80. Lars
We rode back to the estate in a convoy.
Sirens still echo somewhere behind us in the city, fading into the distance as our vehicles cut through the quiet suburban roads leading back toward the house. No one speaks during the drive. The air inside the car feels heavy with everything that just happened on that sidewalk.
Falco’s body hitting the pavement.
Neomi in my arms.
Gabriel standing across the street with the gun still in his hand.
I sit beside Neomi in the back seat, one arm wrapped around her shoulders while she leans quietly against me. Every so often my hand drifts through her hair, more for my comfort than hers.
Across from us, Gabriel sits with his hands clasped in front of him, his gaze fixed on the passing lights outside the window. He hasn’t said a word since the moment security pulled him into the car.
I haven’t said anything either.
There’s too much between us right now.
When we reach the estate gates, Dante’s vehicle is already waiting in the driveway. Enzo stands near the front steps with two security men, his posture rigid as he watches our car pull up.
“Inside,” Enzo says as soon as we’re out of the car.
The tone leaves no room for argument as his gaze lands on Gabriel.
Neomi’s hand tightens around my sleeve.
“It’s okay,” I assure her quietly.
Violette appears beside her, looping her arm through Neomi’s.
“Come with me, darling, let’s get you something to drink,” Vi says gently, guiding Neomi toward the corridor to the kitchen.
Once they disappear deeper into the house, Enzo gestures toward the library. Once the three of us are in the room, the door closes behind us with a soft click that echoes through the room.
Gabriel stands near the center of the carpet, his posture tense while Enzo moves slowly behind the desk. I remain near the door, unsure of what to say.
Enzo rests both hands against the polished wood.
“Start talking.”
Gabriel nods once.
“I was recruited by Sera Corrigan six months ago.”
The name hangs in the air like smoke.
“I don’t need the whole fucking story again, Gabriel. I want to know why you were after The Blackwater Key,” Enzo says impatient.
“She wanted control over the financial arteries. With that crucial weapon, she could destabilize Maravilla’s operations across the Midwest and redistribute the money.
She was killing their members one by one in the background, but she wanted to completely shut them down.
I think we all know that with no money, Maravilla’s organization would crumble. ”
Enzo studies him carefully.
“And the Marchetti family?”
Gabriel shakes his head. “I had no clue that the Marchetti family would be tied into the downfall until I was well within the operation. I thought I was just retrieving the Key to take down Maravilla. I had no idea it would take down your family’s business as well.”
I begin to pace. I have so many goddamn questions for this man, but there’s one that waits heavy on my tongue.
“Tonight—” Enzo continues. “How did you know to be there?”
Gabriel hesitates, then says, “I didn’t know Falco would be there.” He looks at me. “But I knew Lars and Neomi would be and I wanted to see them.”
Enzo leans over the desk, hands gripping the edge. “So, you’re still tracking them?”
Gabriel nods. “If I’m being hunted, then I want to be sure that if each day could be my last, that I got to see them one more time.”
My chest aches with his words.
“Why didn’t you come to me the second you knew things changed between us?” I run a frustrated hand through my hair. “And if you couldn’t do that, why the fuck didn’t you come to me as soon as you knew my family—including me, the man you supposedly loved—would be included in the fall?”
Gabriel’s eyes lock onto mine, “I was afraid. Afraid that I would lose you, that Sera would trigger the emails.”
I huff out a heavy breath. “Did she send them?”
Gabriel nods slowly. “Yes. I’ve been in hiding. Moving hotels, changing names, doing what I can to stay hidden. But you know that already, with the tracker in me.”
“Fuck,” Enzo whispers. “I heard word a couple of weeks ago, but I hadn’t seen anything with my own eyes yet.”
I feel sick with fear. Gabriel has a price on his head.
“Lars, I love you and Neomi so much. I need you to know that these past few weeks have been hell for me. But please understand that I would rather die at the hands of the people that now hunt me than have the two of you in danger.”
The room is covered in a heavy cloak of silence after his words. I can feel Enzo’s eyes on me as I pace the room. Scenarios run through my mind. The danger he faces, life with him and life without him.
“Is there anything—and I mean fucking anything else—that you need to tell me?” I bark out in frustration.
Gabriel swipes away the moisture from his eyes. “No, I’ve given you the truth. And if you could ever forgive me, I’ll do everything I can to help protect you and give you all of my communications with Sera. Whatever you need, I’ll do it.”
