Page 22 of Gabriel (Legacy of Heathens #4)

Raphael

“ W hat’s bothering you, mi reina ?”

Sailor’s gaze drifted from the endless sweep of the ocean surrounding our private island. The second her electric blue eyes met my own, something inside me shifted as it always did. It was a subtle tremor, familiar and unrelenting, as if my soul had never learned how to steady itself around her.

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she let the silence stretch between us, the way only someone you’ve loved for decades could—unrushed, unafraid.

I could see the storm behind her eyes, quiet but insistent. Ever since Anya moved to Albania and Gabriel started spending more time wrapped up in the business, Sailor had seemed a little unmoored.

It was natural, I supposed. The children had grown. They’d built their own lives, flung themselves into new stories that no longer had us at the center. And now, the house echoed in ways it never had before. It was just the two of us for the first time in our lives.

Yes, sometimes the silence felt heavy. Sometimes it felt like a void. But in moments like this—with the sea breathing beside us and her eyes searching mine—it also felt like a chance. A quiet beginning, not an ending.

I reached out, brushing a strand of windblown hair from her cheek.

“We’re still here,” I said softly. “You and me. It’s enough, and one day grandchildren will follow.”

They better be Gabriel’s children, not Anya’s, but I kept those words unspoken.

“I’m worried,” she muttered.

“About?”

She released a long sigh.

“Anya. Gabriel.” Her voice trembled as she returned her gaze through the window again, locking on the blue ocean. “I feel like something is brewing and we’re clueless.”

I squashed down my own worries, because I’d been battling a bad feeling myself since Anya moved to Albania for her project. It wouldn’t help to share that with my wife. Instead, I pulled her into my arms and pressed a kiss to the top of her head while stroking her waist in a soothing rhythm.

“They don’t need us as much anymore, mi reina . We’ve raised them well and taught them to be independent.” Unfortunately. “If they need us, they’ll call. Like you said, we have to let them spread their wings, so you better purge any worries from your mind.”

Her lips twitched, fighting a smile. “You’re something, Diablo .”

“I’m your diablo, and you’re my reina,” I murmured. “At the end of the day, that’s what’s most important.”

“And our children,” she muttered under her breath.

“ Por supuesto , but you have to understand that they’ll start building their own lives.” I softened my voice. “They’ll find someone to do that with. It’s the way it should be.”

“I know, I know. And funny, I feel like Gabriel is probably on his way to that, but with Anya… I don’t know. Something is off, and I can’t put my finger on what.”

“Want us to go to Albania and get her?” I offered, secretly hoping she’d say yes. But I should have known my wife better.

“No, that wouldn’t be right and would only push her away from us.” Of course she was right, because Anya was her mother’s daughter.

“Then let’s call her,” I suggested gently.

Sailor didn’t respond right away, but I caught the flicker of hope in her eyes, that small spark she tried not to let me see. This was the quiet ache that grew not out of conflict, but out of time.

“Let’s FaceTime her and then Gabriel,” I added.

Texting was the language of their generation—quick, efficient, easy to hide behind.

But a text couldn’t show us if they were really okay.

It couldn’t catch the tremble in a voice, the weight behind a smile, or the exhaustion tucked beneath their eyes.

A video call, though, could offer something real.

Something closer to presence, even if it wasn’t the same as holding them in our arms.

“Yes, we just need to see them,” she agreed softly. “Hear their voices. Make sure they’re truly alright.”

I didn’t waste a second. I grabbed my phone and called Gabriel first. He picked up instantly.

“ ?Todo bien? ” he asked, skipping any greeting and immediately making sure everything was okay.

“All good,” I said, smiling. “We just figured we’d have a video call. This might make you feel a little closer.”

There was a brief pause before that familiar grin appeared. “Aww, you guys are missing me. That’s adorable.”

“Little rascal,” Sailor chimed in, her face lighting up. I could tell she was already feeling better. “Of course we’re missing you.”

“Your mother’s missing you more than I am,” I added, lying through my teeth. Judging by the smirk on his face, he knew it too. “You’re too arrogant for me to miss you equally.”

“Sure, Raphael. You can lie to yourself, but not to me.”

“You’re looking sharp in that suit,” Sailor cut in, derailing the banter. “Got plans?”

Gabriel leaned in toward the camera. “Can’t a guy just look nice for no reason?”

