Page 14

14: Tori

Today's been a bust. All the snooping I've done at my dad's estate has revealed that Diablo is a paranoid man who must have the memory of a fucking elephant. The man doesn't have a single file, computer with hidden files, or books with coded messages.

Nada.

Zilch.

I don't know how he keeps track of things, but I know he's got it under lock and key. He's well guarded, not just physically but metaphorically as well. I may be his daughter by blood, but we’re strangers nonetheless. He won't trust me just because we're related.

The afternoon sun is hanging low, giving way to the evening sky as Gabe drives me to the warehouse in question. Everyone knows about it at this point, so why shouldn't I get a look at it, too?

Because you're not as physically capable of defending yourself as others, Tori.

Because what the heck are you going to do?

I sigh, knowing inner me is my worst fucking critic but also right. With everything that's happened, I know I can rely on Gabe, but I shouldn't have to. I need to learn even more self-defense, learn how to fight and take care of myself out here.

I can't be weak in any sense of the word.

“You've been avoiding me,” Gabe suddenly breaks the silence in the car, eyeing me from the rearview mirror.

That's right. I sat in the back, Gabe .

No touchy.

“That's literally impossible. You're my shadow,” I say, rolling my eyes like he's an idiot for thinking that. But he's totally right.

I'm avoiding the shit out of you.

I don't like how easy I'm finding it to trust you.

I need distance.

“For about an hour or two, you were shadow free in your father's office,” he points out, his gaze focused on the road again.

I scoff, leaning my head against the cool window, watching the scenery blur past. “And you think that was me avoiding you?”

“I know it was.” His tone is so damn certain it grates on me. I don’t answer, which is basically just proving his point, but I don’t care. Let him think whatever he wants.

He sighs but doesn’t push further, and I’m grateful for the silence. The drive is longer than I expected, the sun bleeding out behind the skyline, setting everything in a hazy gold glow. My stomach twists, nerves creeping in. I don’t know why I suddenly feel antsy, but my gut is tight with unease, maybe because what I'm doing is dangerous.

We pull up to the warehouse, and the sight of it sends a ripple of excitement through me. This is where everything is happening, where all the answers are waiting. Diablo may keep his secrets locked away in his head, but this place? It might give me something to work with.

Gabe puts the car in park but doesn’t turn off the engine, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel. “You stay close to me. Got it?”

I roll my eyes. “Yes, Dad.”

His lips twitch, like he wants to smile but refuses to let himself. “Tori.”

“Fine, fine,” I grumble, already unbuckling. “I’ll stay close.”

The warehouse is buzzing with low murmurs as we step inside, workers moving around, crates being shuffled. It’s dimly lit, shadows stretching across the floor like they’re waiting to grab at my ankles .

“Stay behind me,” Gabe mutters, his hand brushing my lower back as he moves ahead.

I nod absently, my eyes scanning the space, searching for something but not really sure what. In the distance, I overhear something that just makes my fucking day.

“Yeah, Harrow’s been in and out all day, checking the inventory.”

My breath catches. Thorne . He’s here.

I don’t wait for Gabe. The impulse is instant, pure instinct. I weave through the maze of crates, my pulse kicking up as I move deeper into the warehouse, my heart hammering at the idea of surprising him.

It’s stupid, probably reckless, but excitement outweighs logic.

Then I see him.

My breath whooshes out in relief, in something warm and familiar. He’s standing near a stack of crates, a hand stretched out like he's reaching for something I can’t quite see. He looks good— because he always does —and the sight of him makes my chest feel lighter.

You’re just so yummy, Thorne.

My steps quicken, eager to close the distance, to throw out some teasing remark, maybe even pull him aside for a stolen moment alone.

But then Mia steps forward.

And kisses him.

My feet stop so fast, it feels like I hit some invisible wall so hard it shattered everything inside of me. My brain short-circuits, like it can’t process what I’m seeing. My heart clenches so hard it physically hurts.

What the actual fuck?!

It’s a mistake. A misunderstanding. Thorne wouldn’t—he wouldn’t .

But my eyes don’t lie. Mia’s lips are on his, her hands resting lightly against his chest, her posture intimate in a way that makes my stomach turn. And worse? He hasn’t pushed her away yet. He hasn’t moved, hasn’t done anything.

