Page 86 of Gabriel's Promise (Gabriel's Inferno 4)

Thud.

The sound of the door hitting the wall was unusually loud. Julia stared at the door, wondering why it had made such an odd sound.

Crash.

Julia’s eyes snapped open.

She was no longer in Philadelphia; she was in her bedroom in Cambridge. The night light plugged into the wall cast a gentle glow over the room.

But something wasn’t right.

Julia lifted her head and saw a man standing a few feet away, holding the reproduction of Henry Holiday’s painting in his gloved hands.

He stared straight at Julia.

The man was a behemoth—well over six feet, six inches and formed like a linebacker. His dark eyes were flat, emotionless.

He took a step in her direction.

Julia screamed.

Chapter Forty-Five

Gabriel awoke immediately, confused. He’d fallen asleep at his desk in his study.

He stumbled to his feet, not bothering to figure out why he wasn’t in bed with his wife. Tearing open the door, he saw a large, dark figure moving down the hall. Gabriel stood between him and the nursery, where Clare was sleeping in her crib.

The figure didn’t hesitate. He rushed toward Gabriel and threw a punch, directed at his jaw.

Gabriel ducked and drove his fist into the larger man’s midsection.

The man was unfazed by the blow. He grabbed Gabriel by the shirt and threw him down, slamming him into the wall.

The man headed to the staircase but, as he passed, Gabriel grabbed his foot and twisted, bringing the man to his knees.

The man cursed in Italian and lashed out, striking Gabriel in the sternum.

Gabriel’s heart was caught midbeat. It shuddered and paused before beating irregularly. Gabriel fell back, clutching his chest.

The man stood and lumbered like a large bear down the hall.

Gabriel found he couldn’t move. He lay on his back, frozen, gazing up at the ceiling. He tried to draw breath.

“Gabriel?” Julia dashed from the bedroom, just in time to see the man disappear down the stairs.

“Clare,” Gabriel managed to rasp.

“Where is she? Did he take her?” Before Gabriel could answer, Julia ran to the nursery door and opened it.

From the doorway, Julia could see that Clare was still in her crib. Julia rushed toward her and touched the baby’s face. She stirred but didn’t wake.

“Thank God,” she breathed.

She ran back to her bedroom, picked up the cell phone, and dialed 911.

Chapter Forty-Six

Julia was glad Rebecca hadn’t been there to surprise the intruder. She was a light sleeper and awoke early some mornings. Thankfully, she’d left for Colorado the day before in order to spend the Christmas holiday with her children.