had something to do with it, the answer is no. I don’t leave dead bodies behind.”
“I’m telling you this wouldn’t have happened had Zayn not returned. You’re off the grid, and things are getting messy out there. My sources tell me Kyrin is blaming this all on Soren.” He pinned Gabriel with a pointed stare. “He’s offering a shit-ton of cash to anyone with information on him.”
“He isn’t Zayn.”
Hamza frowned. “What?”
“Nicholas. He isn’t Zayn.”
“Right. Let’s see what he has to say about that when the time comes.” Hamza sighed, scrubbing a hand over his stubbled chin.
“Look, all I’m saying is be careful out there. I know you think you’re untouchable, but one wrong move and this all falls apart. The last thing we need is you caught up in an ambush, and some idiot with a camera catching you in full vamp mode.”
“Vamp mode?”
Hamza snorted, kicking his feet up on the coffee table. “Get with the times, brother.”
“I’d rather not,” Gabriel deadpanned. “And don’t worry. I’ll be careful. Wouldn’t want you to have to give up your prized profession, now would we?”
“You think this is about me wanting to keep a job? I’d leave with you, Muharib. You, Rayyaan, and Nicholas.”
“I know, but you’d hate me even more for it.” Gabriel set his empty glass down, pushing to his feet.
“I don’t hate you,” Hamza said softly.
Gabriel buttoned his suit jacket. “I know.”
He observed his brother again, the loose legs of his pants.
“Where did you get those pants from?”
“These?” He pinched the soft cotton.
“No, the ones on your head. Yes, those, and all the other tasteless things you like to wear.”
“Fuck you,” he drawled. “It’s not every day someone asks such a stupid question. I had to be sure.” He shrugged. “At the mall. Do you need directions? I know you’ve never stepped foot in one.”
Gabriel rolled his eyes, heading for the door.
“Have you told him yet?”
Gabriel halted, glancing over at his brother.
“That terrified look is answer enough. Don’t wait until he doesn’t have a choice.”
“He doesn’t have a choice.”
“He does, and I’m betting that’s what you’re truly afraid of. I know you, brother. Give him a heads up. Time to think and come to terms with it before it’s too late.”
If Hamza thought he would just sit back and watch Nicholas die, then he didn’t really know him at all.
“Go home to him.” He swallowed his drink with a wince. “I’ll let you know if I hear anything else.”
“And why would you do that?”
“Because I’m your brother, for fuck’s sake, and because no matter how much you despise me, I know you’d do the same for me.”
Gabriel stepped into the hall, whispering before closing the door behind him. “I’m the one I despise, not you.”