It’s like my lungs forget how to work. My heart, my body, everything just—locks. A hollow ache spreads through my ribs, a slow, twisting knife that I never thought I’d feel again with him. Or maybe I did, and I fooled myself into thinking it wouldn’t happen when I should have kept my guard up. But after everything we’ve been through, after the promises we’ve all made, I let myself believe.

Boy was I stupid, but what’s new?

My fingers curl into fists at my sides, nails biting into my palms just to keep myself from unraveling right here. The pain is immediate, hot and blinding. It’s a rush of emotions that hit like a punch to the gut—anger, hurt, disbelief. It claws up my throat, choking me, making my stomach churn. I feel like a fool. A fucking idiot for thinking that maybe this time, this time , things were safe. That I wouldn’t get hurt.

I don’t stay long enough to see his reaction. I don’t care. I can’t. My body moves on its own, spinning on my heel so fast I don't register my surroundings. My breath is coming too fast, my throat closing up, the pressure in my chest unbearable. I need out. I need air. I need—

I collide into something solid. No, not something. Someone .

My dear shadow—Gabe.

He steadies me immediately, hands gripping my arms, his warmth seeping into me, grounding me. “Tori?” His voice is soft but alert, sharp enough to cut through my spiraling thoughts.

I tilt my head up, and I know he sees it. The sheen in my eyes, the way my chest is rising too fast, the way my fingers are trembling at my sides. His face hardens, jaw tightening like he already knows something is wrong, like he already wants to fix it.

“Take me home,” I whisper, my voice barely holding together. “Please, Gabe. Just...take me home.”

He doesn’t ask. He doesn’t need to .

His nostrils flare, his grip on me tightening for just a second, like he wants to demand answers, to storm in there and take apart whatever just hurt me. But he doesn’t. He just gives me a single nod, silent and sure, and then wraps an arm around me, guiding me back the way we came. I don’t look back.

Each step away from that warehouse feels like a new weight pressing into my chest, but Gabe’s arm is steady, anchoring me, shielding me from whatever storm is brewing inside of me. I don’t say anything as we reach the car. It’s impossible for me to form a coherent sentence without breaking down, and I can’t do that. Not here.

He opens the door for me, and I sink into the seat, staring blankly ahead. The drive back is quiet, the hum of the engine the only sound between us. My fingers press against my temples, as if trying to erase what I just saw. As if that will help . My stomach twists, bile rising in my throat, but I swallow it down.

I won't cry. Not yet.

Gabe's grip on the wheel tightens. He doesn't look at me, but I can feel his tension, the way he's holding back words, questions. Maybe even anger. But he lets me have my silence. And for that, I’m grateful.

The ride back to the estate is suffocating.

I’m curled up in the backseat, my forehead pressed against the cool window, watching the city blur past, but I don’t really see it. My vision is too hazy, my eyes burning too much from the tears that won’t stop coming. Every time I blink, I see it again—Mia’s lips on Thorne’s, her hands on his chest. It's like a flash permanently burned into my retinas.

I can’t breathe.

I suck in a sharp breath, then another, but it doesn’t help. The pain sits heavy in my chest, an anchor dragging me deeper and deeper. I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to swallow it all down, trying to hold on to something solid before I completely spiral .

From the front seat, Gabe is silent. His grip on the steering wheel is tight, his knuckles white even in the golden glow of the setting sun. He doesn’t ask what happened. He doesn’t push. But I can feel it—the storm raging inside him, the protective fire that’s barely restrained.

It's almost as if he doesn't want to just protect me physically; he wants to protect me emotionally, too.

After a long moment, his voice cuts through the suffocating quiet. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I shake my head, barely managing to get the words out. “No.”

His hands flex against the wheel, but he doesn’t push. Just nods once, like he understands. Like he knows me well enough to recognize that anything he says right now won’t fix the gaping wound in my chest.

The rest of the drive is silent, except for the occasional sniffle I can’t stop. My fingers twist together in my lap, my nails digging into my palms to keep myself grounded. When we finally pull up to the estate, Gabe slows to a stop but doesn’t move to get out.

I reach for the door handle, hesitating for just a second. “Wait here a minute,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. I don't want him to hear what happened when I tell Blaze or Ryder. One of them is home, I can tell by the SUV, but I'm not sure who.