“Not that nice.” I laughed. Gabriel loved a good suit as much as I did, but that wasn’t his usual work attire.

“Well, if you must know,” Gabriel said, adjusting his tie, “I have a date.”

“Oh, tell me everything ,” Sailor gasped dramatically, her expression softening. “She must be someone special to catch your attention.”

“She is special,” he replied seriously.

In all the years, he’d never mentioned a girl. Sure, there’d been occasional flings, but if he was bringing someone up now, it had to be more than special.

“Anyone we know?” I asked casually.

Gabriel shrugged, his signature move when he didn’t want to answer. “Maybe, but I’m keeping her name under wraps for a bit longer.”

Sailor sighed theatrically. “Fine, just tell her she better be good to you. If not, I will break her bones.”

I laughed. She would try, but she wasn’t meant for bone-breaking. I would do the deed and she’d take the credit. That was how we operated.

“She’s perfect for me,” Gabriel said, his tone dropping into something more grounded and somber. “We’ve got some things to work through first, but once we do, she’ll be mine and nobody will touch her.”

I raised an eyebrow but smiled. “Duly noted. Still, you can’t blame us for being a little protective.”

“I don’t,” he said, nodding. “Also, I need a big favor from you two.”

“Anything,” Sailor said quickly.

“I might be off the grid for a bit, but don’t worry. I’m fine and Luis will be… with me.”

My brows furrowed. “What are you up to?”

He waved his hand nonchalantly. “I just need to charm my girl. My method will be a bit unorthodox, so if you don’t hear from me for a while, I don’t want you to put out a search party and look for me.”

Sailor groaned, suspicion lurking in her eyes as I let out a sardonic breath, then said, “Please tell me you’re not kidnapping her.”

Gabriel smiled. “I swear I’m not kidnapping her.”

“Good. Although we’d have your back no matter what,” I told him.

“Kidnapping is hard to defend,” Sailor justified, visibly relieved that Gabriel wasn’t entertaining the ways some of us had resorted to in the past. “Violence too, but that’s sometimes necessary.”

Gabriel nodded. “You’re right, but that violence will be necessary for whoever’s buzzing around Anya.”

Sailor and I froze.

“Is someone buzzing around her?” I asked slowly, my voice calm, but my knuckles were already cracking.

Gabriel shrugged again. “Not sure, but if someone gets too close?—”

“I’ll break his fucking bones,” I growled reflexively.

“Agreed,” Gabriel said without missing a beat.

My wife, clearly unimpressed by the sudden spike in testosterone, gave us both a look—the kind that said, “I married one of you and raised the other, but don’t push your luck.”

“Before any bones are broken,” she cut in, her voice calm but sharp enough to slice through the tension, “maybe we ask Anya if whoever is buzzing around her—assuming there’s someone—is to her liking or not.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but the glare she shot me shut it just as fast.

“By the way, Gabriel,” she continued, now directing her attention back to him with that sweet-but-deadly tone, “have you actually talked to her about any boys?”

“We’ve talked, and she assured me she wants no boy attention.” I had a feeling Gabriel was twisting the truth a bit. I definitely wouldn’t call him out on it, because my Anya was too young for anyone. It didn’t matter if the boy she chose was a saint, I’d fucking kill him.

Sailor raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Gabriel,” Sailor sighed, rubbing her temples like she was bracing for something she didn’t want to say. “Do you ever get the feeling that Anya’s… I don’t know… off lately? Like something’s not quite right?”

Gabriel didn’t answer right away. Then, with almost mechanical precision, his expression shifted—calm, composed, unreadable.

“No.”

And just like that, the mask dropped into place.

That alone sent a cold ripple down my spine.

Because I knew that look.

It was the same one I’d worn too many times when I didn’t want to say what I was really thinking.

“She’s been kind of distant lately,” Sailor continued, unaware of the shift in Gabriel. “And I don’t mean geographically. I just can’t shake it off.”

“I can call her,” he offered.

Sailor waved her hand. “No, no. I don’t want her to feel like we’re ganging up on her. We’ll FaceTime her after this, but just keep an eye and an ear out.”

“I will,” he mumbled, tugging at his collar.

“And let’s make sure we’re listening to Anya. Okay?” Sailor continued. “If there’s someone in her life, we need to hear it and accept it, not act all medieval.” She tilted her head to look at me. “That means no breaking bones without permission, Raphael.”

“No promises,” I muttered.