I give him a single nod, lips pressed into a firm line.
“Enzo, can you leave me with Gabriel, please?”
Enzo taps his desk and walks to the door. Before he closes it behind him, his attention is pinned on Gabriel.
“Whatever Lars decides, know that I’ll be watching you like a goddamn hawk. If I feel one bit of suspicion, if I see one odd move, I’ll make sure you die a slow and painful death.”
Gabriel raises his chin. “Understood.”
The click of the door closing follows, leaving Gabriel and I in the room alone. I plant my feet, arms crossed.
“Lars, I—” Gabriel begins.
“Stop,” I command. “Neomi and I have been a fucking mess this past month. How do I know you can be trusted?”
Gabriel cautiously closes the distance between us and falls to his knees in front of me.
“I know it will be hard. I know I have no right to ask for your forgiveness. But fuck, Lars, I can’t live without the two of you.”
My breaths come fast and sharp as I look up to the ceiling, trying to calm all the voices inside me. He sits back on his heels and when I look down at him again, his eyes are glassy.
“I had confided in you, I was vulnerable with you and the whole time I had no idea who you were,” I say, angry.
“Please know that even though I wasn’t honest with how I came into your life, every word, every feeling, every experience between us was real.”
I back away from him, my voice rising. “Goddamn it, Gabriel, I want you in our lives so badly, but fuck, I don’t know how that would work.” I turn back to him. “I don’t let people in, I’ve been betrayed in the past and you came into my life to do the same.”
A tear falls from his eye. “Please, Lars, give me the chance and I’ll show you, from this moment on, I will never hide anything from you again.”
I run a hand down my face, trying to tamper down my pain and racing thoughts. I take a deep breath and approach him where he kneels on the floor.
“Get up, Gabriel.”
He rises to stand before me.
“If we try again, we will leave the tracking device in you. I will have full access to all of your communications. I will be your worst nightmare making sure you’re worthy of being in our lives.”
“Done.”
“And we will rebuild this slowly. It will take time for me to get over this.”
He nods. “Agree, I’m willing to put in the work.”
I sigh and place my hands on my hips. Fuck, having him so close, his scent surrounding me, his tears falling has my heart wrecked. Deep down I know this will take time and effort, but if the past month has proven anything to me, it’s that I love him, that I want him in my life.
I look in his eyes. “Neomi will have the final say.”
“Of course.”
“And damn it, I mean it when I say that you will have to prove your loyalty.”
“Absolutely.”
I let out a long, strained breath. My eyes search the room before my head tips down.
“I fucking missed you so much. It hurt so badly. I can’t go through that again.”
“Baby…” He lifts his hands to cup my jaw. He hesitates before making contact, like he doesn’t know if he can touch me, and, fuck, I need to feel him. My body is consumed with relief when I tilt my face to his fingers. We both let the tears fall.
“I’m so fucking sorry. I’ll spend every day proving you can trust me, that I love you both. I promise you, I want this too goddamn bad to ever put us through something like this again.”
I nod. “Okay.”
He wraps his arms around me and I fall into him.
The impact of it steals the air from my lungs. Not because of the force, but because of everything behind it. The weeks of distance and silence. Knowing what he did and having to live with the absence of him because of it.
He grips the back of my shirt like he’s anchoring himself, like if he loosens his hold for even a second, this might all fall apart again.
I press my face into his neck, breathing him in, the familiar scent hitting me all at once. It’s overwhelming.
I’m still in his arms when there’s a soft, tentative knock at the door. I pull back, drying my eyes.
“Come in.”
The door slowly opens and Neomi peaks into the room. Her eyes bounce between us.
“What’s going on?” she whispers.
I reach back and take Gabriel’s hand. “Bella, we have something to discuss. You control what happens next.”
Tears spring to her eyes as she rushes over to us. “I want this, damn it, I want this so much. Tell me we can try to work through this.”
Gabriel opens an arm to her, and she goes to him easily. I join her, Gabriel’s arms tight around us.
He places a kiss on her hair. “I missed you so much, Siren.”
“Thank you for saving my life, Gabriel.”
“Don’t thank me, Neomi. There’s not a world that we exist in that I wouldn’t save you.”
She sobs against his chest. “And I’ve missed you, too. Please tell me you’re done with that life, that you’re ready to commit to a life with us.”
Gabriel’s hand wraps around the back of my neck as he speaks into her hair. “I promise. It’s just us now.”