Gabe doesn’t like that I asked him to wait—I can tell by the way his shoulders tense, his grip tightening on the wheel—but he nods. “I’ll be here.”

I step out before I can change my mind, the evening air cool against my tear-streaked face. Home. My safe place with them. The place where the people I love are. The people who love me.

Or at least I thought they all loved me.

Do any of them actually mean those words?

I shake off the thought and force myself forward, my shoes clicking softly against the pavement as I reach the front door. The second I step inside, warmth surrounds me, the scent of something familiar—something safe—curling in the air. I exhale slowly, letting the comfort of the house settle around me like a shield.

The sound of a woman’s laugh suddenly rings in my ears, and my body goes rigid.

No. Fuck, no! I refuse to believe I could be broken twice in one day.

The sound comes from upstairs, soft but distinct, followed by the low murmur of a voice I know too well. Ryder. My chest squeezes. It has to be nothing. It has to be nothing. I move on autopilot, my feet carrying me up the stairs even as my body begs me to stop.

But I don’t stop. I can’t.

I round the corner, my breath lodged in my throat—and then I see them.

Lila is pressed against Ryder, her hands sliding up his chest, her body molding against his. His head is tipped back against the wall, his posture lazy, his expression hazy. His arms hang at his sides, not wrapped around her, not pushing her away.

It’s like all the air is sucked out of the room. My stomach twists, bile rising in my throat. My heart, already cracked from Thorne, shatters completely.

Not Ryder too.

My body moves before my brain catches up. I spin around, my vision blurring as I flee. I don’t think, I don’t stop—I just run. I need to get out, I need air. I need Gabe to take me away.

The second I step outside, twilight encompasses the sky, darkening by the second, just like my heart. My breath hitches, and then I collide straight into Gabe's solid chest. Warm arms wrap around me instantly, anchoring me, holding me up when my knees threaten to buckle.

I bury my face in his chest, my fingers curling into his jacket, a sob ripping out of me before I can stop it. He doesn’t say anything—doesn’t ask, doesn’t push. He just holds me, one arm tight around my waist, the other cradling the back of my head like he’s trying to shield me from the world.

“Take me away,” I whisper against his chest, my voice breaking. “Please, Gabe. Just...take me away from here.”

He doesn’t hesitate. He scoops me up effortlessly, carrying me toward the car like I weigh nothing. His grip is firm, his body radiating warmth, safety. He sets me down in the passenger seat, buckling me in before rounding the car.

The second he slides into the driver’s seat, he peels out of the driveway, his hands gripping the wheel so tightly I think he might break it. His whole body is taut, vibrating with restrained rage.

I stare out the window, tears slipping down my cheeks. My heart is in pieces, my world turned completely upside down. I don’t know where we’re going, and I don’t care.

I just know I can’t stay here.

Minutes stretch into miles, the city lights fading behind us as Gabe drives us somewhere unknown. The silence is thick, heavy, as my mind continues to torture me with images of Thorne and Mia, Ryder and Lila.

How could they?

We pull up to a quiet street, the houses dark except for the occasional porch light. Gabe cuts the engine, staring straight ahead, his fists tight on the wheel.

“This is a safe house we keep,” he says quietly. “Come inside.”

I follow him without question, stepping into some strange home, feeling more out of place than ever. It’s small but neat, void of much life. I scan the room, my gaze catching on small details—books stacked neatly on a shelf, mugs hanging on hooks over a coffee pot, an empty coat rack in the corner.

Gabe watches me, his expression stoic. Then, finally, he sighs. “You want something to drink?”

I shake my head. I just want...I don’t know what I want.

A time machine?

A new heart?

A new life?

He hesitates, then crosses the room, grabbing a folded blanket off the couch and draping it over my shoulders. The gesture is so gentle, so thoughtful, that my chest aches all over again.

“You want to talk about it?” he asks, his voice softer now, careful.

I let out a broken laugh. “What’s there to say? I’m a fucking idiot.”

His eyes darken. “You’re not an idiot, Tori.”

I let out a breath, shaking my head. “Then why does it feel like I am?”

He doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he sits beside me, his presence solid, unwavering. “Because people you love let you down,” he finally says. “And that fucking sucks.”

