Page 51 of Gabriel (Legacy of Heathens #4)

Amara

O utside Gabriel’s room, the air changed, announcing the arrival of newcomers.

You could feel it in the way the security team subtly repositioned themselves by the door, and the way Kian’s shoulders went still.

“Keep an eye on him and let me know the moment he wakes up,” I instructed the nurse, then slipped out of the room with Kian to ensure we wouldn’t disturb Gabriel, who had yet to wake up.

Raphael Santos strode toward us like he was God’s gift to the human race, and suddenly I knew exactly where Gabriel got his confidence from.

His suit was crisp, dark, and his expression was carved from stone.

Beside him, his wife, Sailor Santos, walked in with soft feet and an even softer smile.

Her platinum hair was pulled into a severe twist, her eyes unreadable behind dark sunglasses.

But her hands were clenched and there was a distinct wobble to her chin.

Kian stepped forward to greet them, the hospital hallway suspiciously empty.

I stood beside him, spine straight, hands clenched in front of me like Mother Liana taught us when dealing with powerful men.

“Raphael,” Kian greeted. “Sailor.”

Raphael’s eyes didn’t flicker. “Where is my brother?”

“Stable. Recovering from surgery. His internal organs weren’t damaged.” Kian gestured toward the door behind us. “He still hasn’t woken up from surgery, and they have him under observation. He’s not alone.”

Raphael’s chin twitched. “And my daughter?”

“Anya’s with my brother,” I chimed in. There was a beat. A pause in which I felt the heat of Raphael’s attention move to me. “She’s safe. Jet took her away so they can lie low in case the Triad attacks again.”

Truthfully, I couldn’t believe that after all the manipulation, I was saving my brother’s ass. The only excuse I had was that I knew—at least, I hoped I knew—that he would do the same for me.

“Amara Cullen.” His voice was low and smooth, but beneath it was thunder. “So you’re the girl who says she’s going to marry my brother.”

Dammit, how much had Kian told them? I silently cursed him for saying anything at all, especially since I hadn’t had a chance to ask Gabriel.

Jesus Christ, am I actually proposing to a man? Talk about unorthodox.

“Don’t tell me I rendered you speechless, girl,” Raphael said sharply, causing Sailor to pat his hand as if to soothe him.

The weight of the moment squeezed my chest like a vise. I stepped forward.

“Yes,” I said. “I’m going to marry Gabriel if he’ll have me.”

“You think he will?” Raphael asked. “After you kidnapped him?”

Well, this was going splendidly.

I squared my shoulders. “It doesn’t seem to be a problem when one of you kidnaps your future wife, so I thought I’d just follow suit.”

Sailor’s lips twitched and her head tilted slightly, eyes locked on to me even behind the tint of her lenses. It was as if she were judging my worth.

“The result of our future wives’ kidnapping never ended in a trip to the hospital,” Raphael continued.

I scoffed, my brows furrowing. “You’re joking, right? Do you think I’m an idiot just because I’m young?”

He ignored my sarcasm and my comment.

“My brother is blind and unconscious. Jet has taken my daughter. And all of this”—he turned to look at Kian—“happened under your protection.”

“Excuse me, but you won’t be putting all this on me,” Kian cut him off, cold and deadly. “You never mentioned the girl had a boyfriend.”

Raphael’s jaw tightened and I swallowed hard. Was I really going to defend the asshole? I sighed, because yes, I was. He’d had a rough day.

“Raphael couldn’t have known. Anya merely said there was a boy she liked and flat-out told me it wasn’t Jet.”

“I don’t need you to defend me, girl.”

“Watch it,” Kian growled.

“Listen, we can do this all day,” I cut in, trying not to tremble.

“We can blame each other and blah, blah, blah. Your guards obviously didn’t report there was a man staying with Anya.

Kian has his own organization to run. The bottom line is that Jet protected Anya when the attack hit.

We should focus on the Triad and how to keep all of us safe. ”

Damn good speech if I may say so.

Raphael’s nostrils flared.

“Are you suggesting I be okay with Jet taking Anya and not alerting anyone of their whereabouts? My brother lies wounded in your territory. Tell me, what part of this feels safe to you?”

“Well, how in the fuck were we supposed to know that the Triad was going to hit? Did you do some shady deal with them? Because we sure as fuck didn’t,” I snapped, then pinched the bridge of my nose.

Kian stepped forward, his hand resting on my shoulder. My parents and Mother Liana would always have my back, but Kian would kill his friends and enemies to defend me. It was amazing having him in my corner, and I was grateful for it.

“The marriage between Gabriel and Amara is a good solution,” Kian said calmly. “It’ll prevent escalations and strengthen our alliance. Jet and Elira are part of our family and part of that alliance too.”

Sailor lifted her sunglasses now, surveying all of us, and said, “But a union has happened already. Without our permission, I might add.”

Silence stretched so long you could have dropped a scalpel and it would’ve echoed like gunfire.

“All I have is a photo of Anya smiling happily after those two got hitched,” Kian grumbled. “I don’t know how, when, or why it happened.”

I groaned. Of course Anya’s parents would have learned—somehow, someway—that she and Jet had gotten married.

“It gives the Santos empire even more leverage,” Kian continued. “Jet’s the sole heir to the Volkov empire. Amara is the heiress to?—”

“I don’t give a shit what they have or will inherit,” Raphael roared. “You think I want my brother shackled in some backroom negotiation while he’s bleeding out in a hospital bed and wondering whether he’ll ever see again?”

Raphael stared at Kian like he’d lost his mind.

“No,” Kian replied calmly. “But like Amara said, if he agrees and?—”

“I think you’re trying to save these three and are willing to go to any length for it. I’m not letting my brother pay for your family’s fuckup. Because let’s face it, Kian, every one of those kids, the Satan’s twins and Amara, are ruthless savages that?—”

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

“I’m pregnant,” I blurted.

Another silence followed, this one more dangerous than the last.

“Wh-what?” It was the first time I had ever heard Kian stutter. It would probably be the last time too.

I smiled sheepishly, hoping he wouldn’t see the lie in my eyes. “Gabriel and I… Well, we’ve been circling each other for years. I never thought we’d… hmm… move on to the next step, you know. So I wasn’t prepared.”

Please forgive me, Gabriel.

Sailor exhaled slowly and stepped forward. “You’re pregnant with Gabriel’s baby?”

I met her gaze.

“Yes.”

“And if he’s never able to see again?”

“His vision makes no difference to me. It’ll be a difficult transition, but we can work around it together.” My voice shook, but I didn’t let it break. “Like I said, if he’ll have me, I’ll marry him in a heartbeat. I’d marry him in every lifetime, and together we can protect everyone.”

Strangely enough, I meant those words.

Raphael studied me like he couldn’t quite decide whether to end me or let me live. Then, he finally turned to look at Kian.

“If my brother agrees,” he said, “then fine. A marriage.”

“And Jet?” I asked before I could stop myself.

His gaze flicked to me. “Don’t push your luck, girl.”

I had no idea what that meant, but the deal was made. Not sealed, but set in motion.

As Raphael and Sailor entered Gabriel’s room, I stayed behind, my legs unsteady.

I knew what came next: telling Gabriel that I lied about the pregnancy and begging him to marry me—for peace, for protection, and maybe even for love.

And I prayed to God he’d say yes.