Page 109 of Gabriel

She shook her head. “No, with Gabriel.”

I repeated her words twice before realization dawned. My mouth gaped in shock. It wasGabrielwho’d met Jet that night by the emergency exit in the club. Dammit, why hadn’tI recognized him? That explained why I’d run into him by the stairwell not long after Jet had disappeared into the night.

“Jet wanted to make a deal, using my affection for Amara in exchange for Anya,” Gabriel gritted. “I don’t do that kind of shit. I would never force anything on either my sister or Amara.”

“Well, it wouldn’t have come to this if you’d have at least considered it,” Elira snapped.

“Do you hear yourself, Elira?” I hissed. “How can you possibly excuse Jet in all this? All this time you’ve claimed to be protecting me, keeping men you deem dangerous away, and now I’m learning you were both okay with using me as a bargaining chip?”

She sighed. “I’m not making excuses.”

Gabriel’s jaw was tight, his fingers wrapped around a chipped ceramic mug, untouched coffee gone cold.

Ignoring my sister, he dialed Anya again.Beep. Beep. Beep.

There was no answer, and the silence that stretched between us was thick, layered with tension. Next, he tried the guards that Raphael Santos placed at the house she was staying at. Still nothing.

The engine thrummed beneath us, a steady reminder that we were moving toward something—maybe resolution, maybe disaster.

“She always answers,” he said, mostly to himself.

“She could be busy,” I offered, though I didn’t believe it. If Anya had seen Gabriel’s name flashing on her screen, she would’ve answered. Something was wrong.

“What could she be busy with? She’s in Albania doing photography, not performing surgeries.” He looked up at me, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Jet might have?—”

“He would never hurt her,” Elira cut in, glaring at him.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I agree, that’s not Jet.”

“He’s hurt you,” Gabriel reasoned. “Lied to you and manipulated you. You want me to believe that he doesn’t hurt people?”

I nodded slowly. “He was wrong in all those instances, but I can assure you he would never physically hurt her.”

“How comforting, thanks,” Gabriel sneered.

“The captain says we’ll dock after sunset. He knows a smaller harbor outside the main port. Quiet. We’ll manage to stay somewhat under the radar there.”

Gabriel glanced at her. “Is that another one of Jet’s arrangements?”

Elira didn’t flinch. “No, although I’m sure if he had any input, it would have been because it’s the safest way to get into Albania undetected.”

Gabriel scoffed. “Clearly you underestimate Kian Cortes, which is, frankly, clearly stupid on your part.”

I stood up, crossing to the window, and watched as Vlorë’s lights began to appear in the distance—rugged, green, and cloaked in shadows.

This was Kian’s safe haven, and we were about to bring havoc to it. If he learned about it, he was sure to be pissed off.

“Maybe we should call Kian?” I suggested. “He would be able to confirm that Anya is safe, as well as Jet.”

Gabriel’s brow furrowed. “Kian raised Jet and Elira, and despite their stupidity, I cannot fathom that he would make Anya his priority.”

“That’s not fair, and you know it, Gabriel. Kian is family.” I paused. “And if Anya is on the property bordering his, and he vowed protection, then I’m sure that she’s safe. Even from Jet’s plans.”

“She’s not his blood.”

“Neither are Jet and Elira, yet he protects them.”

“We should hold off on Kian,” Elira chimed in nervously. “If our parents learn we’ve been lying for weeks?—”