I swallow hard, looking up at him. “Has it happened to you?”

His jaw tightens, his gaze flicking away for just a second. “Yeah.”

I hesitate, studying him. “What happened?”

His throat bobs, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. “Not tonight, Tori.”

“I’ll tell you what happened, if you tell me your story.”

I don’t look at him right away, just stare at the floor, fingers toying with the frayed hem of my sleeve. My voice is quieter than usual, but the edge is still there.

Gabe exhales, slow and measured. He doesn’t answer immediately, and I start to think he won’t at all. Then, finally, he shifts his stance, letting his shoulders fall, and motions for me to sit in the chair. I do so, and he follows by sitting on the couch opposite me.

“Alright,” he mutters, the word barely above a sigh. “But you first.”

Of course. Always making me do the hard part first.

I suck in a breath, my throat still raw from the betrayal I just ran from. “While we were at the warehouse,” I start, my fingers gripping my sleeve tighter. “I heard one of the workers say Thorne was there. I wanted to see what he was up to, which is when I ran ahead from you.”

Gabe makes a noise—not quite a grunt, but something close. Like he already knows where this is going.

“I saw him,” I continue, voice hollow. “And I saw Mia. And I saw…” My throat clenches around the next words, but I force them out. “Her kissing him.”

Gabe doesn’t say anything, but I can feel the air shift. He goes rigid again, muscles all taut, but not how he was before. No, it feels different, almost like…guilt? Like maybe he knew it would happen and he wishes he could have protected me from it.

“So, I left,” I finish, my laugh bitter and sharp. “Ran into you. Asked you to take me home. And when I got there? Well, I ran upstairs and saw Lila was all over Ryder.”

Gabe curses under his breath. “Dios.”

“Yeah. Double homicide might be in my near future,” I mumble. “But I ran instead. Came straight to you like some pathetic, heartbroken schoolgirl.”

Gabe finally turns to look at me, blue eyes burning. “You’re not pathetic.”

I snort. “No? Because I sure as hell feel like it.”

He holds my gaze, his voice steadier now. “You ran to the one person who could help. That’s not pathetic.”

Something tightens in my chest. I drop my gaze first, looking at my hands like they have all the answers. “Your turn,” I say, needing to shift the attention. “Tell me why you’re here. Why you’re working for my father. Why you do what you do.”

Gabe leans back, exhaling slowly through his nose. “I grew up in a shitty neighborhood. No father. My mother did the best she could, but she got sick when I was a teenager. Cancer. Didn’t have the money for treatment, so I did what I had to do to take care of my little brothers and sister.”

I stay quiet, letting him talk, processing everything he's telling me.

“I joined the military at eighteen,” he continues, staring at the blinds covering the small window ahead of him, though his focus is somewhere else entirely. “Thought it’d give me a way out. A future. A chance to take care of them properly, even though it meant leaving them in the care of someone else. And for a while, it worked. Sent money home. Made sure they were okay. But when I got out, I had nothing. No skills that translated to a normal job, no options except the kind that came with blood money.”

His fingers drum against the arm of the couch, a small, restless motion. “Diablo made me an offer. Work for him, and he’d make sure my family never had to struggle. That they’d have everything they needed. So, I took it.”

I chew on my bottom lip. “Do they know?”

He shakes his head. “They think I work in private security. I keep my distance. Make sure they’re comfortable, safe. That’s all that matters.”

A beat of silence stretches between us. Then, because I can’t help myself, I whisper, “Do you ever regret it?”

Gabe doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he tilts his head slightly, considering the question like it’s one he’s asked himself a hundred times before.

“No,” he finally says. “Because they’re alive. Because they have futures. And if that means I have to live in the dark so they don’t have to, so be it.”

Something about his words lodges themselves deep in my chest, settling right next to my own guilt. I stare at him, this man who was placed by my side since the moment I stepped into this world, and for the first time, I see him. Not just as my bodyguard. Not just as the one person who hasn’t let me down yet.

But as a man who has sacrificed everything for the people he loves .

Before I can say anything else, headlights flash through the window, cutting across the dim room. Gabe tenses instantly, rising to his feet as the car outside screeches to a stop.

The front door swings open, and time stops and fast forwards all at once.